The power is out...

[tippy2k2]

Day 1: 5 minutes in
We knew that one day it could happen. You are sitting there alone in the dark, playing "The Last of Us" on your PS3. Then, all of a sudden, your screen blanks out. Confused, you wonder where Naughty Dog is going with this...five minutes later, you realize that it's not part of the game and your power has gone out.

Day 1: 15 minutes in
Boy I'm getting hungry. I should probably decide which neighbor I will need to cannibalize first if this goes on much longer...

Day 1: 30 minutes in
Better start sharpening my knives and get my guns ready. If video games have taught me anything, it's that this is zombie time...

(Note to self: Need to buy guns and knives)

Day 1: 45 minutes in
Powers back. False alarm. I release the neighbors cat, whom I caught as my backup food supply. Note to self; for some reason, the neighbor gets mad about that so don't tell them...

So that was a good time. If you were unable to figure out the subtle nuances of my story, the power went out at my house. I realized a few things then:

1. I need to get a candle or a flashlight
2. ...shit, I have absolutely nothing to do now

I ended up riding my bike around for a while because...well...I can't stay in my house. It's a studio apartment in the basement so it's pretty freaking dark in that place. I have a window but the power went out at dusk so the sun was just setting so I figured I'd bike around and see what everyone else's houses looked like.

So Escapists, when the unthinkable happens and your power goes out, what do you do? Are you ill-prepared like myself so you can't even read or anything due to no light? Do you have everything you need and can function like normal? Did you accidentally kill Aunt Gladis 50 minutes into the power outage because you assumed she turned into a zombie?

TLDR? (I don't blame you): What do you do when the power goes out?

 

[shrekfan246]

Watch a movie on my laptop! Then play my handhelds! If it's not too dark when the power goes out, read until it is then do the other two. If the power is still out and it's dark... lay in the dark and lament about how much I need a flashlight as well. Maybe go for a walk if the power isn't out because of a storm (but that's usually the only reason the power goes out, so...) or if the storm has since ended.

Yeah, I get pretty boned if the power goes out. Fortunately it doesn't happen all that often and doesn't usually last all that long, lately.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

Not long ago the power went off at my house for 3 days. Not just my house, but the power was out in half my neighborhood. The worst part was my house was right on the dividing line between houses that had power and houses that didn't so my neighbors across the street all still had electricity while I had to suffer in the dark.

I'm actually fairly well prepared to live without power though. I live in California, and I have some disaster provisions stored in case of a large earthquake. I have a charcoal BBQ, a propane hotplate, tons of flashlights and candles, canned food, etc. (Yes, I even have guns and knives in case the blackout is caused by zombies, or rioters).

Anyway, the worst part of this whole ordeal however was that at the time that my power went out I had a bunch of papers I had to do for various college classes, and no internet with which to do research. Ended up basically living a a friend's house the entire time so I could finish all my assignments.

 

[A_Parked_Car]

I can't remember the last time the power went out for me. I guess I would just read a book.

 

[Aris Khandr]

My iPad has a half dozen books, about a day of music, and three movies on it most of the time. Power outages aren't a big deal. My biggest issue is when they happen at night, and thus frak up my alarm.

 

[Anathrax]

Here in Egypt, the power runs out daily. Usually during dawn, where everyone is asleep. When it isn't at dawn, I go ahead and take a nap in my bed, probably chatting with my family or relatives who happen to be visiting at the time. If not, I just listen to my playlist on the cell phone.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

I always keep my laptop fully charged. The last time the power was out I just watched a movie in it. And the power was back before it was even finished.

 

[LetalisK]

My iPad has a half dozen books, about a day of music, and three movies on it most of the time. Power outages aren't a big deal. My biggest issue is when they happen at night, and thus frak up my alarm.

I'm willing to bet your iPad could solve that particular problem too.

 

[wintercoat]

My iPad has a half dozen books, about a day of music, and three movies on it most of the time. Power outages aren't a big deal. My biggest issue is when they happen at night, and thus frak up my alarm.

How long does an iPad's battery last?

OT: I read when the power goes out. Got plenty of books to hold me over for several weeks, possibly months, so no worries for entertainment. Got these little battery powered lantern thingies for at night, too. I have trouble sleeping without the soft hum of a fan going, so I'd suffer from some insomnia, which is a pain in the ass. Least I got plenty of books to read while I'm not sleeping...

Oh, and since the gas was shut off last month, there'd be no way to cook the food in the fridge, so if the power's off for a couple days, there's a bunch of meat that'd go bad.

 

[Frezzato]

When the power goes out, the darkness of my life sets in and I regret every choice I've made in the past. Then I read a book.

Gotta get one of these [http://www.amazon.com/Rayovac-Sportsman-LED-Lantern-SE3DLN/dp/B0018S4XIS/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371973594&sr=8-1&keywords=rayovac+sportsman]. They're awesome. They have flat, folding hooks on the base so they can be hung upside down. Has a handle on the diffuser, which can also be removed so you can use it with just the bare bulb if you want.

I also have one of these [http://www.amazon.com/MagLite-ST3D016-Cell-Flashlight-Black/dp/B000IXAJVY/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1371974989&sr=1-1&keywords=maglite+led], but it overheats after two hours of continuous use since the LED isn't chip regulated. Bad power management.

And believe it or not, I also have one of these, it was just too cool to pass up:

Spoiler: Biolite

Biolite Stove: recharges small USB devices like smart phones. I just like technology I guess, but I also live in hurricane country.

