Here’s what’s on deck for me: 
Re-thinking the refrigerator – I’m serious folks, I’m trying to convince Michael to get rid of our refrigerator. We’ve done many long trips and have learned how to manage with simply a cooler. Can we do it permanently?
How our house compares to a Tumbleweed House, part II – When we moved into this 677 square foot house several months ago, I realized it is similar to Jay Shafer’s Enesti design. I will do a side-by-side comparison.
Making the switch – Michael recently switched all of our standard light bulbs to either LED or compact florescent. I’ll talk about the differences we perceive, the pros and cons, etc.
Trailer to-do list – My shoestring budget has become even stringier. I’m coming to terms with what needs to be done to my little Compact Jr. and how much it’s going to cost. Ouch.
I’ll be writing about these things in the coming weeks. It’s a good time to be tuned in. Thanks for reading!
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Just found your blog this weekend – circuitous path via Shedworks. I unplugged the refrigerator last July and I don’t regret it.
Looking forward to your upcoming posts
We have been spending a lot of time lately talking about ‘if’ we ever find a little place to call our own (?!) – could we live without a refrigerator? It’s strange, but in this day-and-age lots of people would literally freak at the thought of not having one, but not so many years ago a fridge was unheard of. And the energy that would be saved! We look forward to hearing if you give it a trial run 
No Impact Man lived for a while without a refrigerator. He blogged about the pros and cons, as well as strategies for coping and keeping food cool.
http://noimpactman.typepad.com/
FIVE YEARS – NO REFRIGERATOR – IN THE TROPICS
(or – Nido, farm eggs, spear, mango tang and marbles)
I lived aboard my 20′ Pacific SeaCraft Flicka for 5 years in the tropics without refrigeration and didn’t suffer a bit. I relegated the ice box (referred to as the “rot box”) to dry goods storage and hung nets to store fresh vegetable with good air circulation.
To make the transition, take a serious look at what you have in a refrigerator:
- all that stuff in the door: condiments that don’t need refrigeration – Catsup, pickles, mustard, etc. Take ‘em out.
- Fruit: buy fresh more often (walk, bike to the market) the stuff lasts longer than you think.
- Vegetables: put them in hanging nets or baskets in a cool dark place (bilge if you have one, basement otherwise).
- Milk: buy fresh at market (see Fruit) OR buy Nido brand powdered milk or Paralot aseptic milk.
- Yogurt: Here is my favorite – I would serve fresh yogurt when friends with refrigeration would come over while anchored 300 miles from the closest island store (no yogurt there!) and 1,000 miles from a health food store! It is simple – make it. Make up some milk from powdered milk (Nido is my favorite). Heat up to the temperature of baby formula (test a drop on wrist like mom did); put into a preheated thermos (a little hot water, then discard and put in warm milk); add a dab (about a tablespoon or two) of yogurt from last batch [[or, have on hand some a packet of yogurt starter (can be stored for ages in bilge/basement, for when you eat the last of the batch]]; let sit for 3-5 hours. Impress friends! Best Thermos is wide topped – easy to clean.
- Meat: On the boat I speared lobster, grouper, snapper, small barracuda, and the like. But if landlocked, there are markets, fishing, hunting, etc. I made a salt brine, soaked excess fish in brine and dried in the sun – like making jerky – it lasted for days, because it got eaten quicker than it ever could go bad. There are many ways to preserve meat, I just haven’t done it myself.
Well, just some thoughts.
Denny
Oh, did I forget! The most important:
Cold ‘sundowners’: Having a rule aboard – be at anchor with a nice rum drink in hand at sunset whenever possible – I wasn’t willing to give up a cold one – so here’s what I did- Made rum drinks with Mango Tang then I put a handful of marble in the tumbler – works every time! Sounds like ice and convinces the mind it is a lot colder than it is!
Wow, thank you so much for the no-fridge tips! I love the yogurt recipe, Denny. And I love that people have blogged about their experience. Looks like I’ve got some catching up to do.