When the power went out at Eastern Market, my whole weekend routine fell apart
Last month a transformer blew near Russell Street and my Saturday produce stand had no way to run card readers. Cash only for 3 hours, and I watched regulars walk away because they didn't carry bills. Do you plan for utility failures or is that just bad luck you eat the loss on?
Ever notice how we only think about backup plans after the first time something breaks? I remember when a water main burst on my street a few years back and flooded the sidewalk outside the corner bodega. The owner had a little generator in the back for his fridges, but his card machine was dead for two days. He put up a handwritten sign saying cash only and people still tried to tap their phones on the counter out of habit. I ended up helping him count pennies just to pass the time. That flood taught me to always keep a twenty tucked in my wallet, no matter how much I rely on my phone for everything.