SWG2L: Things Every Single Woman Should Know
Before we get into specifics, let’s cover a few basics. Following is a list of things that I think every single woman (everybody, really, but single women in particular) should know.
1. Basic and emergency vehicle maintenance.
Okay. Depending on your upbringing, you might know how to rebuild an engine ... or not be able to locate the gas cap. The full truth is that, as our society gets more and more specialized, we tend to rely more on roadside assistance than our own abilities. In order to save face, there are a few things everyone (single, married, male, or female) who owns and/or regularly operates a vehicle should know.
a. How to change a tire. This isn’t a how-to; find someone who knows and have them teach you. Like right now. There are places where you won’t be guaranteed cell phone reception, and it is almost inevitable that things will go wrong right then. Know where to find your spare tire, the jack, and the lug wrench thing, and how to use each piece. As soon as you can, get that tire fixed or replaced; spares are good for getting you from the site of your flat to a garage. That’s really all they’re meant to handle.
b. How to check your oil. This is a fairly simple task -- and something you should do right before any big trip you take, even if you still have 2000 miles before your next oil change. Don’t just look at the level; how does the oil look? Any issues here can indicate bigger problems elsewhere.
c. How to jump-start a car. Again, this is a fairly simple task, but it will only happen when it’s most inconvenient. It’s best if you can figure out how before you need to know. (Sidenote: knowing how doesn’t do any good if you don’t have jumper cables. Don’t assume that whomever you can flag down to help you jump it will have them.)
d. How to add fluids. Very, very easy. All that you really have to know ahead of time is where each of them goes. Find out as soon as you can. The day you add a gallon of windshield wiper fluid to your oil is the day you start shopping for a new car.
e. General cost knowledge. When something goes wrong, have a comparison in your head as to how much it will cost to fix. Single women are easy targets for shady mechanics. (Don’t get me wrong -- there are a lot of awesome mechanics out there. But like so many things in life, you have to be ready for the bad seeds.)
2. How to cook.
You don’t have to be a gourmet chef -- a few dishes will do. You’ll stay healthier and you’ll save money. The end.
3. How to sew.
I don’t care how much of a feminist you are or how much money you make. A lot of small problems can be fixed if you can handle a needle and thread with tolerable competence. This can be another big-time money saver if you’re particularly good. (My mom actually sewed her own wedding dress ... I’m pretty much limited to making throw pillows right now, but hey, that’s a pretty good money-saver in itself.)
4. General home maintenance.
While I wouldn’t be comfortable rewiring my own house, I can fix general plumbing issues and make small repairs -- which is helpful if you’re renting and you might have to wait several days for a landlord to get a handyman (which is a problem I’ve had in the past). This is all about maintaining your own sanity.
5. How to use a hammer, a saw, a wrench, and a screwdriver.
This is part of the home maintenance thing ... plus then you’ll have the ability to build yourself a shelf. Always handy. (You laugh, but I’ve known adults who, when handed a wrench, had no idea what to do with it. Alarming.)
6. How to read a map.
You don’t have to be a world-class navigator to travel on your own -- and you don’t have to be a complete numbskull to make a wrong turn and get yourself horrifically turned around. Map reading is a moderately simple skill that not a lot of people have mastered. Just remember: GPS units are only as good as the person running them. They’re not always reliable and can’t always give you alternate routes when you hit fifteen solid miles of construction. Paper maps give you a much larger area to inspect if you’re not sure where you should be going. (And if you aren’t willing to stop and ask for directions, your internal compass better be dead-on constantly.)
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It’s not a very long list, so -- what’s missing? Please share!
1. Basic and emergency vehicle maintenance.
Okay. Depending on your upbringing, you might know how to rebuild an engine ... or not be able to locate the gas cap. The full truth is that, as our society gets more and more specialized, we tend to rely more on roadside assistance than our own abilities. In order to save face, there are a few things everyone (single, married, male, or female) who owns and/or regularly operates a vehicle should know.
a. How to change a tire. This isn’t a how-to; find someone who knows and have them teach you. Like right now. There are places where you won’t be guaranteed cell phone reception, and it is almost inevitable that things will go wrong right then. Know where to find your spare tire, the jack, and the lug wrench thing, and how to use each piece. As soon as you can, get that tire fixed or replaced; spares are good for getting you from the site of your flat to a garage. That’s really all they’re meant to handle.
b. How to check your oil. This is a fairly simple task -- and something you should do right before any big trip you take, even if you still have 2000 miles before your next oil change. Don’t just look at the level; how does the oil look? Any issues here can indicate bigger problems elsewhere.
c. How to jump-start a car. Again, this is a fairly simple task, but it will only happen when it’s most inconvenient. It’s best if you can figure out how before you need to know. (Sidenote: knowing how doesn’t do any good if you don’t have jumper cables. Don’t assume that whomever you can flag down to help you jump it will have them.)
d. How to add fluids. Very, very easy. All that you really have to know ahead of time is where each of them goes. Find out as soon as you can. The day you add a gallon of windshield wiper fluid to your oil is the day you start shopping for a new car.
e. General cost knowledge. When something goes wrong, have a comparison in your head as to how much it will cost to fix. Single women are easy targets for shady mechanics. (Don’t get me wrong -- there are a lot of awesome mechanics out there. But like so many things in life, you have to be ready for the bad seeds.)
2. How to cook.
You don’t have to be a gourmet chef -- a few dishes will do. You’ll stay healthier and you’ll save money. The end.
3. How to sew.
I don’t care how much of a feminist you are or how much money you make. A lot of small problems can be fixed if you can handle a needle and thread with tolerable competence. This can be another big-time money saver if you’re particularly good. (My mom actually sewed her own wedding dress ... I’m pretty much limited to making throw pillows right now, but hey, that’s a pretty good money-saver in itself.)
4. General home maintenance.
While I wouldn’t be comfortable rewiring my own house, I can fix general plumbing issues and make small repairs -- which is helpful if you’re renting and you might have to wait several days for a landlord to get a handyman (which is a problem I’ve had in the past). This is all about maintaining your own sanity.
5. How to use a hammer, a saw, a wrench, and a screwdriver.
This is part of the home maintenance thing ... plus then you’ll have the ability to build yourself a shelf. Always handy. (You laugh, but I’ve known adults who, when handed a wrench, had no idea what to do with it. Alarming.)
6. How to read a map.
You don’t have to be a world-class navigator to travel on your own -- and you don’t have to be a complete numbskull to make a wrong turn and get yourself horrifically turned around. Map reading is a moderately simple skill that not a lot of people have mastered. Just remember: GPS units are only as good as the person running them. They’re not always reliable and can’t always give you alternate routes when you hit fifteen solid miles of construction. Paper maps give you a much larger area to inspect if you’re not sure where you should be going. (And if you aren’t willing to stop and ask for directions, your internal compass better be dead-on constantly.)
---
It’s not a very long list, so -- what’s missing? Please share!
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