Well, it happened again. Just driving along minding my own business then, pop! ping, ping, ppthff, and my ride fizzled to a stop. It was Sunday afternoon and I was on my way to briefly drop off some new customer equipment. But now I was a couple miles short and thinking about my backup plan. You know, what will you do if x or y happens? Sometimes those Xs and Ys can be very theoretical, and others like trucks breaking, are very practical.
- Ok, in this situation the first backup plan is – call Jackie with the other vehicle. Nope, she’s out of town till later.
- Next, try our mechanic on a Sunday afternoon – Nope, no help till Monday.
- Call tow trucks, Ouch! The nearest one and best price one had their trucks out 150miles away. Other options not even $$ close to practical, getting one dispatched on a Sunday from 40 miles away.
The rig was dead in the water at a place I didn’t feel comfortable leaving it overnight with all my wireless gear in it. It had to be moved at least a mile or so to be near houses and businesses where I felt it would be safer. Too far for me to push it. Arrgh. Yes frustrating, but not insurmountable. Got out my phone and kept going through my contact list till I hit someone who was A) at home, and B) available to help in my ugly situation.
Phone calls, first one, then two, and finally at five we hit the jackpot! My friend Don was busy welding but gladly dropped that to grab a tow strap and come to my aid. He towed me with his propane powered pickup about six miles where I parked it near another friend’s house. (Thank you Don)
This got me thinking about backups, redundancy, and friends.
What do we have for backup plans when things don’t go as expected? For the really big, bad, ugly situations like health or accidents we have insurance. But what about the other stuff? You really don’t realize how important, or critical some things are until they are gone. On our computers, do you have your important data backed up?
The ultimate backup is friends and family. Sure glad I had those 5 phone numbers to call. All to often we forget how much we need others and needlessly do things the hard way. My point here is to remind you – take care of your friends and family. Why not reach out to that friend or neighbor down the road. You may be able to help each other in unexpected ways. Make that phone call you’ve put off for too long, do it now. Don’t try to be an island without a boat that can reach others!
Anyway that’s my thoughs on a timely rope tow for my rig. I went home and send a couple long overdue thank you notes. What are your thoughts on backups, redundancy and friends? Tell us in the comments below!
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A very timely post. With all the emphasis in the off-grid world on being self sufficient and standing on our own two feet we often lose sight of the old saying “no man is an island” Any grid (chose your own definition) began as a communal effort at mutual support by combining our collective effort towards a common goal.
God bless our friends.
yup, self reliance to me means learning, growing, and doing what you can. Wisdom is found asking for advice and help on occasion!