What would you miss most...

[Gaillo]

What would you miss most if you no longer had access to electricity?

For me: Hot Showers. However, I've got that covered with a Solar backup... so for me it would probably be refrigeration.

[Shami-Amourae]

Internet.

[drafter]

Recorded music. Though i do have an antique wind up phonograph, it just wouldn't be the same. I'd miss hearing the music i grew up with and that I always associate with with good memories and events.

[General of Darkness]

Porn. :)

[Gaillo]

Porn. :)

Ahhh... an honest man! ;D

[muffin]

at this very moment? air conditioning. in the long run? refrigeration.

[chad]

ice. i'm not chopping it out out the lake and storing it underground in sawdust.

[vacuum]

I've been without power a few times due to storms and whatnot, and it really sucked. What I haven't really experienced though is having only limited power. Lets say you have 1000 watts only. You can run a small refrigerator, a couple efficient lights, and probably a laptop off that if you're careful.

Zero electricity sucks because I have no water (well), no light, no internet (or phone), and no refrigeration. I think those are the primary things. Secondary is no electric stove or hot water.

[Sparky]

Electricity is like magic. The dropoff in standard of living without is almost imponderable. It would be like stepping back 125 years in time.

Gaillo mentioned hot showers. It seems like that would be so far down the list that he hasn't even thought his own question through! I can replace a hot shower with a warm bath if I have to. But think of the impact it has in these areas: Lighting, air conditioning, refrigeration, heating, automobiles, television, computers/internet, phones, medical and dental equipment, power tools, kitchen appliances, etc.

[old steel]

I'd miss going to a store at a moments notice and getting whatever i want on the spot.

Snow bob, cold beer, fresh steak .... damn i'd be a basket case.

[Gaillo]

Electricity is like magic. The dropoff in standard of living without is almost imponderable. It would be like stepping back 125 years in time.

Gaillo mentioned hot showers. It seems like that would be so far down the list that he hasn't even thought his own question through! I can replace a hot shower with a warm bath if I have to. But think of the impact it has in these areas: Lighting, air conditioning, refrigeration, heating, automobiles, television, computers/internet, phones, medical and dental equipment, power tools, kitchen appliances, etc.

Hey man,
I was talking about what I would MISS the most, not what is essential for life! ;D

[Osiris]

Air conditioning and refrigeration... In that order.

[slowbell]

Haven't you guys heard of sun showers? They work great. Personally, refrigeration and most likely ice I would miss the most. It would be hard to give up cold drinks and ice on hot days. Those are great small comforts to help keep a happy peace of mind.

I think the rest, such as internet and electrical gadgets, would be initially like ripping off a bandaid, adapting to that change might be tough initially, but after a day or two long forgotten.

[milehi]

Nothing, except contact with distant friends. I've been without power during snowstorms for a week or so and couldn't be bothered to drag out the genny. I pulled out a marine ice chest and filled it with the food and snow. If anything, I caught up on some books and good conversation. Good beer is better at room temp.

Right now here in the desert, it's over 100 and I don't have AC, but do have shade trees that keep the inside temp at 75. My well is electric but there's a spring 200 yards away.

I would miss driving if that counts. I really enjoy driving mountain and canyon roads.

[zap]

My computer, I have lived with limited electricity, no AC ever, water is gravity fed,and we always drank warm beer 'specially if your really thirsty !

[milehi]

I had to look. Last month's electric bill was below 30 bucks including mandatory fees. Right now there's a ceiling fan, fridge, deep freeze, and laptop plugged in. The pumphouse is on it's own meter.

I don't have Tee Vee so the kids have to find entertainment outside. Right now they're on the 100M range with their .22's

EDIT- I forgot the clock and ignition on the propane stove. The Weber BBQ sees more action than the stove so I could unplug that if I cared.

[mick silver]

without electricity this would be the fastest way to clean up at least half the people in this country . in a few days half would be dead .

[big country]

Well, I would miss having a ready supply of clay pigeons ;)

Seriously though, just having spent 5 days with no power we missed AC the most, but it was 95 everyday for those 5 days.
Over a longer period of time I would miss freezing and then refrigerating items as it won't stay that hot forever.

We have a well (no power, no water) and hauling water from the creek to drink and flush was a huge pita, but freezing/refrigeration would be the big one

[Libertytree]

Well, I would miss having a ready supply of clay pigeons ;)

Seriously though, just having spent 5 days with no power we missed AC the most, but it was 95 everyday for those 5 days.
Over a longer period of time I would miss freezing and then refrigerating items as it won't stay that hot forever.