 

[uchytjes]

Well, there is always that.

Y'know, that thing you can do by yourself when you're alone and have nothing to do.

BUILD A KICK-ASS FORT OUT OF BLANKETS AND PILLOWS AND USE FLASHLIGHTS TO SIMULATE A RAVE!!!

Either that or play around on my phone or tablet.

 

[loc978]

The power goes out fairly regularly where I live. I'd like to get solar panels and maybe a tiny wind turbine to compensate for that, but I haven't had the capital to do so lately.

So the first thing I do is shut down all of my computers and then unplug their UPSes... then I read (by daylight or battery power), go for a drive, wrestle the dog, go for a swim in the river (if it's not winter), go to a bar and have a beer, go to a firing range, and practice cutting bottles or food with swords. All of those, every time (kidding).
...then I call the power company and ask what happened.

 

[Whateveralot]

My iPad has a half dozen books, about a day of music, and three movies on it most of the time. Power outages aren't a big deal. My biggest issue is when they happen at night, and thus frak up my alarm.

I'm willing to bet your iPad could solve that particular problem too.

I suppose that won't work when you're already asleep and the power goes out.

OT: I've hardly ever had the power go down. The last time was 3 years ago, laste 30 minutes and was during the summer when I was outside.

It wasn't all that terrible

 

[Lil devils x_v1legacy]

Power goes out often in Texas in tornado alley. I have a generator, but that is only used to keep the freezer going to ensure the food doesn't spoil. I usually just work on something around the house/ yard when it goes out, because there is always something that needs to be done. I have candles for every room, I don't usually cook in the house anyhow, I use an inground firepit for slow cooking and use a propane grill for quick cooking and it has side burners. I don't stay in the house much when the power goes out here because it gets hotter in the house than it does outside here. I find it really strange that people cook meat in the house to begin with.

 

[Lil devils x_v1legacy]

My iPad has a half dozen books, about a day of music, and three movies on it most of the time. Power outages aren't a big deal. My biggest issue is when they happen at night, and thus frak up my alarm.

How long does an iPad's battery last?

OT: I read when the power goes out. Got plenty of books to hold me over for several weeks, possibly months, so no worries for entertainment. Got these little battery powered lantern thingies for at night, too. I have trouble sleeping without the soft hum of a fan going, so I'd suffer from some insomnia, which is a pain in the ass. Least I got plenty of books to read while I'm not sleeping...

Oh, and since the gas was shut off last month, there'd be no way to cook the food in the fridge, so if the power's off for a couple days, there's a bunch of meat that'd go bad.

Why would your meat go bad?! dig a hole in the ground and cook it for 3 days.. best tasting meat you will ever have

 

[Eleuthera]

snip

I'll steal your scenario, and change what needs changing...


Day 1: 5 minutes in
We knew that one day it could happen. You are sitting there alone in the dark, playing "The Last of Us" on your PS3 Civilization V on your PC. Then, all of a sudden, your screen blanks out. Confused, you wonder where Naughty DogFiraxis is going with this...five minutes later, you realize that it's not part of the game and your power has gone out.

Day 1: 15 minutes in
Boy I'm getting hungry. I should probably decide which neighbour I will need to cannibalize first if this goes on much longer...

Day 1: 30 minutes in
Better start sharpening my knives and get my guns ready. If video games have taught me anything, it's that this is zombie time...

(Note to self: Need to buy guns and knives)

Day 1: 45 minutes in
Powers back. False alarm. I release the neighbours cat, whom I caught as my backup food supply. Note to self; for some reason, the neighbour gets mad about that so don't tell them...

So that was a good time. If you were unable to figure out the subtle nuances of my story, the power went out at my house. I realized a few things then:

1. I need to get have a candles or and a flash-lights (one of them human powered)
2. ...shit, I have absolutely nothing to do now, Except I still have about 40 books I've never read before, 4 gigs of music on my phone, a room-mate to chat to and several friends who live within biking distance to hang out with.

 

[piinyouri]

I can't remember the last time the power went out for me. I guess I would just read a book.

Can't speak for everyone, but last time ours went out for a very prolonged period of time I found out unless it's in the middle of a clear day, reading is not fun without any power. Reading by candle or flashlight was awful.

 

[Lil devils x_v1legacy]

I can't remember the last time the power went out for me. I guess I would just read a book.

Can't speak for everyone, but last time ours went out for a very prolonged period of time I found out unless it's in the middle of a clear day, reading is not fun without any power. Reading by candle or flashlight was awful.

It is fine if you light more candles! I have so many candles in every room as it is I could easily have a dozen sit there for reading.

 

[Aris Khandr]

My iPad has a half dozen books, about a day of music, and three movies on it most of the time. Power outages aren't a big deal. My biggest issue is when they happen at night, and thus frak up my alarm.

How long does an iPad's battery last?

It depends on what you're doing. A movie eats 15-20% of the battery, but I could read a book or listen to music for the same length of time and lose maybe 5%. Either way, barring a major problem that involves the power being out for several days (in which case I'd pack my car up and go somewhere more hospitable to live anyway), it'll get me through.

 

[Artina89]

If it is not too dark, I tend to read while I wait for the power to come back on. I also like to have my laptop, my handheld consoles and my iPod fully charged whenever I can so I would just watch a TV show/Movie, play on my handheld or listen to music. I like to think of myself as fully prepared to battle against boredom.