Anything you can't give up?

[patandchickens]

Honestly the first thing that comes to mind is "the sump pump" (something to power it, that is). Without it, the basement would be flooded maybe 4' deep year-round, and I expect the foundations or floor joists would soon 'go' and the house would be just a soggy pile o' rubble.

I wonder how much it would cost to set up a little solar-recharging system to run it.

The other thing I would have one heck of a time going without would be sturdy comfy shoes. I do not see me making homemade shoes that allow me to actually do hard work on a regular basis (I do not have the greatest feet to begin with).

Pat

 

[roosmom]

CHOCOLATE and electrcity.



EDITED: DH is like the trees I guess I take him for granted. ok let me modigy this
1 husband
2 chocolate
3 electricity

 

[k0xxx]

The wife and kids. The rest I could work around not having.

I know that's not exactly what the topic was about. It's just the first thing that came to mind.

 

[Cassandra]

k0xxx what a lovely thing to hear! I'm sure the first thing my husband would say is "internet"

Aside from food/clothing/shelter, I would not want to do without.... ummm...

Running water and a fan to blow on me while I sleep. You know, I think hubby & I could take turns. If we could devise some kind of pedal contraption to run the fan. I could pedal for 6 hours while I read or shell peas or knit and he sleeps. And he can pedal for six hours while he's on the internet and I sleep.

That sounds totally fair!

I also have been looking hand-pump contraptions to add to your well to have running water in an emergency. They are not cheap! Like a thousand bucks! But it would SO be worth it.

Cassandra

 

[enjoy the ride]

Reading here about air conditioning, I am so grateful that I live in a place where it is "naturally" air condition- when it gets too hot inland, fog forms on the ocean and cools off the coastline. I admit to hating not seeing the sun for days at a time but I also enjoy not having to pay for AC.
I wonder if people have alternatives to this- when I built my house, I did orient it so that in the summer the overhangs mostly keep tha sun out but in the winter, it is low enough to come in.

I dimmly also remember my father having something called a swamp cooler which seemed to cool by water evaporation.

 

[miss_thenorth]

What can't I give up for self-sufficient lifestyle? Hmmmm. I couldn't give up my glasses, my medication, or my arch supports. I could not make any of those, and even if I were living as close to self-sufficient as possible, I would need to see, need to take my meds, so I could actually work, and would ned my supports so I could actually walk.

 

[nc chicken man]

Jesus and my kids

 

[miss_thenorth]

Jesus and my kids

You wouldn't have to give these up to be self -sufficient

 

[Homesteadmom]

For where we live right now it would be a/c & hot running water.

For our place in the mtns hot running water. I can do without elec if I had to, but I want to get myself & my house & my dishes clean(kids too & I guess hubby too).

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

My HUSBAND!! because he does all the hard stuff


I would say computer and internet, but we were without power the last five days, and I survived just fine