Water

The novelty of pumping wore off after the first session. I am suspicious of anyone that says they enjoy pumping water and you should be too.

Living from bucket to bucket is not ideal. My water supply is normally replenished from the tap about 50m away from my house but when the water was off, I needed to go at least twice that distance to the manual pump. While hauling the fresh water to my house and waste water out of my house has probably made me stronger, I would rather have plumbing with running water and lift weights. Since I choose the lifestyle of a lazy person, I learned to use very little water with laundry days being a dreadful exception but I think it was a portion of my personal energy and thought that could have been better spent elsewhere, and likewise for everyone else that has to live this way. Like most of the things about my life here, I have certainly learned a lesson from it but I am ready to completely ditch the method that has taught me the lesson for the easier and more convenient way and try to be more mindful in the future.

I understand that water is a precious resource but I also believe that it is a precious resource because energy is a precious resource. As things are, we have vastly more water on this planet to fulfill it's billions of people, personal swimming pools and desert golf courses (and also dessert golf courses), the limiting factor is our ability to use it. It is possible to desalinize ocean water and transport it to wherever it would be needed but this would take an enormous amount of energy. So much that it seems impossible our given technology and means but I don't always think this will be the case. The population of my village right now would not be able sustain itself without the municipal water tower which pumps up water from the ever-depleting water table. I think this is the case for the rest of the world as well; technology has provided the ability for people to live where the natural water supply simply would not normally allow it. Relying on the fresh water in the water cycle won't cut it as stresses on the water supply continue to be ramped up. It's a big idea and one that might not be realized until I am gone but I think it is something to be hopeful about. Until then, I will remember that at one time I was able to drink, cook, wash myself and dishes on a two buckets of water per day and that I can get by with less, but that doesn't mean I want to.