This isn’t a sob story about my recent breakup turning me into a less appealing version of Bridget Jones. But now that my boyfriend is gone, I’m on my own in the middle of the Guatemalan jungle. Sometimes, I wish there were two of us to handle things. Problems seem bigger in remote locations, unlike in the city where solutions are a phone call away.
For instance, this morning I turned on the water pump as part of my routine to fill the elevated tank. This provides me with water for one to three days, depending on laundry, the number of people around, and watering plants. But today, the pump didn’t start. It made a noise, so I knew the power wasn’t out. The issue was inside the pump.
I started to panic because it was Sunday, meaning I’d have to wait until Monday for an electrician. If it needed parts, I’d hope they were available 30 miles away or wait for them to be shipped from the capital city, which is 300 miles away.
To make matters worse, I had Airbnb guests coming the next day: four people for two days. That’s at least eight showers, and being American, they might not save water or remember to turn off lights and AC.
Handling things myself felt empowering. I decided to check the water pump. We’ve had two pumps in two years, either because they’re not as durable as they used to be or we’re careless. The last one was installed by my boyfriend in a new location when the lake level rose. I’d never seen it set up. The pump was in a tiny hut, dirty with mud and dust. I cleaned it, thinking the dirty wires might not conduct power.
It worked, and I felt like Wonder Woman. Being alone suddenly wasn’t so scary. I was doing things I used to hand over to my boyfriend because I thought they were “guy things”.
Even though this was a small fix, it brought back water and ensured a good Airbnb experience, which felt like a big win. I might need help with more complicated issues, but I can always hire someone if needed. I’ll still try to fix things myself first since many fixes are simple.
We’ve become so used to working in offices that we’re often helpless with basic home or car repairs. We can’t fix a leak or replace a fuse, so handymen charge a lot to do these tasks for us. I had to pay $300 for a small rubber joint replacement on a rental property’s heater in the UK, which I couldn’t fix myself.
For my house, I’m determined to rely less on third-party help—not just to save money, but to gain useful life skills. Even though I probably won’t be alone forever, I want to be capable of taking care of myself when I am.
You can learn almost anything online through tutorials. Just don’t overthink the situation. With a little time and patience, you can manage, and if not, you’ll at least know you tried before asking for help.
My small fix could have gone both ways, but things would have been fine either way. I’ve created a lifestyle where I have time to fix things myself and the resources to pay for help if needed. I’m already good at taking care of myself. Life is easier with help from others, but being self-reliant makes me stronger.
How do you handle self-reliance if you’re single? In a relationship, do you have specific tasks for each partner?