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[Robert Walton <waltonrp AT gmail.com>]

> And I finally decided that, if it comes down to it, in the event of
> some major catastrophe that ends grid power for all time, I will
> revert to living as my grandparents did, without power. That is what I
> do when the grid fails now anyway.

I think that is the best way to plan for long term loss of power. One
of the main things I did this year was add the cook stove. Heats the
house in winter and I can cook on it. Can be moved outside in summer
for canning/cooking.

Being able to live without power is the way to go. I need to get there
as far as things like cutting firewood, also. Cook stove is not good
without firewood.

I don't have an alternative here for water. I'm thinking two things:

A friend put in a hand pump on his well that works with the
submersible pump in place. It cost about $1000, but his 8 year old kid
can pump about 5 gallons of water a minute with the hand pump.
Expensive, but probably would be cheaper than trying to solar power
the well pump.

The other option would be to dig a shallow well (and hope I hit water)
and either put a bucket and rope or old fashioned hand pump on it.

Water is my main worry.

Rob - Va