Something that is very easy to take for granted is running water. Here in Mexico City, most houses have large cement cisterns underground for storing water. The water is then pumped up to large plastic tanks on the roof of the house to provide water pressure. Some pumps work automatically, switching on when the level in the tank gets low. Others, like the Goldfusses’ cabin, must be switched on manually.
If there is city water in the neighborhood, it can fill the cistern. In the Goldfusses’ neighborhood, there is no city water, so you have to go down and order a water truck (called a pipa) full of water. 
This afternoon, we went with Mike down to order and pay for his pipa. Sometimes it takes a long time, but today they came out later in the day and hooked up their truck and emptied it into the cistern. That’s a lot more work than just turning on faucet!
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