Two weeks in. Time for the Q&A, because I keep getting the same questions from different people.
Are there gardens?
Not really — not yet. The community next door attempted a small greenhouse with modest success. Everything needed to build and run one has to be shipped in: soil, seeds, supplies. The fresh produce subsidy helps with cost, but selection isn’t consistent.
Do you get snow days?
Yes and no. Tolerance levels here are different. What would close schools in the south doesn’t necessarily close them here. A true blizzard gets announced on email and local radio, and when it happens everything shuts down — government offices, the Hamlet office, all of it. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it means it.
What about water, sewage, and power?
All managed through the Hamlet office. Power runs on diesel generators. Water is trucked in, stored in tanks in each home, and you think about every drop — how much you’re using, whether the tank needs topping up. You turn the tap off while brushing your teeth. You do dishes once a day. Laundry happens on weekdays only.
I’ll be honest: the water situation was the first real adjustment. I am not someone who naturally notices resources until they’re limited. Up here, you notice. And after a few weeks, you stop resenting the awareness and start appreciating what it teaches you about what you actually need versus what you’ve just gotten used to.
More questions welcome — drop them in the comments.