This week’s question (Have your own? Submit it here.):

John’s Water Ice just closed for the season, so I decided to do something smart this year: I stocked up. Almost half our freezer is filled with it.

But, my wife says it’s too much, that we have to have people over soon to eat through it so we actually have freezer space, and that it won’t even taste as good a month from now. But I say: Some John’s is better than no John’s. Did I go too far? Or not far enough?

Mike Newall, Life & Culture reporter

Do not second-guess yourself for a moment. You are a good husband and a good man. You saw water ice and you got it and you gave it a home for the winter and now many of your neighbors will want to be your friends. Congrats, you are a local hero.

If anything, I’d start clearing freezer space for the water ice ahead of time.

Abigail Covington, Life & Culture reporter

Listen, I love John’s too. But I am firmly with your wife on this one. Do you want to be the kind of guy who stocks up on stuff? Get a second freezer for the garage. Everybody knows that’s where overflow goods go. You cannot waste precious freezer space on a seasonal treat.

Mike Newall

Oh, Abigail, we have been through so much together — I think maybe two of these advice chats, at least — and now we part ways — or at least opinions. Water ice! Water ice! Water ice!

I see your point on the basement freezer (that’s where my pop kept his pickled pig’s feet). But it’s not like this is last month’s leftovers — it’s water ice. It’ll be gone before Halloween.

Abigail Covington

Yes, maybe a compromise is in order. Give the water ice an expiration date. It has to be gone before the holidays when leftovers will inevitably need to move in. Or, I like Mike’s idea — Halloween.

Mike Newall

Here’s my thing: Let’s fast-forward a couple weeks or even more to the heart of fall. Leaves are falling. Eagles are on TV. Chill in the air. And you’re in your living room enjoying some fine — possibly maybe a little bit freezer burnt if you don’t really shut the lids — pineapple water ice. To me the appeal is enjoying something when you normally can’t. It’s more than a treat. It’s a little seasonal nostalgia.

Freezer burn is a reasonable fear, and the sugar and water can over-crystallize over time, making the ice somewhat grainy. But I’m sure that takes time. More than enough time for you to kick back with some well-preserved lemon ice after Thanksgiving dinner.

Abigail Covington

I’m sorry but who in Hades wants to eat water ice in November? It’s not ice cream! You can’t serve it with pumpkin pie. I get the nostalgia element, but the joy of a seasonal treat is that it’s seasonal. Make it available year-round and it will undoubtedly lose its luster, especially if it’s got the freezer burn fuzzies.

Mike Newall

Oh boy, I got a chill from “freezer burn fuzzies.”

You know what, Abigail. You convinced me.

In the spirit of compromise, a solution: Why don’t you and your wife make a water ice date on the next lovely evening. Sit out on the stoop. Enjoy it. Pass it around. Talk about the old days and good times. And then go back inside and chuck the rest out.

Abigail Covington

Agreed. There are plenty of water ice spots that stay open year-round for the diehards like yourself. Venture out of the house when the craving hits and let the contents of your freezer change with the seasons. Your wife will thank you.