Water Shortage in CA

Its all over the news here, CA is in some very serious drought conditions this year. Authorities are making a plea to everybody to conserve their water use. I can tell you that conservation has always been a second nature for me around the house so this is not a big deal for me at all. I am really good at finding ways to keep water and electrical waste as low as possible. Two reasons why: one, having grown up in the Philippines, a country plagued by bad government, resources like water and electricity were often cut off, sometimes at great lengths of time, so I was just used to dealing with less and using less; secondly, because of our housekeeper who was rabidly insistent about not wasting water or electricity. She admonished us relentlessly and it has been etched into my brain. We were luckier than most families, because we had our own small reservoir. Nevertheless, conservation was important. Showers were short, especially if we had no power. In that case we would have big pots of hot water heated by the cook top and the indespensable tabo (a small bucket designed to ladle water, like a dipper).

Yes, you simply learn to make do, and you learn to be conscientious of your resources, whether there is a crisis or not. I simply can't stand seeing a light on when it's not in use, a car idling, water running while brushing teeth, etc. I personally do find it a blessing to have grown up an unintentional environmentalist, it certainly keeps my utility bills down!