There are a lot of modern conveniences we city dwellers sort of take for granted with little or no thought. But, sometimes, they get interrupted. Last year, much of California was subject to electrical blackouts to prevent fires. My impression was that they were given little notice before it happened. That HAD to be inconvenient.
I recently had 4 days without running city water. That was exceedingly difficult because I was only expecting to be without water for a few hours, not four days, so I didn’t have enough put aside ahead of time. I have a lake about 100 yards from the house, so in a case of true desperation, I could’ve gotten a bucket’s worth and boiled it on the stove top before use. I actually filled two gallon jugs from my neighbor’s outdoor faucet, and then rationed myself carefully, but, it gave me a new appreciation for running water.
Many of these “services” are provided by our cities and other government agents acting for our mutual benefit. Trash pickup, snow plowing of roads, mail delivery, electricity and/or gas lines, sewage lines in cities/towns, there have to be dozens of these things we city dwellers never give a thought to–until we suddenly don’t have them.
What basic “convenience” would you miss most, if it suddenly went away? My personal answer would be a toss-up between electricity and running water–if you have either, you can eventually get the other.
I am a really sad person, because I admit that nowadays I would be totally lost without the internet! Not just for our wonderful poker site, but keeping in touch with friends via FaceTime and WhatsApp. To think that only a few years ago we used to trawl round shops, fighting for a parking space, when now thanks to online shopping we can browse, compare prices, and shop at our leisure. Losing ourselves looking at exotic holidays (then opting for a week on one of the Costas) has brightened many a rainy winter afternoon! Roll on being transformed from home to holiday in minutes, cannot wait!
grapevine took the #1 modern convenience, but I’ll say right up there with the Internet I’d go with Alan25main: I need my indoor plumbing, most specifically the hot shower. I reclaim myself, body and soul, in a daily hot shower.
I would miss the internet the most! Many of my friends are internet friends and I do a lot of communicating online. I’m not sure what I would do without it.
Seems to me a “hot shower” requires both indoor plumbing and electricity/gas Personally, I’d say electricity, since without it, I have no phone, computer, internet, light, hot water, etc
I’m gonna have to go with electricity. Without it, we would have to surf the web by candle light.
Refrigeration is kinda important too. One can’t serve cokes at their proper temperature without some kind of refrigeration, at least not year-round. Of course, this assumes you don’t live in one of those countries which are completely within the arctic circle, like Canadia.
Since the onslaught of China flu, maybe not a modern convenience relatively speaking, but I have felt what it would be like to have to do without TP. I don’t ever want to go through that again. You can have my phone, my internet and all 700 channels. Don’t mess with my toilet paper!
I have thought about this and seriously - nothing comes to mind, as I am quite happy to not have any modern conveniences…seems to have stuffed the world up with so much - convenience.
The thought of going completely off grid is very attractive…getting back to basics and nature works for me…in fact everyday it gets more and more attractive. Where’s my backpack…it’s around here somewhere…ok I will confess, can’t get by without my backpack.
Most responses so far are about the things we like. How about avoiding the things we DON’T like?
Most of us would be lost without town/city sewage. For some of my youngest years, I grew up having an outhouse, using sweet-lime to degrade the sewage quickly and keeping the odors bearable. I would NOT want to go back to those days. Sewer lines really do improve our lives and our health and make town-dwelling bearable. Where else are we going to put all that poop?
And, no, we can’t all just go do it in the woods like a bear waltzing his matilda.
Romantic though a real fire is, I would hate to go back to a freezing house with only one warm room. You had to choose between freezing with privacy or fighting for the seat nearest the flames. This girl gives big thumbs up to central heating!
I agree with you if you are in the metro area. We live in the country 20 miles away from any services but we have renewable power with the Internet and TV. I have a compost toilet that can be used as fertilizer. The urine is well, mostly water but it has a purpose also. I don’t flush 10-20 gallons of water a day. It is more valuable to drink, wash, and water the gardens. The poop, as you say, from the nursing homes, babies, adult diapers, not to mention from dogs, cats, carnivores/predators in the woods poopee, ends up in the dirt. I am not everybody but I like the self-sustaining lifestyle.
Personally, I’d say electricity, since without it, I have no phone, computer, internet, light, hot water, etc
