I lived off the grid for twenty-two years. We only lived two miles from power lines, also two miles off a main road, but the power company wanted $500,000 to take a power line to our house. We chose not to do that, so we created our power with a generator, first propane with a wind backup, and then diesel. I learned a lot of basic mechanics over the years because the one rule of generators is that they will fail, and usually at a very inconvenient time. Ask me why I flinch when the lights flicker. My fridge was propane and a whopping 7.7 cubic feet. It too failed every now and again, so I am now quite adept at fixing propane fridges.
Now that I have “regular” power, I have it easy. At my old house, I had to schedule laundry, ironing, showers, TV watching, hair drying, cooking with the electric oven, and using the microwave around the times that the generator was running–from whenever we got up to 10:00 in the morning, then from 4:00 in the afternoon to bedtime. I could not use a crockpot. I did not charge my phone at night. Oh–I also had one of the first cell phones because the telephone company took eleven years to run a line to us. It was so big that it was mounted on the wall, and if you took it somewhere you had a special carrying bag like a brief case to hold it. All calls, incoming and outgoing, were 60 cents a minute. If a telemarketer called you, it cost you.
I did love the “simple” life and it was a great way to raise kids. That said, it’s so nice to take a shower without tuning on the power. To cook when I want, sew when I want, make a phone call that doesn’t cost 60 cents a minute (that did change to a more reasonable price as cell phones became more common).
Would I go back? Let’s say this–I could go back. It’s a tougher life, and expensive, but doable, and there are some definite advantages. It’s really peaceful and at that time, before phones and battery powered laptops, you looked to other things to fill your time. And even though it was a challenging life in some ways, it was nothing compared to how rural people lived in the first part of the last century. Now those were tough people.
My question to you today, for a $10 Amazon gift certificate, is an offshoot from my topic. Let’s say you have a cooking stove that needs no electricity, an ice box, and (wonder of wonders) indoor plumbing. No communication or entertainment devices. What modern convenience would you like to add to the mix? For me, it would be electric lights.
Jeannie Watt raises cattle in Montana and loves all things western. When she's not writing, Jeannie enjoys sewing, making mosaic mirrors, riding her horses and buying hay. Lots and lots of hay.
air conditioning. I have asthma and need to be able to breathe without heat and humidity.
That’s a good one, denise.
I have to have air conditioning. Heat is excruciating with my migraines.
Joannie, are you familiar with author Elle Wren Burke’s online newsletter? She’s another migraine (plus other health issues) sufferer and has a pain relief tip at the end of each one ; some of them might be new to you. Go to elle@elleburkeauthor.com if you’re interested.
I’m sorry to hear about your migraines, Joannie. I’m glad you have AC!
Appreciated your very interesting and educational posting. I grew up in the country on a ranch, but we did have a rural electric cooperative. Your picture is a beautiful setting. Regarding your question – perhaps a phone for emergencies although electric lighting would probably take priority.
How cool to grow up on a ranch, Catherine! A phone for emergencies would have been such a blessing back in the day.
Oops. As hit send realized a typo on my post info.
🙂
I would need heat/air. I would need other things too since I’m so spoiled by modern conveniences.
Heat and air are wonderful conveniences. Especially air for the hot climates.
Wow! I imagine you had to be an amazing planner and very flexible as you never knew when the generator would fail. I think I would want to add electric lights as well.
I did have an emergency routine, Patti. And yes, to electric lights.
I would want a washing machine since there’s indoor plumbing! I wouldn’t want to wash clothes on a wash board or in the creek.?
Not me, lol!
As I read your post I was amazed at all that you had to do. I couldn’t do it, even when I was younger the modern conveniences were necessary and that was a long time ago. I would need electricity, also. When I met my husband and went to meet his parents and siblings they had no indoor bathroom, this was 1971. Going to the outhouse scared me to death because I was so afraid of spiders, snakes, and wasp nests, so he had to go with me, inspect the inside to make sure there were no critters, then stand outside while I went to potty, lol
That’s a great story, Karen, and so understandable as one who has used many an outhouse. That spider thing. The fact that there was no indoor plumbing in 1971 shows how much so many of us took for granted, even back then.
I would have to say electric lights,
They are wonderful! All you need is one good power outage to know that candles just don’t cut it.
I would have to say electric lights. Thank you for the opportunity. God bless you.
Thank you, Debra, and I agree with the lights.
I’m going with you – electric lights.
I love me some good lighting, too. 🙂
Hello. I’ve lived in a Two room house with outdoor plumbing. Yes 2 rooms, 8 people until I was 13. Gas lamps when the lights went out. Wood stove in the basement. A garden in the backyard for canned food. I would have to have A/C because of my breathing.
Wow, Charlene! That’s amazing! I’m glad you have AC now!
Electric lights for me too.
I so agree!
I would say a cell phone in case of an emergency.
Good choice, Bonnie. Getting medical or any other kind of help fast is important.
electric lights
I agree!
welcome today. oh but this is a cool post. I love that picture of your place. I grew up on a ranch and we had some things. but mom helped us do without a lot of things and we didn’t notice it really. if I had those things above, I suppose I would like to have a cell phone. not because I like to talk a lot to others, but so we would be in the loop when needed. I have used fire places and know how to cool down in the summer. I loved the use of lanterns and candles. it actually gave us more sleep for the next day and that was good
That’s so interesting, Lori. I envy people who grew up on ranches. My mom did, but I grew up rural without the cows. A phone is a life line for sure.
