I live in rural Australia. The rental property I am currently living in has had no water supply to the house since March 2023 which brought on a whole new meaning to camping, of which I have many fun memories of adventurous moments as a teen.
Most people take water for granted. Ask the next person you see how many litres they’re flushing down the toilet with the push of a button and the majority of people would not instantly know. I now have saving water down to a fine art. I’ve always been a clean/hygienic person who grew up surrounded by beaches, lakes, pools, bathing twice a day, slip’n’slide, washing the car parked on the lawn (so was conscious of using water for grass instead of going down drain at least) and fun water fights, so yes, I admit that I used to take water for granted living in the city. Now I know it takes 5 litres for a half flush and 10 litres for a full flush and to be able to have the convenience of a modern toilet, it’s an hour trip in and back to town to fill up 6x 5 litre bottles, 12x 1.5 litre bottles and 4x 10 litre bottles which I usually make stretch for 3 days.
If one Googles how much water usage does the average person use per day, computer says 274 litres – that’s a heck of lot of water! What? 100,000 litres per person per year, that can’t be right, can it? I’m using 88 litres over 3-4 days (excluding calculating the drinking water I purchase) so put that into perspective.
I’ve been taking the drive to fill up bottles since November 2022 twice a week after discovering a decaying possum in water tank of which my son and I were unbeknownst, bathing in, washing our hair, sitting in the bath – ew, brushing our teeth with, washing dishes in etc. water which was full of maggots and rotting guts; sure, the water flowed clear and we didn’t know but there’s still micro-organisms / bacteria and once I found out, I was strong, I held it together. Eventually after a few days of pondering the reality of it all, out of nowhere, I burst and broke-down when I spoke it out loud whilst at an appointment and reality hit me and uncontrollable crying overtook me. Um, I felt embarrassed for crying in public, not only the lady doing the interview but her colleagues looking on in shock of a grown lady babbling uncontrollably. I have to laugh now but it was not a pleasant moment.
Everybody deserves clean fresh water. The water pump, understandably, full of gunk, blew up in March 2023… Originally there were two decrepit 3,000 litre tanks about 100 years old which look like they’ve never been cleaned, so when they got refilled, water was muggy until the gunk settled to bottom. Nov 2022 – Mar 2023, I was only using the other 3,00o litre water tank for flushing toilet since it is connected with same plumbing so the thought of brushing teeth or washing hands or dishes just didn’t feel clean. This is not the first time we’ve experienced unhygienic water in this house but that’s another story.
Try this: go one full day at home without turning a tap on; you’re not allowed to use the convenience of flushing the toilet with water supply, cannot wash your hands by turning on the faucet, cannot wash your hair in the shower or wash your body by soaking in the bath. The kitchen tap has no water to fill up the sink to wash your dishes. You do not have the convenience of turning on the washing machine and pressing a button.
The good thing that comes from a challenge is finding alternative ways. Now, when I go to the toilet, I don’t flush every single time and actually recognise, it’s just not necessary unless of course you know when. Plus the fact that it takes just under 10 litres for a full flush which is incredible when you have to drive to fetch that water, take the cistern lid off, stylishly put one foot on top of toilet for better posture / back support, whilst holding a 10 litre bottle in the air, pouring the water into cistern to then press that convenient button.
I take my hat off to the lovely ladies who trek for miles and balance water on their head, poised and elegant, beautiful gratitude, bless their soul.
Have you ever seen the traditional picture of The Star card in Tarot? yes, that’s what I feel like. Pouring water is quite enjoyable really and carting 5 litre and 10 litre bottles around has had a positive effect of getting back into lifting weights so there have been positives I’ve discovered from this situation along with some spiritual keys that can only be learnt by going through the actual challenge first-hand. If only you knew the out of the ordinary challenges I’ve endured over the past two and a half decades, this is a walk in the park in comparison.
I know that whenever the water supply is restored that I’ll continue being frugal with water usage as this experience has taught diligence. Water is such a precious resource; water IS the source of life equally as valuable as the air we breathe. Water needs to be valued and appreciated and yet it is used mindlessly by the majority.
