Low Tech Night
Nov. 21st, 2013 08:42 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
trombonishLast night we had our first of hopefully regular "low tech" night. It was VERY different.
Idea for "low tech night" came from our last power outage (we get a lot of those), and also a post by bloglady about *her* family having a power outage and having a good time playing board games by candlelight. The basic premise is, learn to do things/entertain ourselves WITHOUT tech.
In theory to be really well prepared for no electricity, we would go completely non-electric. But a couple problems with that.
Firstly, what we did:
We read books. I sewed on my treadle machine (which was being bratty), and a bit on my electric machine (treadle does NOT like hat bands). We ate reheated pizza. Woggy had some meditating time and some trumpet practicing.
We did not turn on the computers or the TV (except headed to bed, I checked my phone email, which was blinking at me. I got a Disapproving face from Paul). We did use electric lighting, but did small, task lighting instead of room lighting. We each had one desk lamp we could move around with us to different tasks. The lack of room lighting was HARD. We did use the microwave to warm up dinner, on the theory it was more efficient than the stove. Next time I think we'll use the stove/oven, even if it's less efficient, as it is more like what we'd use in a no-electricity situation.
The lighting intent was to emulate and practice what it would be like in a no-power situation, without actually using battery or keroscene lamps and whatnot. Electricity is a MUCH cheaper electric source. Also, we intend this to be the first of a number of these nights. We can advance as we get better at it.
Eventual goals are to figure out non-electric lighting (without CO poisioning ourself or burning down the house), cooking (same limits), and more entertainment.
This first time was Strange. Not immediately enjoyable, but good to do (like exercise). It was very weirdly quiet. I see why people back-when had working songs, and I think I would like to learn some. Sewing by the dim light made my eyes hurt and gave me a headache, so I might limit that in the future. My treadle machine decided to be TOTALLY BRATTY and desperately neeed an oiling on the one night I can't really see what's going on. And having the rest of the house Dark was a little bit scarry.
But we did it!
Idea for "low tech night" came from our last power outage (we get a lot of those), and also a post by bloglady about *her* family having a power outage and having a good time playing board games by candlelight. The basic premise is, learn to do things/entertain ourselves WITHOUT tech.
In theory to be really well prepared for no electricity, we would go completely non-electric. But a couple problems with that.
Firstly, what we did:
We read books. I sewed on my treadle machine (which was being bratty), and a bit on my electric machine (treadle does NOT like hat bands). We ate reheated pizza. Woggy had some meditating time and some trumpet practicing.
We did not turn on the computers or the TV (except headed to bed, I checked my phone email, which was blinking at me. I got a Disapproving face from Paul). We did use electric lighting, but did small, task lighting instead of room lighting. We each had one desk lamp we could move around with us to different tasks. The lack of room lighting was HARD. We did use the microwave to warm up dinner, on the theory it was more efficient than the stove. Next time I think we'll use the stove/oven, even if it's less efficient, as it is more like what we'd use in a no-electricity situation.
The lighting intent was to emulate and practice what it would be like in a no-power situation, without actually using battery or keroscene lamps and whatnot. Electricity is a MUCH cheaper electric source. Also, we intend this to be the first of a number of these nights. We can advance as we get better at it.
Eventual goals are to figure out non-electric lighting (without CO poisioning ourself or burning down the house), cooking (same limits), and more entertainment.
This first time was Strange. Not immediately enjoyable, but good to do (like exercise). It was very weirdly quiet. I see why people back-when had working songs, and I think I would like to learn some. Sewing by the dim light made my eyes hurt and gave me a headache, so I might limit that in the future. My treadle machine decided to be TOTALLY BRATTY and desperately neeed an oiling on the one night I can't really see what's going on. And having the rest of the house Dark was a little bit scarry.
But we did it!
(no subject)
Date: 2013-11-21 05:00 pm (UTC)I also note that on the whole, I was much less bothered by the dark; it was sometimes inconvenient but mostly relaxing.
(None of which is to say that you are Wrong; I am just...mmm, supplying my own perspective where it differs from yours. <3)