Water Weather Food: Billie Best Blog

It’s goose season. Their annual climatic migrations are as noisy as arrows, flying to places with better water, more pleasant weather, and more abundant food. Water, weather and food – these are the necessities that enable us animals to move and settle. Every year, when we hear the sounds of migrating geese, my partner and I ask ourselves if where we live now in Central Oregon is still the best place for us to live. Because water, weather and food change faster than we do. Our life has slowed down to the rhythm of old bones, but the clouds, wind and heat seem to be speeding up. So even though there are beautiful things around us, we re-evaluate our environment and evaluate the relative risks to our safety and security. We consider whether we will become climate immigrants in the coming years and look for ways to avoid this.

This is an aspect of aging that we are learning about right now. As our future gets shorter, our plans will change with the climate. I was born in 1954. Recently, the year 2050 has become a popular target for predicting droughts, storms, and crop failures. If I die, I’m sure I’ll be fine. But if I were still alive, what disaster would I face? Doesn’t sound very promising. When I think about the science, I see that graphs of clouds, wind, and heat don’t bode well. The inconvenient fact is that we seniors will face challenges maintaining our quality of life into the future due to changes in our bodies and changes in water, weather and food. So, I’m now looking for ways to protect my 90 year old self while I still have my wits and strength.

I read our utility company’s newsletter and emails. We live closer to the river, so I made it a priority to learn about the water system in terms of flooding and running water. This summer, our water company conducted a drill of its emergency water system. City residents are invited to visit their designated community emergency water station and learn how to use it. I was surprised to find that although they have facilities to provide water in case of emergency, it is not potable water because in case of power outage, the water sanitation facilities will not operate. So, the water needs to be boiled. This led me and my partner to discuss how to cook without electricity. Do you understand what I’m trying to say?

I can make a fire to cook, but I can’t use it to charge my phone or computer. No electricity means no gas stations, no grocery stores and limited medical services. To me, water systems are intuitive. But I admit my ignorance about electricity. I don’t even know what a grid is. I saw the electrical infrastructure, but I had no idea what its functions were and how they were connected. We experience power outages several times each year, which remind us how dependent we are on our power companies. But power is always restored within a day or two. A few years ago we had an ice storm and people in rural areas were without power for weeks because utility companies prioritized urban repairs. Now, our electric company has launched a newsletter and a preparation guide for living without power for an extended period. Helpful, but also worrying. Recent news reports have alerted us to regional power supply issues. Yet we are not asked to economize. Does anyone know what a power supply chain is? I am experiencing pandemic flashbacks.

My partner is stronger than me and less likely to worry. We’re both from Illinois, and we both have a pragmatic foundation. We live an outdoor lifestyle of gardening, fishing, boating, walking the dogs, and opening the windows. At this age, we can live without running water, heat, and appliances. But ten years later, when we are in our 80s, the same situation will feel threatening. If we suddenly have to leave, we are organized so that everything we need to carry can fit in one vehicle. But imagining myself at 80 living in my car feels like failure. The same goes for trying to sleep on a gym bed. That’s why I’m worried now.

No matter how well we plan, climate migration could be our future. Bad things happen, and they can happen to us. Many people lost their homes to storms, floods and fires. We don’t have to imagine what that’s like. Images of destruction are everywhere. As older people, we are particularly vulnerable. So, keep your eyes open. We talk about risk. We read local news. We support local farms. We consider the resilience of our friends and neighbors. We integrate ourselves into a conscious community, organize our lives, learn science and remain alert to indicators of change. The future is going to be intense. Watching the geese form arrows in the sky reminds us that we are not alone. Cooperation is key. Now let’s plan ahead.