I don’t think people realize just how easy we have life. It’s only when something stops functioning that we get a small taste of it. For example, last month, we had a sewage pump in our basement stop working for a few days right before the holidays. It was a minor inconvenience, all things considered, because it meant that my in-laws had to come upstairs to use the restroom and shower. It also meant that we couldn’t do laundry, but we just brought it all to a local laundromat.
But as I sat there waiting for the laundry to finish, I got to thinking again about how precious water is to everything we do, and about some of the things we do that certainly won’t happen when SHTF or any major disaster strikes.
For example, I’ve gotten into the habit of washing our dog’s and cat’s bowls after every meal. It’s a small thing, and probably not necessary, but we won’t be wasting soap or water on cleaning pet bowls, at least, not daily. I also like to shower every morning, and if something disrupts that routine, I’ll be grouchy the rest of the day and probably stinky, too! But we won’t be wasting water on bathing me, the family, or our pets … unless they roll in poop (the pets or the family) … yuck! Keeping atop the laundry won’t be on the list of crucial chores, either. Honestly, anything related to water that isn’t used for direct consumption (or necessary personal hygiene, like brushing one’s teeth) won’t be happening UNTIL we can gather more, which means water procurement WILL BE at the top of the list almost instantly. (Considering the recent blizzard we had here in the Kansas City metro, water procurement will be exceedingly difficult.)
This got me to thinking about how many napkins and other disposable goods, like paper plates, we really have. It feels like we have plenty now, but if we intend on using disposables over three meals a day for several people, at minimum, those resources are going to be used up fast. My guess is that even some typically disposable items, like cups and bowls and certainly silverware, are going to be reused whenever possible, which is something I hadn’t fully considered the logistics of just yet. Maybe I simply need to buy a lot more?
And that’s to say nothing of just how much cleaning will be required of pots and pans and baking dishes. None of these items tend to come clean with ease. While we do have some disposable baking pans, they won’t last long. Come to think of it, I’d probably have to get out the cast iron pots and pans and start using those again, but not everyone has that luxury. What would you do to cook meals in a way that also requires minimal water for cleaning? Maybe focus on meals that use the BBQ grill? Perhaps you could line some baking dishes with aluminum foil?
But here, again, this is still largely about water consumption, isn’t it? What else might I not be doing if/when SHTF?
Power, particularly electricity, is the other major convenience that we all take for granted in our modern society. Think of all the ways we use electricity in our daily lives, including lighting (both indoors and outdoors), heating and cooling (space heaters, fans), cooking food (ovens, microwaves, toasters, blenders), refrigeration and freezers, washing and drying clothing, keeping informed and entertained (televisions, internet, games), cleaning (with vacuum cleaners and dishwashers), hot water (even gas water heaters use electricity), the ability to get around in vehicles, personal grooming devices, home security (like alarms, cameras, motion lights), and probably a few more ideas that escape me at the moment.
If you glossed over that list, browse it again. I guarantee there’s a lot that you’re going to miss. Think about something as simple as a microwave oven that can heat up a meal in minutes or boil a cup of water for coffee (if you’re into that sort of thing) that makes life so much easier. Sure, you can make do via other cooking devices or an outdoor campfire, but they take time, effort, persistence, and the willingness to brave severe weather at times; seeing as it is six degree outside right now, I don’t see many people option for being outdoors.
I can tell you, though, that I won’t be eating nearly as much as I do now. It’s not so much about wanting or needing to conserve food, or even trying to lose a few pounds, but more about the effort involved in making it all happen. Right now, we have several ways to prepare food with ease, including the traditional convection oven, gas stovetop, microwaves, toasters, tea kettle, air fryer, crockpots, countertop toaster oven, and countertop burners … all of which need electricity (yes, even the gas stovetop technically needs electricity to be lit if I don’t do so manually) and all but one of which will be useful during an emergency. Anyway, the point is that I won’t be eating nearly as much as I do now because it’s highly inconvenient to cook food, so I guess that’s a win for my gut.
We won’t be cleaning as much as we do now, either. Although I believe that we should do our best to remain clean when times get tough, the level of cleanliness will diminish on both a personal and household level. That said, we can and should maintain things to a point so as to avoid illnesses. The problem is that some items will be difficult to clean, like carpeting and the aforementioned dishes. Also, since the HVAC won’t be working, introducing fresh air into the house will be a daily chore of opening windows and positioning fans (if you can run them) to promote airflow, especially during the summer months.
Apparently, this is largely about keeping things clean, lol. Let me switch gears.
Obviously, the amount of entertainment we consume on a daily basis will be drastically limited, too. Yes, I know some folks believe we won’t have time for entertainment if/when SHTF, and maybe we won’t, but that doesn’t mean we can’t prepare for it. Buy some playing cards, find some board games at a local thrift shop, or grab some books from a garage sale; you’ll be glad you did … or the kids will.
Personally, I won’t be blogging, writing books, running errands, playing with my dogs as much, or complaining about my growing list of ailments, but I will be constantly on edge about our security and safety, militant about how much water and food we’re consuming, considering whether I need to let my chickens fend for themselves, and complaining about how many new best friends and close family I suddenly have. 😉
What about you? What will you definitely not be doing when SHTF?
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