Modern Amenities - You don't miss them till they are gone

TrailerParkJawa · Post by **TrailerParkJawa** » 2004-03-04 12:15am

I'm watching a show on the History Channel about plumbing. It just reinforces what I experienced a few weeks ago. Modern plumbing and other such items are wonderful, but you don't think about them till they are gone.

About 3 weeks ago the water heater went out and leaked all over the garage. My friends don't live near me anymore so it was not until the following week I could get it replaced. I tried taking one, and only one, cold shower. Fuck that! Even in California the water is too cold in February for that shit.

Anyway, I ended up taking showers at work as a compromise. Its fixed now and Im glad for my hot showers. No back to nature for me. No living in the ruins of civilization fantasies for me.

So, what modern convenience that is often overlooked are you thankful for?

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2004-03-04 12:19am

I suppose electricity is a really big one. No electricity, no lights, no heating, no computer......no....internet....*gets a seizure*

Another thing would be grocery stores and supermarkets. God knows where most of us would find food without those.

TrailerParkJawa · Post by **TrailerParkJawa** » 2004-03-04 12:22am

Shinova wrote:I suppose electricity is a really big one. No electricity, no lights, no heating, no computer......no....internet....*gets a seizure*

Another thing would be grocery stores and supermarkets. God knows where most of us would find food without those.

Yeah, grocery stores are a big one. For me grocery stores and plumbing come first. Since I have a gas stove I can live without lights for a time.

Post by **Gandalf** » 2004-03-04 12:24am

Shinova wrote:Another thing would be grocery stores and supermarkets. God knows where most of us would find food without those.

Pizza delivery?

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2004-03-04 12:27am

Gandalf wrote:Pizza delivery?

Can you eat only pizza for several years? I know I can't.

Rogue 9 · Post by **Rogue 9** » 2004-03-04 12:32am

You people seriously don't know how to find food? Come on, honestly! There's stuff to be had year round if you know where to look. (And what not to eat.)

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2004-03-04 12:34am

Rogue 9 wrote:You people seriously don't know how to find food? Come on, honestly! There's stuff to be had year round if you know where to look. (And what not to eat.)

Of course, most of us aren't a country bumpkin like you seem to be.

Rogue 9 · Post by **Rogue 9** » 2004-03-04 12:42am

Shinova wrote:
Rogue 9 wrote:You people seriously don't know how to find food? Come on, honestly! There's stuff to be had year round if you know where to look. (And what not to eat.)
Of course, most of us aren't a country bumpkin like you seem to be.

Grew up on a tree farm out in the sticks, and proud of it.

Tip: While acorns are edible and highly nutritious, they taste awful. I don't know what squirrels see in them.

Don't eat the smooth black berries on thornless vines; they're poisonous. Red sumac (not poison sumac has edible berries in the fall. If you have an orchard you're set for all autumn and late summer, though you get sick of apples after a while.

Okay, I think that's enough foraging tips from me.

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2004-03-04 01:06am

Forget foraging, you can just invite yourself over to eat at your neighbor's every day.

MarkIX · Post by **MarkIX** » 2004-03-04 02:31am

Rogue 9 wrote:: While acorns are edible and highly nutritious, they taste awful. I don't know what squirrels see in them.

They taste better if you soak them several time to remove the Tannin which is a toxin

neoolong wrote:Forget foraging, you can just invite yourself over to eat at your neighbor's every day.

you soon run out of neighbours that way.

Rogue 9 · Post by **Rogue 9** » 2004-03-04 02:41am

MarkIX wrote:
Rogue 9 wrote:: While acorns are edible and highly nutritious, they taste awful. I don't know what squirrels see in them.
They taste better if you soak them several time to remove the Tannin which is a toxin.

Tannin's toxic in large amounts, but you'd have to eat a lot of acorns before it started to actually poison you. Tannin's in almost every plant product you eat. And it actually tastes bad because tannin is astringent, not because you're detecting poison.

