Living in the past.
When my wife and I moved into our first house, we had a deal with our landlord that she would charge us cheap rent if we kept the place up.
It was a small tract home on the busy street in a not so good side of town.
When I walked in for the first time I was taken aback. The place was built in 1949 and the lady that lived there had not done one thing to the place in 50 years. It was dirty, smelly and a total mess. Luckily, everything was intact, so I spent two weeks painting scraping scrubbing putting up blinds and laying tile and carpet.
The place was finally decent looking and livable. But it was like we were living in 1949. Gas stove, sink and refrigerator was it for kitchen appliances. The wiring couldn't handle a microwave. We had my old black and white TV in the living room with tin foil wrapped all over the rabbit ear antennae.
There was one bathroom with a pedastal sink, ancient tub, and toilet.
There were no plugs in the bathroom so I had to shave over the trashcan in the kitchen.
After a while I got used to it. It would get too hot to be in the house in the afternoons so we would sit in the back yard and play with the dogs and throw some food on the grill.
There was a washing machine on the back porch and a clothes line in the back yard. It took some getting used to and I had to be careful of frozen clothes and bath towels so hard that they could stand up by themselves.
It was a small tract home on the busy street in a not so good side of town.
When I walked in for the first time I was taken aback. The place was built in 1949 and the lady that lived there had not done one thing to the place in 50 years. It was dirty, smelly and a total mess. Luckily, everything was intact, so I spent two weeks painting scraping scrubbing putting up blinds and laying tile and carpet.
The place was finally decent looking and livable. But it was like we were living in 1949. Gas stove, sink and refrigerator was it for kitchen appliances. The wiring couldn't handle a microwave. We had my old black and white TV in the living room with tin foil wrapped all over the rabbit ear antennae.
There was one bathroom with a pedastal sink, ancient tub, and toilet.
There were no plugs in the bathroom so I had to shave over the trashcan in the kitchen.
After a while I got used to it. It would get too hot to be in the house in the afternoons so we would sit in the back yard and play with the dogs and throw some food on the grill.
There was a washing machine on the back porch and a clothes line in the back yard. It took some getting used to and I had to be careful of frozen clothes and bath towels so hard that they could stand up by themselves.
I lived easily without modern conveniences back then, no cable, computer, central air and just those gas wall heaters to keep warm but things were simple and we were happy.
Now just ten years later I'm in a room with 4 computers, mini fridge and living in a house with three bathrooms, Cable TV in four rooms , microwave, washer and dryer dishwasher and bunch of other crap. now that I've adjusted to living this way it's hard to imagine going back.
Now just ten years later I'm in a room with 4 computers, mini fridge and living in a house with three bathrooms, Cable TV in four rooms , microwave, washer and dryer dishwasher and bunch of other crap. now that I've adjusted to living this way it's hard to imagine going back.
I guess we adapt to our environment and I'm sure there are people out there that are used to living with a lot more. I don't think we are any healthier or happier, we just have more stuff to look at. The computer would be the last thing I would want to give up. It has surpassed the television, and telephone as the most important technology in the house.
What would we do if all these modern conveniences all went away overnight?
I'd probably read a book...
posted by Bill Rowland @ March 16, 2007
25 Comments
25 Comments:
or maybe write one?
I'd have to follow the lead of previous generations and resort to printed porn...
When the power went down a couple years ago (remember the Canadians were erroneously blamed?) my husband went snaky. I was in heaven. I cooked dinner on the barby and read outside until it was too dark then I lit candles. The city was lovely and quiet. My husband meanwhile frantically searched for a working flashlight and battery powered radio and listened for the latest updates on the situation. My mother and I survived quite well without power in the middle of a bad snowstorm for a few days. We had to build fires to cook and keep warm and chop a hole in the ice for water to drink and cook and wash and flush. For me it is very relaxing. A holiday. In the long term, it would certainly require serious adjustments (I'm thinking food storage would be the most difficult) but I doubt very much that I would get bored.
I think you're right - we do adjust to our situation and you're right again....we are no happier nor are we healthier (in fact probably UNhealthier in a way).
