I've been offline a lot this weekend, because...Ds has set up the 2 batteries!
I'll try to not drag out the details, but this means that I can turn off the generator a few hours a days again! Whew, after 2 years of having it on 24/7 for the first time in over 30 years, this is a relief.
Having it on all the time was nuts. It wore the generator too much, we bought a ridiculous amount of gas, and we were exposed to exhaust all the time.
When I have no power, not only can I not have my ice box and freezer working, not cook, and every other thing, but my computer will not go online. After a power disruption of under a minute, I generally wait 30 or so mins. to be able to reconnect.
So, when Ds was working on the batteries, turning the power on and off, I had no computer access. Now, we're set up, and trying to see the charge time - when we must run the big generator vs. the inverter/battery time - when we can turn off the generator.
Right now, with only 2 batteries, it looks like - at the current battery setting - that we can run the battery for 4 hours. Then, charge for 6-9ish hours? Repeat.
So, minimum, if things stay as they are right now, I won't need to run the generator 8 hours of the day, broken up into 4 hr. blocks.
Although, the battery was charged sooner the last time, so we could go even longer.
That means, I may save 1/3 or so of the gas that we've been buying. That would be great!
We simply make sure that we prep food and set out things - like the correct pots, on down time, or when we are on battery, and then when we put on the big generator to recharge them, put food on to cook. Even a 3 hour broth, should get done in that length of time as long as everything is cut and ready to go. It's all in the timing and planning, and I'm willing to do that to save gas and money.
I kept wondering what, after all these decades, that I was doing wrong to not be able to make ends meet for the past year or so, but it wasn't me. It was the increased gas prices all those months. I spent $400. in 8 days last month, which is somewhere between 1,500. and 1,600. in gas alone, in a month. Not sustainable, and it just got me deeper in the hole.
So, someday, when I have money again in a few months, hopefully, I will buy 2 more batteries (They went way up, so not this minute.) as they must be gotten in pairs, and add more no-generator time to my day. I'm used to having a battery back-up, as I had a battery bank (many batteries in it.) for over 20 years, and it made things do-able.
Then, I'm hoping to put my solar array up, also. But, that's putting the cart before the horse right now. Someday...!
The heater fuel hasn't gone down at all, though, and it's freezing here, literally. It was in the 20's last night, and even with having some heat on, it never got above 50 in here. Before the heat, it was 42. Too cold. Maybe it will rain, as predicted, and the temperatures will rise a little.
I did get out the new blanket, and put it over the others. Which is fine, as long as you stay covered to your nose, and don't bring out your hands, even to use your reader...! 
So, that's where I've been. Busily trying to fix things to work better here.
I hope that everyone's had a good past couple of days!
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