I’m not the best minimalist, but I’ve adopted a few habits that have decluttered and simplified my life. After I read a book I donate it to a library. When I purchase a new item of clothing, I get rid of something older. I’ve stopped accumulating bolts and nuts and screws and nails I might (but probably won’t) need someday.
But when the hurricane is breathing down your neck, you urgently have to accumulate things. Gas cans (4), extension cords for the generator (2), battery-powered lanterns (2), disposable plates and utensils, candles (#?), bottled water, ice (5 bags from our own ice maker), a new cooler, a new fan (a life-saver), chains for the chain saw (2), a yard rake, a new pair of work gloves, and calming toys and bones for the dog (3).
We ended up using most of what we bought. We never lost water, so I donated it to a semi headed for south Florida. We didn’t really need the ice; our generator kept our refrigerator running.
Clutter during the storm? We didn’t mind it so much. On the plus side, we won’t have to buy those things again. But now I have to store all of that away. Somewhere. Because there will be another storm. Someday.
I wonder what people will do with all the bread and water and chips people bought before the storm. The shelves at the storm were empty, so their houses must be full of those items. Did you really eat that much bread before? Are you really going to eat that many peanut butter sandwiches now? How much food will be thrown away in the next few weeks?
If I were in a flooded area and I lost just about everything, would I try to replace everything? Or would I downsize, just getting what I need and use? I don’t know. We didn’t lose anything this time. This storm added to our possessions.
I learned how to use my generator. I purchased this generator after three hurricanes came close but didn’t directly affect our home in 2004. Through all that we really didn’t lose power for more than a day. My across-the-street-neighbor was going somewhere to buy a generator and asked me if I wanted him to get one for me. I said, “Sure!” and got a 5000 watt Coleman Powermate. For the next thirteen years, it sat in my garage. I never started it up. Never even put gas or oil in it. Since the day I took it out of the box, we never lost power. Even last fall during Hurricane Matthew, we were without power for less than a day. But we learned from that experience that a generator might be good to have. So this time around, I learned how to use it.I put oil in, gassed it up, tested it, and got some decent extension cords. After the rain stopped and the winds died down we were without power for five days, and ran it continually for the refrigerator, lights and fan. Worked like a charm. I learned that I could get about three hours of run time for each gallon of gas.
How many articles have you read about eliminating interruptions and distractions in order to get important work done? Here’s another, although it might not be for everyone.
We really like it when our Lord stills the storm. When the hurricane’s over and your house is still standing and the skies clear and the sun comes out, we’re ready to go. We’re ready for the power to come back on, stores to reopen, the kids head off to school, fill the car with gas and get back to work.
You know it’s coming.
No church today. Waiting for Hurricane Irma to traverse the Florida peninsula. Plenty of time to think and pray…
Sitting here, waiting for Hurricane Irma to traverse the length of Florida, I couldn’t help (because I’m a pastor) think of Job’s encounter with God in a whirlwind in the bible (Job 38:1).
n September 2004, we had two Sundays when no one came to church! On September 5 and 26 in 2004, hurricanes passed close enough by that everyone had either hunkered down or left town.
Waite for it... 