Phew.
We made it through the year’s longest night. And our sun, just a star, one of a hundred billion in the Milky Way, is guiding us toward spring, already.
It’s a paradox that we welcome winter, our coldest months, just as we welcome longer days.
Among our sun’s miraculous properties is its ability “of changing stuff to light, matter to pure and shining energy.” (Kate Marvel, Human Nature)
Light and energy. Two gifts given to Camden and Rockport residents from a star shining light years away.
Pretty remarkable.
Thanks, universe, for these life-affirming gifts. Always there, always shining, even if we humans occasionally forget.
We Need Your Help
Help Energy Coaching Programs Gather Data on Home Upgrade Project Costs
To inform energy coaches and Maine residents, we are gathering anonymous data statewide on costs of home energy projects such as insulation, heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, electrical panel upgrades, and solar panels. We need estimates from all types of homes, and the survey only takes a few minutes. Please add what you can from any energy upgrades you have done in the past three years, and share the survey with friends!
https://qualtricsxmrnpk2grgv.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bwL89afsuhVOnZk
In Case You Missed These Tidings of Joy
Balcony/Plugin Solar. The Germans have had the benefit of plugin/balcony solar for ten years. Utah is the first US state to change its regulations to allow the same. And now 5 more states, including VT and NH, are closer to providing this for residents. Listen to this Volts podcast to learn more. And, exciting for Mainers, our legislature is crafting legal changes to allow us to take advantage of these small solar panels, without having to deal with the utilities.
Recycle Your Christmas Tree with Scrap Dogs. Follow this link to Scrap Dogs’ newsletter to learn about how you can avoid a trip to the landfill with your tree.
Neighborhood Pods/Local Emergency Preparedness. There’s a lot to be grateful for regarding neighbors in Camden and Rockport. We’ve begun a Neighborhood Pod initiative to help ensure that neighbors can help neighbors in challenging times. Listen to this event from the Camden Talks Climate series at the CPL to learn more. If you’d like to get on the list to lead a Neighborhood Pod—we’ll be hosting training and information sessions in the coming year—send an email to camdencan2025@gmail.com.
Ayana Johnson and All Her Wisdom. The Bowdoin professor and author of What If We Get It Right hosts the CEO of Patagonia for “Earth is Our Only Shareholder.” The great news here is that Patagonia has also started a resale shop—check your closets and send them that gear you’re no longer using.
Jason Anthony on What Endures. If you’re not yet acquainted, meet fellow Mainer Jason Anthony. His wisdom and perspective is both microscopic and wide-ranging. This essay is a perfect entree—from lichens to the billion year history of the Earth.
Nate Hagens on The Meaning Crisis. Nate Hagens, the thought leader behind The Great Simplification, interviews cognitive scientist John Verveake on how we can dig deeper into our human behavior to find ways to get out of our current polycrisis. Nuance and humility are key.
Upcoming Events for a Climate-Changed World
12/23/25, Tuesday, 4:00 pm-5:00 pm, Camden Public Library (may move to zoom because of weather—watch your inbox), CamdenCAN’s Resilient Reading Group. Facilitated conversation circle exploring living in a climate-changed world. Our current book is Life After Doom: Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling Apart/Brian D. McLaren. See more about it here. You don’t need to attend all gatherings—drop-ins are welcome. Future dates will be 1/13/26, 1/27/26.
1/1/2026, Thursday, 11:00 am-1:00 pm, Beech Hill, Rockport, Maine. CMLT’s Beech Hill Open House. Grab your walking shoes and join the fun, hot chocolate and a warm fire await you at the top. See more here.
1/8/2026, Thursday, 6:30 pm-7:45 pm, Camden Public Library. Camden Talks Climate with the Energy Coaching Program, “Buttoning up Your Home: DIY Weatherization” with energy auditor Colin McCullough. Learn how to make your house warmer, reduce drafts, and save money on heating bills this winter and beyond! Colin McCullough, a certified energy auditor, will share some simple, low-cost DIY steps to keep heat from escaping your home—including caulking, window improvements, air sealing, and more. Colin McCullough teaches building science and runs All-Around Home Performance in Farmingdale. This session is supported by a Maine Community Resilience Partnership grant to Camden and Rockport. Attend in person or via Zoom (registering in advance), and the presentation will be recorded.
1/13/26, Tuesday, 4:00 pm-5:00 pm, Camden Public Library, next session of CamdenCAN’s Resilient Reading Group. Facilitated conversation circle exploring living in a climate-changed world. Our current book is Life After Doom: Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling Apart/Brian D. McLaren. See more about it here. You don’t need to attend all gatherings—drop-ins are welcome. Future dates will be 1/27/26—we’ll be picking out our next book then, too.
1/20/2026, Tuesday, 5:00 pm-7:00 pm, Flatbread Pizza, Rockport, Midcoast Climate, Energy, and Green Building Happy Hour. See your neighbors, have a drink, share an announcement, job or idea. See their newsletter here.
1/29/2026, Thursday, 5:30 pm-8:00 pm, First Congregational Church, Camden. Winter Warmth Community Potluck. A no-stress, no-agenda community meal fostering new connections. Details to follow. All are invited and the event is free and open to the public.
Concluding Thoughts
We’re fellow travelers on a singular planet in a truly stellar universe. We did nothing to create the planet or its guiding sun.
And yet we’ve learned to celebrate the sun and all the gifts it provides, including light, energy, warmth, water, trees. We hope in these quiet weeks you, too, and all your loved ones have a chance to celebrate the joy of the sun.
We’re also celebrating the creative spirit of our fellow humans, especially the Beatles’ gift of Here Comes the Sun. This additional video provides a fascinating look at the creative genius behind the song’s recording. It was written at a challenging time in George Harrison’s life, and here it remains, bringing joy.
We humans didn’t create our planet, and yet, we have so much power to make it a wondrous, habitable place.