Pioneers

For the third time this year that mere weather has cau­sed power outa­ges in Ches­ter­field and St. Char­les County, both com­mu­ni­ties that many living St. Loui­sians can remem­ber as how far out you’d go for a trip cam­ping and that many now call home.

Here in Down­town, we first ran elec­tric lines in 1878 (first ligh­ting Tony Faust’s), and buried them under­ground (with the water, natu­ral gas, and steam lines) in 1897. Today, my buil­ding sits on two grids with nearby power plants and the office a half mile away even has bac­kup gene­ra­tors. Living without elec­tri­city for more than a few minu­tes every decade seems quaint.

I guess relia­ble power needs to be added to the list of things-​​to-​​consider-​​when-​​home-​​shopping-​​that-​​realtors-​​ignore. Along­side the com­mute time to work and cul­tu­ral ins­ti­tu­tions, dis­tance to the nea­rest sushi bar, and access to pota­ble water when the civi­li­za­tion collapses.

  • Guest
    Point. Of course, my apocalypse plan is to fashion a raft and float downstream on the only mass-transportation corridor that will survive civilization's collapse. It will take me to the ancestral homeland (Perry County) where I can live off the land among friendlies.

    Advantage: The riverfront!
  • Very funny, Hans. I think it's funny that you're the third city-dweller who has made the point that power in the city didn't go out.

    It is something to think about - both for family and business. We had regular power outages at several companies I worked at, and it was a big busines disruptor.

    Of course, I see deer when I look out my window, so when the power grid goes out, I can still cook them with my gas grill. The city people only get to eat, well, other city people.

    Advantage: The burbs!
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