We mentioned last week that a friend would be staying with us for three weeks. You overwhelmingly agreed that we should stop letting the yellow mellow, but basically enforce all other green household habits.
Well, we're happy to report that everything is going almost perfectly.
She brought her very own SIGG and has been carting lunch to her internship in our Snapware Glass Lock Containers. We didn't buy her a Spork, but she's been more than happy to carry a knife and fork.
She takes the SHORTEST showers we've ever witnessed -- putting us to shame. Seriously, like 3, maybe 4 minutes.
But, then there's the paper towels.
"Do you not have paper towels?" she asked rather incredulously while sitting at the kitchen table on her first morning in our apartment. We shrugged. She admitted to her own dependency and then, inspired, announced her desire to give them up cold turkey.
We were optimistic, then we got this email yesterday:
"I have to say that the perfect sandwich transport method needs PAPER TOWELS. i might have to buy my own - i cant LIVE WITHOUT THEM."
She was being intentionally dramatic, still we bought a roll of Seventh Generation 100% Recycled Paper Towels for her. We pride ourselves on being good hostesses, after all. It's a compromise we're willing to make -- and we can easily return to our paper towel-less lives in a couple weeks.
Really? She *needs* to wrap her sandwich in a paper towel? What about a cloth napkin? Works just as well and it's reusable.
view The Green Cat's profile
Let's be nice. Each of us has something we really can't (read: don't want to) live without.
Honestly, I suppose I could be really green and just own one pair of pants and one shirt and wear them until they were worn out, but I like having clothes.
I know that's an extreme example, but how about this: I certainly don't *need* to put a plastic bag in my bathroom trashcan, but I do strongly desire it to be there considering the type of things I throw in it.
I try to make up for it in other ways and hope that somehow, if we all try to do what we can, it will all balance out.
Good for you, Stephanie. Your friend is not you, and it is very considerate of you to help her feel comfortable with a minimum of environmental impact.
view hmr's profile
It is considerate of you to make sure your guest is comfortable. On the shower issue -- I too take 3-4 minute showers, including washing my hair (and putting conditioner in it). Without washing my hair, I can be done in 60 seconds. I always wonder what people who take longer are DOING in there!!
But I too have not given up paper towels...
view Susmita's profile
A 60 second shower??? how can you hit all the proper nooks and crannies?
view thedirtyshow's profile
Dude... Unless i'm neither washing my hair nor shaving there is no way I will ever manage a three or four minute shower. and I HATE shaving over the sink. Legs sink soap = recipe for disaster.
Good on you for getting paper towels for your guest. A good hostess should always try to accomidate her guests.
view Tiamat_the_Red's profile
...can't (read: don't want to) live without... is absolutely something that we've all experienced. I doesn't seem, though, that your friend has considered comparable (possibly better) alternatives (way to go, greencat), but instead is concentrating on the loss to her usual routine. living responsibly requires being open to change - thinking creatively about how we can accomodate ourselves without being unnecessarily destructive.
nonetheless, it is very kind of you to be so accomodating to your guest. it seems, though, that you have an open, friendly dialogue on the subject going, so I would recommend you continue using this as an opportunity to challenge the way she thinks about the things she "can't live without."
I know I still have so much that I can improve about how I live (green, and otherwise), and constantly rely on (and thank so far!) all the people that continue to influence me and offer me the opportunity to think.
view amt230's profile
I gave up on paper towels about two months ago and I've never purchased paper napkins. I'll keep what's left over from takeout but I don't go out of my way to buy or even use them.
I think my one real weakness is perfume. I don't own that many bottles, I usually prefer the light scent I get with lotions, but I'm not going to get rid of $80 bottles of perfume that were gifts.
view Cheryl K's profile
Because of curly hair that requires sitting with conditioner on for a few minutes and brushing it out in the shower, a 3 - 4 minute shower will never work for me. But I only need running water to rinse for about 2 - 3 minutes total of my 10 minute shower. Most things, including soaping (as long as you have already drenched your body) and shaving do not require running water. There are shower heads that have a little on/off valve that makes this super-easy, as you don't have to fiddle with the temperature every time you turn it on.
view tessahessa's profile
I was just about to note those shower heads with off valves, tessa! Another thing I do, and I know I'm kind of crazy, is keep a bucket in the shower to fill with the water I waste while waiting for it to warm up. Then I reuse it around the house (cleaning, watering plants, hand-washing clothes). It's an easy step I recommend trying. If you can't find a use for half a bucket of water that day, you can at least pour it down the (ahem, "used") toilet, and save a little from the tank.
view CaseyB's profile