My mom grew up in the country. They had an outhouse for many years til plumbing installed. She said living in country easier than city cousins. At least they could grow vegetables in Garden. Grandpa had a small business. She said it provided extra rations probably during WWII.
Pretty much the same here. Ranching and mining through the depression and small business through WWII. Grandma’s grocery store actually had the first well and what they called “wet toilets” across a hundred mile stretch of route 66 at the time. lol
It’s all about appreciating the little things and being practical. People lived just fine without even electricity for thousands of years. No it’s illegal to live without electricity almost everywhere. Why? Cooking on propane or wood stoves or kerosene lanterns didn’t kill anyone I know or knew. :)
Those who were raised like us could have the power cut off tomorrow and survive just fine without it. If one mentally puts themselves in perpetual “camping mode” like our Parents and Grandparents had to out of necessity, it is easy to live comfortable, minimal, practical, and within your means.
Camping is fun and much less stressful.