Everyone would just cope if we lost everything overnight - some would find it harder than others I guess, but there is definitely something 'cozy' about lack of modern conveniences.
I'd read a book....and weep. I regret I am too much a creature of comfort to live without modern conveniences.
Just discovered your blog. It's well-written and entertaining. Keep at it! =)
Umm
I love my lifestyle without running water and all the fancy things you have.
Been there, done that, it's bullshit.
I do love the computer and what I can do with it, but I wonder if I'm really changing the world with it.
If I didn't have it I would be at the beaches and in the mountains more.
Actually, it is a lot like an anchor on a boat.
But you monkeys can be very interesting. :-)
Hammer don't you know if ALL you have don't fit in a sea bag you don't need it?
Up until recently I lived by the motto travel light and freeze at night.
Marine Infantry thing.
Now there's 2 of us so I gotta put away the 'John Wayne', learn how to use this stupid electric can opener, put away the heat tabs and learn this stove, stop using my canteen cup to cook chow in, and my daughter is complaing of eye strain because shes been reading by the light of chem sticks...
I'll get this moderation figured out soon though.
Great read bro. :)
We had a blackout a couple of years ago during the summer. Hot. It was no big deal. Candles and quiet, which was heaven.
I would like to downsize to two rooms-one for us, one for the dog. Hose it down. Gotta have the computer, books and that's pretty much all I'd need. Except for shoes and stuff.
But, it's amazing what we don't need. As I age I want to divest myself of "stuff", contrary to many in our area who keep moving to bigger. Of course, they forget they have to furnish, AC and clean the monsters. It's stupid.
infinitesimal: good call :)
Stucco: the good ole days of stuck together magazine pages ;)
Jeannie: It can be fun roughing it. My favorite time when I was a kid was living in the basement during tornados with just a candle and battery powered radio.
bbc: posessions are an anchor if one thinks they are necessary. So many spend their lives concentrating on things.
gunz: good point lol I like to buy a case of MRE's and cook with the chem packs. the kids love it but my wife wasn't convinced until the red beans and rice and spiced apples.
Kim, good point, I don't want to get any more stuff, too much hassle
read a what?
man that sounds alot like mine and Gigantor's first appartment. He was fresh out of the navy and working three part time jobs, while I went back to work part time after my surgery.
No phone, had to walk down the complex to a pay phone. Had to go to laundromat. He took my truck, so my mother had to pick me up for work, and doctor. We had a stove with two burners, and a fridge. One cubbord in the entire kitchen. Only other appliance we had was a coffee pot. Our t.v. had the push buttons, and it was supposed to be deluxe and have 12, but 3 were broke so you had to use a screw driver.
I love the conveniences now. Like washer and dryer, and dishwasher, microwave, t.v., computer. But if I had horses again, none of that would matter, cuz every spare minute would be at the corrals!!! hehehehe
Stuff all over the place. Labor saving devices. I can remember not having a fraction of this shit as a kid and being happy, but don't think I'll give it up just yet. I'll wait for the asteroid to hit, and go back to sitting around a camp fire and reading books when everyone else does.
Hammer, I have already adjusted so many times in my life, so I just go with what I have at the time....
One day invited to royal parties, the next on the corner with open hand...
I have even adjusted to the thought of it.
If everything get lost tomorrow, I will know how to survivle ...
Its so much easier to climb up than slide down when it comes to living. Good job on your advice site, Hammer. You have that rare human commodity...common sense.
Me and sweetthing have been there and done that..we lived in the bush in Alaska for a couple of years..have been full time RV four different times..and even camped out in a damn tent all one summer just for the hell of it. Enjoyed about all of that I could stand and now enjoy all that I can enjoy of the "modern world".."what's clothes line, Momma?"
I think about this a lot. How things were different way back when, and what a mess the world would be if computers were somehow rendered useless, or if the electricity went out for a long period of time. I hope that there are still people who make it their business to know the old ways, just in case we need them.
