I went the whole of last summer without a fridge/freezer. After my mum died, I only ever kept a few things in there, and one day it just seemed such a waste of electricity. I kept almost nothing in the freezer either, except a stock of frozen sweet grapes; thirst quenching, hydrating, nutritional. Never becoming solid (the sweeter they are the softer they stay), and to me are always delicious on a hot summer’s day.
I knew I could walk to the shops more often, about an hour’s round trip, and that ensured that if I felt like something; a yoghurt or an ice-lolly, I couldn’t just walk 20 feet to get it, I had to make an effort, exercise, or let the idea go.
I did this in part, because I knew when it was time to go I wouldn’t have access to one for a while, and I wanted to get used to it rather than just take it for granted right up to the end. But there would be no point doing that if I felt I was suffering without it, especially as flipping a switch would’ve changed it back instantly. As much as I love frozen grapes, I knew I didn’t have to have them. I knew from my own experience that plenty of people live without fridge/freezers in the world. Most are well aware of the lovely coolness these appliance bring, but for one reason or another, don’t or can’t have one.
It is easy to take things for granted. Rarely do we know what it is like to go from typical house dwelling comforts to a much more basic existence. Not having a fridge for many would be quite a challenge, not having a washing machine, requires trips to the launderette which is an inconvenience, resulting in perhaps wearing the same clothes for longer as a result. Not having access to a bath or shower, requiring a new approach to the idea of what is clean, what feels clean, what is acceptable and the benefits of baby wipes. Not having a toilet, for a man, means easily filling up a plastic bottle and then pouring it away outside. Or squatting over a bucket containing a bin bag, then dropping everything into a dog poo bin afterwards. Or taking a walk to a pub or library when they first open and appreciating an actual toilet fresh and clean.
I lived like that in my van for a few years and it took me a while to recognise the change in me as I learned how to do what I needed to do to look after myself. I really appreciated the use of a shower, especially if one was offered to me unexpectedly out of kindness.
It is so easy to take things for granted, to feel entitled. If I ever do, other things start to become problems instead. I learn to accept these challenges, overcome things slowly with evolving ideas using creativity. I understand how not taking things for granted really teaches me something. And it is a good lesson to learn.
I knew I could walk to the shops more often, about an hour’s round trip, and that ensured that if I felt like something; a yoghurt or an ice-lolly, I couldn’t just walk 20 feet to get it, I had to make an effort, exercise, or let the idea go.
I did this in part, because I knew when it was time to go I wouldn’t have access to one for a while, and I wanted to get used to it rather than just take it for granted right up to the end. But there would be no point doing that if I felt I was suffering without it, especially as flipping a switch would’ve changed it back instantly. As much as I love frozen grapes, I knew I didn’t have to have them. I knew from my own experience that plenty of people live without fridge/freezers in the world. Most are well aware of the lovely coolness these appliance bring, but for one reason or another, don’t or can’t have one.
It is easy to take things for granted. Rarely do we know what it is like to go from typical house dwelling comforts to a much more basic existence. Not having a fridge for many would be quite a challenge, not having a washing machine, requires trips to the launderette which is an inconvenience, resulting in perhaps wearing the same clothes for longer as a result. Not having access to a bath or shower, requiring a new approach to the idea of what is clean, what feels clean, what is acceptable and the benefits of baby wipes. Not having a toilet, for a man, means easily filling up a plastic bottle and then pouring it away outside. Or squatting over a bucket containing a bin bag, then dropping everything into a dog poo bin afterwards. Or taking a walk to a pub or library when they first open and appreciating an actual toilet fresh and clean.
I lived like that in my van for a few years and it took me a while to recognise the change in me as I learned how to do what I needed to do to look after myself. I really appreciated the use of a shower, especially if one was offered to me unexpectedly out of kindness.
It is so easy to take things for granted, to feel entitled. If I ever do, other things start to become problems instead. I learn to accept these challenges, overcome things slowly with evolving ideas using creativity. I understand how not taking things for granted really teaches me something. And it is a good lesson to learn.
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