This weekend will remain special because I spent part of it without electricity—more precisely, half of Saturday. A new neighbor in our small but busy street at the edge of town decided that the weekend was the perfect time to connect electricity to his new house, leaving the entire street without power for hours. As I later found out, it was mostly due to the carelessness of electricians and workers.
Still, it turned out to be a chance to spend meaningful family time in a different way—to turn the day’s inconveniences into something positive.
The moment I tried to switch on the bathroom light and realized there was no power, I instinctively reached for my phone charger—then laughed at myself.
With my phone dead, I borrowed my wife’s to call the neighbor, using the regular mobile network—no Viber, no internet, no Wi-Fi. It felt strange and somehow special, like stepping into a time machine back to the cheerful 1980s.
Even though I couldn’t turn on the boiler for a proper shower, we didn’t go without lunch. We cooked together as a family—soup on a gas stove, with meat and vegetables slowly boiling.
What made me happiest was seeing everyone gathered around the table, just like in the old days before the internet. For a moment, I truly felt like I had returned to my childhood.
After lunch, the kids played carefree with our cats and their toys, spreading everything across the bed.
During that time, I managed to find some solar lamps in the yard and check them if they still work.
Then I remembered to water the flowers, and even to enjoy for a moment the minis of the newly blooming lilacs.
Later, a bit bored but inspired by the nice weather, we went out for a bike ride around the neighborhood. We even stopped by a local shop to grab a few things, since many places here work shorter hours on Sundays—or don’t open at all.
The day was beautiful. There was almost no traffic, the wind gently brushed through our hair, and the simple joy of being outside felt complete. The kids grew sleepy from the ride and the warm sun, while I tried to balance shopping bags and my phone, capturing those little moments.
On the way home, thoughts started creeping in—how would I handle my online school diary, enter grades, or even turn on the inverter air conditioner without electricity? But when we arrived, it wasn’t cold anymore, and the power was back.
Still, we continued our “unusual” day—going upstairs to my father’s place, warming ourselves by the wood stove. I even took a nearly cold shower, telling myself it was good for strengthening the immune system.
In a way, this day brought us back to a “modern stone age”—a time without electricity, internet, or batteries—yet filled with genuine happiness and simplicity. And mentally, we came out of it stronger.
You may agree or not, but happiness is not material. It takes very little.
What are your experiences with power outages? I hope they were positive.
Thank you for reading—and I hope you enjoyed it,preferably not by candlelight! 😉
