Snowpocalypse

During the aforementioned snowpocalypse, our power was out for many days. Apart from the multiple feet of snow acting as an insulator around the house, we had a stove so we didn't freeze to death. We were fine. (I won't tell you that this state of being only came to pass after a frantic trip to the hardware store to purchase flashlights and pick over the leftover batteries. Because you would know that flashlights and batteries are the first things you should buy when you move to a rural area in the middle of winter.)

The storm lulled and we ventured out to replenish our supply. With a backseat full of almond milk and hot dogs, we drove safely through the winding roads. It was beautiful.

On the street leading to our house, someone had put out a giant sign.

What a great reminder! With all this power-outage business, I'd hardly considered my water usage. In fact, since the hot water heater runs on propane, I'd taken more than one long hot shower to get warm. I knew we'd moved to an area that valued that environment, but I hadn't anticipated outright activism. No-matter, I'd be more mindful now.

And more mindful we were. It turns out rural communities rarely advocate for their causes through signage (unless it's a sign that says, "private land, no trespassing.") That's what people in the city do. In the country, conserve water means just that: conserve water. In this case, conserve water because a pipe broke in the community water system and, you won't have any after you use what is in your hot water tank. Difference noted.