Kerosene Heaters in August?

I was thinking about how toasty I was last year with my new kerosene heater.  Why during all this heat would I think of it? Well, it would seem finding kerosene is like a quest for the Holy Grail.

To back up a little, I was tired of my TECO bill being higher in the winter than my a/c bill in the summer. During my years in the Peace Corps, I had survived just fine with the oven and a couple of space heaters.  The Peace Corps generously (snark) provided one gas space heater.  I had to buy the others on my subsistence stipend.  Gas heaters are great for heating one half of your body, thus allowing the other half to appreciate when the heater is moved to the other side. 

Overall, as heaters go, they were terrible.  Taking in a litter of kittens helped, especially when they were all in my lap.  We kept each other warm.

Meanwhile, my Chilean neighbor is roasting away with her parafina (kerosene) heater.  Oh, how I envied her.

When I returned to the States, I really didn't think about heaters much. Returning to my condo with its heat pump was uneventful.  Life as usual in the USA. 

About five years later, I moved into a wreck of a house that had a/c, but no heat.  I fell back on my Peace Corps Chile experience and donned thick, lush llama and alpaca sweaters, wood socks and warm pants.  When you're cold all the time, you learn what material is warmest.  I layered with second-hand-store cashmere sweaters or silk tops.  (As a poor Peace Corps Volunteer, you learn the joys of used clothes.  Especially when an ex-friend fails to send you your winter clothes as promised.) 

Anyway, now in Florida, I rarely needed more than the sweaters and electric oven to keep warm.

About five years ago, I'd had enough of the jet plane air handler.  I replaced the a/c and installed working heat strips.  My winter heating bills went astronomical.  I muttered, but what can you do.  Until the day I was at a garage sale and saw a brand-new, unused kerosene heater with directions included.  It came with 5 gallons of kerosene. 

Last winter, my bills were $50.  I was ecstatic.  I felt triumphant.  My crazy plan had worked and now I, too, was the proud owner of a parafina heater.  No kerosene smell.  Very efficient.  Would heat my open plan kitchen/living/diningroom up in 10 minutes and I'd have to turn it off.  Those five gallons lasted throughout our mild winter. I was so proud when a friend walked in, spotted it and offered me $100 for on the spot, no questions asked.  "No sale! Get your own." 

But every triumph has to have its complication, right?  You try finding more kerosene.  Gone are the days when you could just drive up to a gas station and fill 'er up.  Even Google is not being very helpful.  I can find big trucks that will fill up big tanks, but what about me and my solitary space heater?! 

I vow to keep looking and I'm sure at some point I'll find it, but if anyone out there wants to help, I'm all ears.