Water use...

In previous posts, I mentioned the water restrictions on our island: you are only allowed to wash cars on Wednesdays or Saturdays.  You can rinse down a boat any time - it's a salt water environment, so a necessity.  Really, it isn't much of an issue.

I also mentioned that we have just passed our "10 years retired" mark.  Yes, we did spend 3 months training before we left, but that wasn't as paid employees.

During most of the time in that 10 years, we have lived aboard a boat or in an RV.  We had two boats during that time, and 4 RVs (a Class B campervan, a toy-hauler, a 5th wheel, and our current motorhome).  Yes, we have an actual house that doesn't float or roll, but we have averaged 2 to 3 months per year in the house.  We like the house; we like the climate the house is in.  But, we also like to "move with the seasons"... and spend time with our sweet daughter and her husband in Arizona.

We have friends who are liveaboards on their boats.  And friends who are full-time RVers.  These folks know what I am about to say... you use water more sparingly when you aren't in a house.  Yes, even if you are connected to, or have access to, city water.

Boats and RVs have fresh water holding tanks; there are limitations to the size of those tanks.  In an RV, you might have a constant connection to city water, meaning a relatively endless supply of fresh water... but, that water is going into a gray tank (showers and sinks) or the black tank (toilet), and those tanks have to be dumped.  Boats generally have a black water holding tank and allow gray water to run overboard (although some boats do have a gray water tank, but that is not common).

So, even though you can get water in, you have to also get water out.  Most RV sites have water, electric, and sewer connections.  Unless you have a "floating home" (think: Sleepless in Seattle), with a boat you have to have someone come to you to pump out, go to a pump out station (sometimes free, sometimes not), or get 3 miles off-shore in designated areas and pump it overboard with a macerator pump.

I think about this every time we get back into the house.  There is no foot-pedal for the toilet in a house.  With the foot-pedal in an RV or boat, there is only water going into the toilet when you are holding down the pedal.  So, instead of using 3 gallons to flush, you might use a quart... or less.  In "conserving mode" on the boat, we could generally go about a week with a 10 gallon black tank.

Same thing with showers and sinks in mobile conveyances: you don't just turn on the water and let it run... like when brushing teeth or rinsing dishes.  I especially think about water usage when I use the jacuzzi tub at home - I love that tub, but it uses a lot of water.  And, electricity for heat - we have a tankless water heater in the house... unlimited hot water.  In a boat or RV, a 6 or 10 gallon water heater is the standard... even if you could stand in the shower using unlimited water, you are gonna run out of hot water pretty quick.  But, boaters and RVers know this, and use the shower accordingly.

None of this is a bad thing, just the way it is.  In fact, if everyone in a sticks & bricks house used water like boaters and RVers, it would dramatically cut water usage.

Gas prices are low right now - when those prices go back up (and they will), people get more conservative with their gas usage.  Wait 'till the water tables drop and we have to pay $4/gallon for water.  That 3 gallon toilet flush... you willing to pay $12 for each of those?  ;-)  That's part of why it always takes me a bit to get used to being in the house again: no foot-pedal on the toilets.

No... no photos.