Matt,
I doubt I'll ever drive a car.
The only time I have ever been without a truck as my main vehicle was the times that I have been furnished a car by my employers as a business vehicle. Even then, I had a truck for my "weekend" vehicle.
I love 4X4's especially, and cannot remember anytime in the last 30 years that I did not own one.
It is so cool to be able to go to the store for my neighbors when they get snowed in and cannot get their rice burners out of their driveways.
On the subject of snow, about two years ago, at Xmas time, we had a major ice storm here. So severe that we were out of electricity for five days. Unheard of here. I had a little 1100W generator that would run the TV and lights in my den. I was one of a very few that had Xmas lights that week. If we turned the TV off we could vacuum the floor or toast bread. My wife thought she could run the TV, lights, toast bread and vacuum all at the same time. She blew the breaker on the generator. It goes on from there, but took me about an hour to figure out what happened. We cooked Xmas dinner (standing rib roast and yorkshire pudding) on my gas grill.
Right after the Y2K debacle, I bought a 5500W generator that will almost run my whole house, if I manage it. (not counting the heat pump, But I have a wood stove insert in my fireplace).
In two winters, I have yet to crank the generator because of a power outage.
My point?
Like a 4X4, a generator is nice to have when you need it.
Can you live without either?
Sure.
Can you be self sufficient without either?
Depends on where you live and who your neighbors are.
Give me a 4x4, a generator, plenty of gas, a gun and plenty of ammo, I could sustain a community for a while.
Have fun,
Phil
