3 Squares
That is not a reference to three square meals a day (The Hubby would tell you I wouldn’t know what that is anyway).
I recently saw a discussion (online, of course) on the realization that this one particular family of 2 adults and 1 child in diapers went through 10 ROLLS of toilet paper in ONE month. Let’s just ponder that for a moment…. 2 adults… one month… 10 rolls. (Try not to let your imagination go too wild – I can’t catch you if you faint over!)
The poster made a concerted effort to track toilet paper usage for the next month, and by the mere process of tracking it, they cut down on usage.
Then they made the effort to cut back. She went to four squares per visit to the loo. They cut down to about half of their “normal” usage.
The intriguing comment she made was really about her grandmother, who lived “in a rural area” without “city water” – meaning they had their own water well and septic system. You know, like we do here. Well it seems to cut back on paper going into the septic system, her grandma had a “pee rag” (that was incredibly hard to type – it conjures up all sorts of images that I just don’t want to have).
While we never went that far, with up to six kids in the house, plus the two adults, toilet paper was an issue at our house when I was growing up. Well, it wasn’t always, but after some particular incident (no – it wasn’t me!) the 3 Square Rule was put into effect. So for a long period of time, we were issued our 3 Squares and that was it. And generally speaking, that was enough.
This has been on my mind for the last several days for a couple of reasons. One, it is just so bizarre to read about other people’s toilet paper habits. (And yes, it’s kinda weird to be writing about it too). Two, I have been sick since Sunday and have spent lots of time in the bathroom – I seem to have gone through 10 rolls myself! And three, having read the comments about how wonderful it was that the poster had cut back and “saved the environment”, it just seems to be further proof that Al Gore truly has invented the Internet just to push his green agenda. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that!)