What a 12-Hour Blackout in Spain Taught Me: Life Felt Like the 19th Century and I Loved It

Spain lost power, everyone stayed calm, and I started a support group with the chickens.

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I'm just kidding. I didn’t feel lonely, so no need to talk to my chickens or create a support group. Quite the opposite happened. People in the village were talking to each other like never before! Without the usual distractions of smartphones, everyone was reconnecting face-to-face, sharing stories, and enjoying the simple pleasures of real, unfiltered conversation. It was as if we had all stepped back in time, and surprisingly, it felt great! I wish it would last longer.

Many still wish for Blackout to return, and here is why.

How it all started:

“Livia, do you have power?” my neighbor asked in Spanish.

“Yes, of course I do. Why wouldn’t I?” I reassured him.

“Oh, you have solar panels, I forgot,” he smiled.

“I just got a message saying the internet is acting up, claiming all of Spain and Portugal are experiencing a blackout,” he continued.

“Oh? I thought I had run out of data or something,” I replied, scratching my head.