I don't think we realize how dependant we are on electricity!

Hi Sybil: When a tree fell on house in Sacramento during a winter storm in 2008, we were without electricity for 4 days. Some of my fish died before I thought about hooking up an electrical cord from my neighbors to the fish tank. It was January, with temps in the 30s and 40s. We dressed like homeless people at the coffee shop. It was unbearable. In retrospect, we should have gone to a hotel. You are smart to have a generator.

This is precisely why it's a good idea to take the kids and do a few days in the great outdoors a few days a year. These days, there is barely anything that can be done without a little juice - games, work, play, even just making dinner or eating it might require electricity! It'll be a good idea to teach people how to best conserve and appreciate what we have when they don't have it!

Hi Sybil, Every now & then, we lose electricity and it floors me what I cannot do. I keep thinking that when the electricity is out, I can do "this or that" and always those "this or that" activities always involve the use of electricity. We are so dependent on electricity!

Sybil-We love our conveniences. The pioneers would really get a kick out of watching a bunch of us trying to endure the kinds of things they went through. What bunch of tenderfoots, they'd think.

Glad you were safe but indeed, Refrigerator, Microwave, Alarm Clock, Coffee Pot, Toaster, Computer, Light, Hot Water and the list goes on and on...Endre

One also depends heavily on batteries as well as chargers. As the wireless and gasoline less cars depend on chargers and batteries, one needs to bring spare batteries as we do not know when we can find an electric outlet for charging. I keep a hand cranked flash lights in my car. 

We can't even brush our teeth any more without a battery charged powered toothbrush. People don't fully understand what it's like to have no power for weeks, with a stinking refrigerator and freezer and food blowing up in there (unless you vacuum pack your food) and ruining your appliances.