Fay, if no one has been paying the electric bill, there probably isn't electricity. Our hot water is connected to our oil, but again it would depend if there is any oil in the oil tank to make the boiler work.

Right, cool. But cold water?

eta

See, my initial assumption was: deserted house = no electricity, no water, no anything, really - just a shelter. And then I wondered whether the toilet would flush, and had vague thoughts about what a septic tank was, and then I wondered whether one might still be able to have a shower (cold), and then I had some vague notion of people having generators, and wondered what they were, and whether that might mean that one could make electricity happen. I don't need electricity to happen - my story is good with candles, which was my starting assumption, but a useable toilet would be nice, and I think they'd appreciate a shower and try to have one, and I don't know whether any water would happen.

Yes, you would probably have cold water.

I don't really know anything about generators.

Thank you!

feels slightly less clueless.

The water depends on how the system is set up. Also, if it hasn't been turned on in a while, it might need to be primed, which would mean that water was possible, but turning on a faucet wouldn't actually do anything.

As for the generator, just about everywhere is hooked up to regular electricity. (Rural Electrification Act in the thirties to thank for that.) It's possible that there are some houses with their own generators, but I've never seen one outside TV and movies.

And yes, screens on doors and windows to keep out bugs. Possibly a screened-in porch, too, depending on what sort of house this is. I don't really know Alabama bugs, though. I can tell you that Louisiana had fire ants, which burn like hell if they bite you and were a huge surprise to this northerner who expected her biting insects to be flying, not crawling.

Fay, my father grew up on a farm in rural Tennessee (north of Alabama, but still the south), so I got to hear about the, um, joys of that life. It was an old house and never did have electricity or indoor plumbing. So, if it's an OLD house that's been deserted for a while, it probably wouldn't have any of the modern conveniences. There would probably be a pump in the kitchen for water, one outdoors, probably a well. There'd be an outhouse, rather than an indoor toilet. There might be oil or kerosene lamps and there might be some cans with the last dregs of fuel.

And it'd be hot. Also probably humid. In a deserted house - depending on how long it'd been vacant - you'd have insects, assorted wildlife would have moved in (mice, squirrels, snakes, maybe raccoons).

Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone!

Happy Anniversary to Laura and her DH!!!

ooh! yes! happy annivesary!

And have people checked out Google today?

♣♣ Happy St. Patrick's Day! ♣♣

We went out last night. Pizza at our favorite joint, without kids.

What they said above about the water. Without electricity pumps don't run except for manual kind and they likely would need to be primed to get running if not used in a while.

I don't know anything about old farmhouses.

Parent Hivemind: I'm talking to someone today about a nanny share arrangement - the family, not the nanny. What questions do I need to ask? (I know the basic financial arrangements [but not what they're actually paying her], basic time arrangements, vacation & sick leave, that they own two dogs [so my monster is not a problem for the child or for them]),etc.

I think the deal breaker for us would be cost issues, because I'd like to retire someday and still want to be able to send some money in that direction.