Simplify, Simplify, Simplify…

What would happen if you were to wake up in the morning to find that the power grid had gone down sometime during the night? After you found a battery operated radio, you’d also find out that the local AM or FM radio station is broadcasting by battery power and informs you that the whole country is affected and they don’t know the extent of time it will be down. Would you freak out or would you REALLY freak out? Think about your answer for a sec. If you didn’t have internet access, or your smartphone, or your Keurig, what would you feel like? If you’re like me, you’d think that the power’s never off for very long…it’ll be back on in a day or two. And besides, this is the United States. We’re the most industrialized nation on the planet. I can handle living without my “stuff” for a while. Yep, I’d be thinking that, just as I tried to put a cup of water in the microwave to heat up and then, when it doesn’t fire up, say to myself…”Duh, you stupid moron. That was a smooth move.” I can joke about that now, but what if a couple of weeks goes by and still no power? Will I be calm when three weeks goes by without power? Probably not. No, definitely not. And neither will 99% percent of the population. We’ve become so reliant on electricity and electronics that we’ve forgotten how things were before conveniences ruled our lives. Not really our fault, just the way it is.
I’ve always been envious of the Amish. They know how to live simply. I also think we could learn a lot about simplifying our lives from them. As I write this, I am listening to an XM radio. It’s on the ‘40s station, and before that I was listening to Old Time Radio Classics. (Modern technology meets the simpler times of the ‘40’s and the ‘50’s.) There are times when I wish I could have the courage to pitch the 2023 technologies in favor of an off-grid lifestyle. Of course, I could always listen to the XM radio by power generated by my solar generator. Could I live without a microwave? Probably…I hear it’s not good for you or the food anyways. And dish TV? Not much worth watching, really. Maybe I could get DVD’s of all my old favorite shows that I might miss too much. I have to wonder if time would seem to slow down for a change if I read a book instead of watching news channels, or you tube doom and gloom? At the very least it might be less stressful. I’m not saying that we have to go back to outhouses and Sears catalogs, but I wouldn’t mind adopting a simpler, Amish-type lifestyle…or at least a lifestyle with only 3 TV channels to choose from. You might want to make a list of all your conveniences and ask yourself what you would do without those things. We’re not a “wringer-washer” society anymore, but the next time you’re at an antique store, it couldn’t hurt to pick up a wringer for a galvanized washtub. Or maybe a few oil lamps…and some books…and some bread pans…and then stop at Costco and get some toilet paper for God’s sake…(I think I’m changing my name to Eli…)