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TheBook

Ret Professional Goof Off
Silver Member
Last week our electric power was out for about 8 hours because of a rain storm. Over the weekend we had some company and the subject came up about getting a emergency back up generator that will automatically kick in and runs on either natural or propane gas. They start at $3,000 and more than likely would end up being $6,000. Someone said that is a lot of money for something that you may never use, my wife was one of them. I didn't have the heart and was a little leery to say that I have cues that cost between 2 and 3 thousand that I never use.

Should I sell the cues and get a generator?
 
Keep the cues. Buy candles!

Actually, you could probably get by for those rare emergencies with a good portable generator for under $1000. That's all you'd need. And how often are you really likely to need it?

If you get right down to it, it would be cheaper to stay in a hotel for the rare times you do lose power. Even if you had to replace everything in your refrig and freezer, you'd still be ahead of spending $6k for a generator.
 
We live very near the water and lose power 6-8 times a year. Half the time for longer than 24 hrs. We picked up a 5K generator at Costco a few years ago ($500)and have used it at least a dozen times since. We have two small kids so that was a factor too. It sucks to have throw away a refrig and freezer full of food, your sump pump not work and sit in discomfort, candles burning ect.
 
Winter before last our power was out for 3 weeks. Everyone was snowed in. Hotels wasn't a option either as they where either out of power also, or booked solid (not that would could have gotten our cars out of the driveway). I would have given anything for heat, TV, lights or my computer.:(
Sell a cue and buy yourself some "portable power". The sticks can be easily replaced. Missing toes due to frostbite are a bit tougher.:eek:
 
Keep the cues. Candles make for good mood lighting. If you can save $3,000 for a cue, you cansave $3,000 for a generator. Besides, it sounds to me like your wife wasn't really chomping at the bit to get a generator anyway!
 
Living in an area with several outages a year (mainly weather related).... Nobody I know owns or uses a generator. It gets cold here in the winter, but worst case scenario you layer clothing and use extra blankets.
Dont let the fridge full of food be a deciding factor, you will spend more on gasoline running the generator than you would going to the supermarket to restock the icebox if the power is off long enough.
If it happens in the winter..... put the food outside...... :D
Chuck
 
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