Irene: thanks for visiting I appreciate the kind comment :)
JP: One of those things they sell on amazon.com ;)
burfica: I could tolerate low tech better if I was on a farm or ranch and not stuck in the shitty city :)
fathairybastard: Low tech seemed fine where there wasn't anything else then I guess we little by little get accustomed to more.
Kirsten: From reading your blog and book It sounds like you've been there more than once. It takes a strong and resiliant person to deal with that.
kat: Thanks :) If my technology goes down, I like it to be my choice, like camping :)
guyk: that sounds like fun, but like you said I'm sure it gets old after a while.
janet: I think we've built a world around us that is not well suited to a lack of electricity. But I'm sure we would manage somehow.
Great post Hams. Good food for thought. I love it when the power goes out. I enjoy the quiet & the serenity. The girls and I spend more of that near non-existent quality time with one another, andt here's just something about a candlelit room. I could do without the freezing cold though. Frankly, I'm getting close to selling the t.v.'s, but not the 'puter. Yep, we're spoiled.
It sounds like we moved into your old place after you finally moved out of it.
What would we do if all these modern conveniences all went away overnight?
I'd probably read a book...
You want a good preview of a real big "worst case scenario"? Read S.M. Sterling's "Dies the Fire" and its sequels. It made me consider odrdering the Swiss halberds and the Scottish broadswords in the Cold Steel catalogue.
Gunz,
Now there's 2 of us so I gotta put away the 'John Wayne', learn how to use this stupid electric can opener
No, you don't! I still use mine in the kitchen, I don't have to worry about it getting dull like that other thing.
Hi Hammer ! Yeah, I remember living in a 10' x 8' dorm room and being happy...
Conveniences are great. I would NOT want to live without air-conditioning/heating, or an indoor washing machine !
But I can do without a dishwasher... That's what my hands and some 'joy' soap are good for !
Toys like a computer and cable tv are fun too, but learning how to entertain yourself like in the 'old days' with a book, has some serious merits to it...
Happy St. Patrick's Day to you and those you love !
Man, those things that didn't kill us made us stronger.
I remember not having electricity... and reading a book too.
In 2004, we were hit by hurricanes Frances and Jeanne within a month of each other in the summer. We were without power for 9 days each time. 98 degree days with incredible humidity. 85 degree nights with incredible humidity.
18 of the worst days of my life.
One neighbor had a generator, and let us power up a lamp and a fan at night. We thought we'd died and gone to heaven. I worked crossword puzzles and sweated. Luckily, we're some of those folks, unlike New Orleans residents apparently, that actually stock up on water and canned goods each spring for each upcoming hurricane season. We had food and water, and would cruise around town looking for ice.
Once others started getting power, we would make trips to the laundromat, like when we were first married. We went to the library for books to read and to check our email.
All I can say is, I still, two and a half years later, have a great appreciation for electricity and the associated benefits. When the power came back on each time, I'd call family in other states, Cingular stayed working through it all, and tell them the joyous news that our power and air conditioning was back on. Like I was announcing the birth of a new child.
I know I can live simply, I'm too laid back to freak out about things a whole lot, but I sure do like internet access and air conditioning.
Like everyone , I can adjust to what I have to when life throws me a curve ball...but going without my computer (and my pogo) for any great length of time is pushing the boundaries a bit. I can do it, but don't ask me to like it or being happy about it...LMAO.
I would miss central heat and air, and my washer and dryer. I haven't used my dishwasher since my kids moved out (I just don't make enough dirty dishes by myself to bother). It woulld be difficult to take my wall to wall carpets out and beat them, so I guess the vacuum cleaner would have to stay. It goes without saying that the computer would stay. I wouldn't miss the TV, DVD player, or alarm clock!
annie: It's amazing that many kids these days will never know not having all this stuff.
Ryan: no electricity is the hardest to overcome at first.
jam: Its good you stocked up. Our AC broke two years ago in August.
It was a living hell so I can imagine two weeks.
morningglory: I wouldn't miss the TV as much as I used to. Sometimes I'll take off my watch just to challenge myself
Post a Comment
Welcome back
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home