We have a well (no power, no water) and hauling water from the creek to drink and flush was a huge pita, but freezing/refrigeration would be the big one

Then I would look into better ways of doing that more efficiently, more than 1 way to skin that cat.

Refrigeration....that's a biggie! I do love cold beer but that will be an extreme luxury I'm afraid.

[Hillbilly]

My Electric Guitar, that would be hard to live with getting to crank up My Strat though My Big Muff into some obnoxiously loud tube head and Sunn cabs.

[hoarder]

without electricity this would be the fastest way to clean up at least half the people in this country . in a few days half would be dead .

But look at the upside. If a hundred million televisions just quit, people would start talking with their neighbors and learning things instead of being constantly brainwashed.

No matter what happens WTSHTF, you can bet long term power outages will be rare. TPTB will make it a top priority to keep power plants running so that they can control the masses with teevee.

[old steel]

without electricity this would be the fastest way to clean up at least half the people in this country . in a few days half would be dead .

Who would bury them all Mick?

The smell would scare a hungry dog off a gut wagon.

[Horn]

Music

[muffin]

But look at the upside. If a hundred million televisions just quit, people would start talking with their neighbors and learning things instead of being constantly brainwashed.

you could say the same thing about the internet....

[LuckyStrike]

Without a doubt A/C.

Hot showers are nice, but I can jump in a lake to get clean and refreshed. Refrigeration would be very crappy, but odds are I would be with a group of people and any game we killed would be eaten almost immediately and FL has a year round growing season.

But losing A/C man......geez


The internet or A/C? That is a tough one a very tough one. I think for the first few months I would say A/C but I'm sure like anything you can get used to it, but not having the internet would be hard, I learn so much from it to lose that resource would be more perilous to my life. So I change my mind, put me down for internet too.

[slowbell]

But losing A/C man......geez.

I could see this being an issue where you and other folks here live. What do you need to keep the A/C on during a shtf situation? A big genny? It might be a good idea to find a solution now, as in how much power you need to keep it on.

This is a good thread. Honestly, I think losing the internet might be tougher than I think it may be. I realize now how having all this information at our fingertips is taken for granted. If you need to research something...it's all right there. But, with no internet, or access to vast free information, it's all books. Having a good library at hand might be a very good idea. Get the books you need now.

[Mouse]

When the power goes off, people in the midwest and the east will just broil. It won't kill very many. If you don't use AC you don't need it. You acclimate to the heat and life goes on. If you are in Phoenix or Las Vegas, you already asked to die, best wishes.

[Steal]

got a 5000w gen for 2 bills last year at a moving sale, never used. had to break carb down and clean varnish off last sat.(had gas sit in it, just was never used) Our elec was out 46hrs. My 4yr old started to blubber about watching a movie on the flat screen. I had to sit her down and explain the priorities. Freezers and fridge (have alot of meat etc stored ) A/C was next (had two window unites I popped in upstairs and downstairs) then entertainment was last. Even though i ran a line up to my computer to check, cable was out so.... I would say in that 46hrs I not once hooked a light into the power. (had 3 powerstrips hooked up to lines coming in through the window.) I would venture most with generators ( heard were sold out state wide) only had fans, so with A/C I was a little spoiled. But, am sure fans would work ok if thats all you had. Sooooooooooooooooooooo.
By far, what I would miss the most is ..........the net, I know, sad. What I would classify most important......the freezers(food storage) refridgeration. I pondered on this much over the weekend. With only 2 lines coming out of the gen, had to put an a/c on each and freezers/fridge split up. Flat screen would pop fuse, so had to take freezers down for few hours to make kids happy. Im in suburbs, so outside you could hear the haves and havenots, only a few generators humming. On a long term grid down, not a viable option, unless you had a large diesel that was designed for that. Then for sure, the havenots will want to take from the haves. Would have been nice to have a mountain retreat to practice 'bugging out' last weekend. I just do not have the $ to swing everything. Those currently in the country have the upperhand in this situation , imo.

edit: like often, I am in a rush and answer a post without bothering to read all the pages, just read, seems refridgeration/a/c and net the most important. Ya gotta figure, if it comes down to it, if done 100+ years ago, can be done again. But, like mentioned complete grid down will be avoided like the plauge and if it comes, it is game on for sure.

[MNeagle]

My debit card/bank accounts.

[Twisted Titan]

Net.......

I'm doing my best to stock up on non perishables

But if worst came to worse I vould use a terra cotta pot fridge to keep stuff cold for the da day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSZH0K-Qhuw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Guess where I learned it?

[mick silver]

are dig a deep hole ... if you can