Snow is my scenery, and source of the water.

(Picture courtesy of Ruth Calvo, back yard.)

Please don’t hate me because I have well water.  As many of you know, I’ve made the move in the dead of winter from Texas to northwestern Pennsylvania. It’s a lovely change, and lately I even am getting my wish to have snow all around, on the trees and on the ground. The effect is soothing as long as I’m not having to drive long distances in it, and the good effects on crops in spring is much to be wished for.

When you are on well water, it’s pure and fresh, and there’s no wasting it – provided you’re not in a water table that’s been ruined by fracking. I’m on a family’s longtime farm and the water is incredibly good.

It wasn’t the reason for my choice, of course, but how many of us have been able to experience this kind of luxury? Do you ever wonder about your own needs for water, and how it can be supplied in your future?

A good friend that I visited this summer with spudtruckowner, who shares his home with me now, lives in Portland OR.  There much news is addressing the potential for losing their water supply for months, if the overdue earthquake happens to them.    Of course, the constant rain there makes it less than catastrophic, but the same situation in our drought-stricken areas would be very serious.

Driving here I came through Oklahoma, then Arkansas and Missouri, where winter usually sees the lakes refill after the hot summer, but it’s not happening this year at the rate usually experienced and water tables are below normal.   Some of our Great Lakes are at their lowest ebb on record.

While growing crops is not an activity most of us depend upon, we all enjoy the effects of sufficient water that produces our vegetables, and goes on to feed our herds.   Have you been taking any measures to cut your use of water?   I recall many years ago when we all were being asked to fill toilet tanks with something solid to lower our water use.   A marble collection I used went forgotten when we sold the house, and I still joke about knocking on the door someday and announcing that I lost my marbles.

We are used to water shortages in the SW.   Have you been to the desert, and did you get the warning before you drove through it, to take a lot of water along?    When cars weren’t generally air-conditioned we drove at night out of safety considerations, as well as for comfort.   A friend of my youth loved to drive out of Corpus Christi at night, to the wonderful sight of oil refineries lighted up like a big festival.

I’m used to keeping a week’s supply of quart jugs full of water, in case of a tornado.   Here that won’t be necessary.   While I still shut off the water to brush my teeth, it’s no longer part of everyday conservation needs.

Have you become more conscious of saving the planet’s fresh water over the years?   In our childhood we weren’t conscious of our own role in making our lives livable.   That’s changed for me, I don’t use a lot of plastic, and I cut down my use of daily water, plus I avoid packaging for natural substances and food.   We’ve all have done this sort of readjustment.

I’m still restraining use of water, and wonder if I’ll ever get used to having enough, and all of it good.   Yes, I’m having a wonderful time learning.

Do you have unexpected good things you learn to live with?