If the wife ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.

Women don't suffer in silence, nor do they suffer alone. If the wife isn't on board with the whole prepper lifestyle, then it's going to be rough. It doesn't have to be the wife who's the non prepper. Sometimes it's the man of the house, but in my experience it's usually the women who have issues.

Friday I helped a buddy of mine with a couple of projects at his off-grid rural homestead. To save money, they moved in way before the place was finished. Now the guy's wife is pretty good about this stuff. She likes homesteading life, but some things were getting old. She wasn't too impressed with having to start a generator every time they needed electrical power. My buddy was just as happy to do without electricity. A Coleman lantern was fine for light. She wasn't too keen about having to take a shovel and roll of TP out in the woods to do her business. Can't really blame her.

Friday we tied in a battery bank and inverter to the generator. (solar and wind are coming as budget allows) Now she has electric power at the flick of a switch. They can go days without starting the generator. The other just as important project was the installation of a composting toilet. The unit has a small vent fan that needs constant power, so there was no setting it up until we squared away the electric.

She's much happier now. He's much happier now. Coincidence? I think not.

In a few days I'm going to install a shower. By then it'll have occurred to her that she's tired of taking a shower at relatives' houses. My buddy doesn't want to impose on other people. He's been cleaning himself in icy mountain ponds. I'm sure it wakes him up in the morning. The shower stall, inside their house, will be much appreciated, I'm sure.

He did one very important thing from day one. Even though he's not a coffee drinker, he made sure she could have coffee in the morning. He set her up with a propane stove, hand cranked coffee grinder, tea pot and a big French press. This guy is no fool. In fact, he often has brewed coffee waiting for her when she gets up in the morning.

Guy's, if your significant other is on-board at all with this stuff, do what you can to make her comfortable. You won't regret it.

-Sixbears