Knife · Post by **Knife** » 2004-03-04 03:11am

So, what modern convenience that is often overlooked are you thankful for?

Toilet Paper!!!!!

Quickly followed by the toilet itself.

Nowadays, nobody worries about shaking the wrong hand of someone else

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2004-03-04 03:12am

Guys I live so far out in the sticks we are considering taking up the banjo.....

Rogue 9 · Post by **Rogue 9** » 2004-03-04 03:14am

The Yosemite Bear wrote:Guys I live so far out in the sticks we are considering taking up the banjo.....

I play bass. That count?

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2004-03-04 03:26am

mostly we consider it so that we can scarethe tourons....

*dueling Banjo's for electric guitrar heard in the distance.*

consequences · Post by **consequences** » 2004-03-04 05:31am

Personally, I don't understand why people spend so much money to get away from modern amenities, considering the fact that I have to be payed a fair amount to do the same.

Faram · Post by **Faram** » 2004-03-04 06:34am

consequences wrote:Personally, I don't understand why people spend so much money to get away from modern amenities, considering the fact that I have to be payed a fair amount to do the same.

Well I for one love hicking in the outback. Last summer 2weeks (cut short du to accident) in the mountains and I am in heaven.

But the only thing to eat in the mountains is raindeer and if I killed one of those, the Sami would come after me with a vengance.

CmdrWilkens · Post by **CmdrWilkens** » 2004-03-04 05:49pm

To loosely paraphrase "Dogma":

There is no sin, no pleasure, greater than central air.

You learn to appreciate this when the daytime high in early March is already creeping into the mid 90s and headed MUCH higher within the next few weeks.

EmperorChrostas the Cruel · Post by **EmperorChrostas the Cruel** » 2004-03-04 06:34pm

All present day millitary, and veterans know the downsides of camping. We do it so much!

After 14 days without a shower or clean clothes, working hard in 90%+ humidity, I was surprised both I and my clothes came clean afterwords.

Hence, the popularity of camper, and trailers. Sitdown flush toilets, and hot showers make the world a much better and cleaner smelling place.
Nature, quiet, and privacy is so much nicer when you can have it on your own terms.

A huge campfire too, like visible from space.

aphexmonster · Post by **aphexmonster** » 2004-03-04 06:47pm

Knife wrote:
So, what modern convenience that is often overlooked are you thankful for?
Toilet Paper!!!!!

Quickly followed by the toilet itself.

Nowadays, nobody worries about shaking the wrong hand of someone else

Meh, TP is a thing of the past. Open your eyes to the future. seeeeeeeeeeeeeashells

TrailerParkJawa · Post by **TrailerParkJawa** » 2004-03-05 11:51pm

Toilet paper is a good one, but I suppose we could always get by on rabbit fur.

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2004-03-06 12:08am

TrailerParkJawa wrote:Toilet paper is a good one, but I suppose we could always get by on rabbit fur.

Toilets, period, are a modern amenity we very underestimate.

I shudder at the thought of looking for a bush day after day....wondering exactly what I'm going to be using as toilet paper.

Elheru Aran · Post by **Elheru Aran** » 2004-03-06 12:09am

psssh... i'd like to see how you people would manage for 12+ years without phone, broadcast/cable/sat TV, or Internet!

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi · Post by **Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi** » 2004-03-06 04:02am

I'd say electricity, because it powers the AC, television, computer, refridgerator, and all that stuff.

Shadowhawk · Post by **Shadowhawk** » 2004-03-07 01:17am

Shinova wrote:
TrailerParkJawa wrote:Toilet paper is a good one, but I suppose we could always get by on rabbit fur.

Toilets, period, are a modern amenity we very underestimate.

I shudder at the thought of looking for a bush day after day....wondering exactly what I'm going to be using as toilet paper.

Hell, I'd dread going to Japan and only being able to find one of those squat-fixtures that, for some reason, are still in use over there.
I don't think I'd last a week without a proper throne.