Back when I was a kid, “Aesop’s Fables” had a sort of fashionable revival and it was fairly common to hear them read aloud at the library story time. They were even a regular feature on Sesame Street.

One of these was “The Ant and the Grasshopper.”

The way the story goes (in most versions), the industrious ant works hard all summer to store up food, while the grasshopper lazes about singing and dancing. Come the winter, the grasshopper is hungry and cold, while the ant is well provisioned and happy.

The moral is that it’s better to work hard and be prepared.

I understood the point the story was trying to make, but all the same I can recall very clearly thinking, “I am such a grasshopper.” After all, I reasoned, who knew? There might be a flood or a sweeping illness, and then the ant’s life would have amounted to nothing, while the grasshopper at least would have put some beauty into the world and go out with happy memories of a life well lived.

I’m sure Aesop was spinning in his grave at the musings of my younger self.

As I grew, I managed to develop a sense of responsibility and a strong work ethic despite this outlook, although it must be said, usually for what interests me or captures my imagination. I remain sort of sketchy at facing the mundane.

So it is saying something that even I was taken up short by the front page headline recently, in this very publication, showcasing the Farmers’ Almanac prediction for a cold, wet and snow-filled winter, with an extra dash of cold.

This, coupled with the financial forecasts of a looming recession, got me thinking it might be time to emulate the ant a bit.

In preparing for the dark months, I am focusing on the true essentials: food, shelter, heat and books.

Heating oil is predicted to spike (naturally) so I’ve been organizing the woodpile, getting the chimney cleaned (flue fires are no one’s friend) and making sure the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working. Safety counts. I have a hunch that this year, the woodstove will be much more than ambiance.

I’m not sure we are ready to take this leap yet, but we are also looking into installing a heat pump. If you are curious about heat pumps, too, Efficiency Maine, a “quasi-state agency governed by a Board of Trustees with oversight from the Maine Public Utilities Commission” (according to their website), has a lot of helpful information.

The website has non-sales pitch information about what they are, how they work, where to get them, and perhaps most importantly, the rebates available from the state.

That same website also has information on geothermal systems, solar, wind power … the list goes on. You can also find information about the basics, such as improving your home’s insulation or air quality – even cost-saving tips on appliances and lightbulbs, as well as finance options.

As I write this, another glorious summer day in Maine is dawning. It’s just perfection out there. Having spent all summer working on a boring but necessary task (See? I can do it.) all I really want to do is go outside and play – and I will – but first I will make a few calls, send a few emails, put some questions in motion to gather the information I need to prepare for the coming winter.

May you also be well provisioned against the looming cold, and may you also remember to take time out to play. The soul needs insulation, too.