I would also say electricity. One can do so much with it. A radio would be more important if one had the electric. TV’s can be lived without.
Electricity is amazing. We’re so lucky compared to earlier generations!
Also, electricity
It’s now hard to do without it.
I’m sure electricity will be the number one answer. I would also say electric lights.
Surprisingly, electric lights is number one so far.
I would say a telephone. When we built our first little house after my husband returned from Korea, we could not get the telephone company to run a line to our house. Even after a year and we were expecting our first child we had no phone. Everytime something happened we would have to drive 5 miles to my parents house to use the phone. The night I went into labor it was freezing rain and we had to go to Mother’s to call the doctor. So even though I don’t talk on the phone much it is necessary in emergencies.
What a story, Sarah! When we were first married, we didn’t have a phone and the neighbor would take calls for us. Not very convenient. I can’t imagine being pregnant without a phone. Yowza!
I’m on the band wagon with electricity (then we could use A/C when it gets unbearable in our Mojave Desert). Using beeswax candles is supposed to be healthier for our eyes (from reading, not experience).
Great strategy, Mary. Living in the Mojave must be beautiful!
I would probably say electricity .
There’s so much you can do with it.
I think a phone for emergencies
That would be really handy. You never know when you need to get help.
I think I would add a telephone to use in case of emergency. Other than that, I can’t think of anything in this modern day life that I would miss.
Great answer, Karin.
It’s a toss up between air conditioning, and electric lights, but A/C would probably win for me!
AC is pretty important. If you’re hot and miserable and can’t breath, seeing wouldn’t seem all that great.
Toilet paper.
Great answer, Kate! My mom was just reminiscing about the good old days with catalogs. No thank you.
Heat is a big requirement for me.
Me, too, in the mornings, especially. We were lucky to have a furnace, but it would only work when the generator was running.
Running water in your house. Having lived with limited water supply I feel like clean indoor water is a convenience we all take for granted.
So important, and we tend to take it for granted.
I want something to wash my clothes.
That would be really handy. I once used a gas-powered washing machine. It was an interesting experience.
Definitely electricity for so many necessities and comfort.
Right you are, Sharon!
I want indoor plumbing, for this I need a good water supply.
You would at that, and indoor plumbing is a luxury.
Good water supply
That is super important, Barbara!
My first thought was central air, but you know windows open and breezes are nice. I think my age means I’d need a cell phone just in case we needed help. Thanks for sharing your fascinating story with us, Jeannie!
You’re welcome, Nan, and yes, a phone can be really important for safety reasons.
A/C would be a must!
I totally understand that choice, having once lived in the desert.
Electricity.
Now that we’re used to it, it’s very hard to do without.
I live in FL, so I’d have to add in A/C!!! Honestly, the home I grew up in (that I still live in!) didn’t have A/C until 1994. Now, I don’t want to do without it, though we were without power for seven days after a hurricane back in 2004!!
That’s a long time without power, Trudy! It’s amazing that you’re still in the house you grew up in. And yes, AC is so necessary in Florida. I can’t imagine living there without it.
Electricity for sure
It’s hard to live without now days.
Electricity because everything else can be run with electricity!
Right you are, Nancy. We can do so many things with it.
Running water
I think running water is a luxury we no longer think about, but such an important one.
Hmmm, I’d have to say electric lights also because reading by candles or lanterns has got to be HARD! lol
It’s really hard. And it leaves smoke stains on the ceiling.
Medications: antibiotics, insulin, digoxin….
Automobiles
Grocery stores
Camera
I’d miss a lot of everyday conveniences we take for granted.
Medications! Great thought, Laurie!
Electric lights work for me too.
I so agree!
A Fan to cool things down when needed
Electric Lights for me also!
I have been re-reading “Maddie Inherits a Cowboy”” and from things you have posted in the past I have thought some of your personal experiences were included in this book. Today’s post adds to that. I lived in a house without running water until I was thirteen. It was wonderful when we got indoor plumbing. But, even that would not have been possible without electricity to pump water from the well. So as important as a phone would be, electricity is what I would want first
Hi! Love all the comments & ideas. Enjoy your books always a must read.
I would like to have some form of communication…like a cell phone or just a regular landline.
Definitely electric power
Electric lights
Electricity and water are a definite for me. When we first moved to where we live now, the power went out frequently. Except for the refrigerator and freezer, it was no big deal. We had a wood stove and could heat the house and cook. I got oil lamps and they throw enough light to read and work by. One winter the power was out for 5 days or so. We really were not inconvenienced. The freezer was in an out side space, so things stayed frozen. The stuff in the fridge we used right away and put in a cooler with ice or put it outside. We had city water, so that was no issue…until day 4 when the water plant shut down. That was much more inconvenient. Had we known we would lose it, we would have filled the tub so we had water to wash up and flush with. I have a little solar charger that do well keeping cell phones charged. When Helene hit our area, we were lucky to have access to a generator for the refrigerator and freezer. The water was not usable to drink or cook, but was running. There were many other issues, but things for us were manageable.
Living alone and not totally mobile, a phone would be my tie to the outside world.