It’s smack bang in the middle of winter and I find myself often dreaming of soaking in a hot bath to thaw out the winter chill. Yesterday, I resurfaced the bath and basin and did the laundry tub whilst I was at it preparing for that wish to eventuate, to have a like new bath to make it feel even more wonderful to take a bath instead of a washer wash. Is this glamping or camping in my home? Actually, I think glamping has running water so camping it is. Of course I have used my imagination to turn it into an adventure of which I have found gratitude, life lessons, spiritual keys and new found strength ignited all from the absence of the most important source for thriving in life = water.
This makes me feel like I am a fish out of water.
Some people wish for riches, a mansion, the most impressive car, 200 pairs of shoes perhaps, another 20k handbag, 3 storey home, oh those luxuries would be nice, nah, I love my chunky riding boots – that’s all, oh and those spiky masseur slip ons. Once upon a time I used to buy one piece of clothing which cost a whopping $200 or spend $300 to get my hair done, massage? yes please, acupuncture once a month and facial, oh, how I miss that lifestyle, wearing suits and interacting in the corporate world. It’s been 11 years since my last massage – stiff’n’sore, one man army, do-it-all-yourself reality. Single parents deserve more credit for the hard work and dedication they put in. No child support for 15 years from a man earning 120,000 a year, and me budgeting 20,000 raising two children single handedly. Currently, I am surviving on Jobseeker payment, (say no more says all who comprehend that statement) which equates to 370 per week to divide between rent, electricity, internet service, groceries, petrol, monthly bills. Right now, all I wish for is water, oh and a Ford Raptor would be the bomb but water for now would be the biggest blessing.
It’s about 500 for a new pump, plumbing fittings, and I am guessing it’s not cheap to hire a plumber to hook up a new water tank so around 1000 all up perhaps.
Currently, I buy groceries with Payin4 Paypal or Afterpay as incoming funds do not allow for paying in full after budgeting expenses. Fourteen years I was a sales secretary in a busy successful real estate and it feels surreal with the situation I am in. I pay low rent and fear if I complain they’ll tell me to take a hike out of here. I am grateful for and love where I live, this is just another hickup. Fairytale life up until the age of 22 then I met a man who turned out cruel and heartless. I am a survivor of domestic violence. The past 8 years spent in isolation to heal CPTSD of which I am proud to say I have transmuted and transformed the pain into light.
I am a lightworker / spiritual alchemist. I’ve been meditating 32 years and the peace of mind and light codes which enter my being of late are beyond words. Thanks dad for gifting me the passion for reading and writing in a journal from the age of 13. He also used to say, ‘beggers can’t be choosers’ along with other quotes that are recalled now and then. I went the past 8 years without asking for help because I didn’t want to adhere to that sentence of coming across as a begger of which my father looked down upon. I recently asked for EAPA vouchers to help pay for latest electricity bill. I have grown to love fasting all day and eating one meal a day which surprisingly gives you so much energy and makes you feel more alive than ever. There are possums sounding like they have steel cap boots on tumbling and fighting above in roof, those massive bangs always feels like they’re going to fall through. Wish I had the funds to fill in the holes where they get in and buy some possum boxes and pay someone to put them up in trees as it’s they’ve made my roof their home for 14 years and when it rains the stench of possum pee fills the house. Lets just say I go through a lot of incense. Some say money isn’t everything. I say money IS everything. There’s so much money can fix and make reality more pleasant. I keep quiet and don’t ask for help but tonight I watched a YouTube video saying you can ask for help – there are people who care and will help.
Hmm, my intentionally brief description ended up becoming a short story. I could write till the cows come home, hehe, it’s 4am, they’re literally lined in formation making their way to be milked right now. Thank you moo cows for the cuppa I’m about to make for myself after pressing Submit Post.
Sending blessings of love and light for your time and presence in reading my words describing my current situation. Cheers to fresh clean water.
https://paypal.me/TGScott33?country.x=AU&locale.x=en_AU