Modern Conveniences?????

This has been the week for nostalgia...wondering just how our great-grandparents managed without our 'modern' conveniences like hot-water heaters, dishwashers, electric stoves, clothes dryers, microwave ovens, water (we have a well dependent on electicity to run the pump), furnace (oil-fired, but again dependent upon electricity to run it), and even electric lights. We do have a wood-stove for heat in emergencies, and otherwise for a nice cozy warmth on cold blustery days. But, for all else we are totally dependent on electicity. Our neighbors to the north (only 2-3 towns north of us) have had to deal with power outages due to a massive ice-storm 2 weeks ago. Some families (only about 1500 of the original 100,000) are still in the dark. As we prepare for the holidays and visitors, I find it hard to imagine being without power. Are we spoiled????
We did have a reminder of our own...the water heater (45 yrs old) finally stopped working on Friday. We have had only cold water for 3 days until a new one could be installed. I have been heating wash water on the stove, no shampoos, washing dishes by hand, then pouring scalding water over them in the drainer as my mother did to sterilize. On Monday, a new water heater was installed. The electrician arrived at 7 pm to connect it. During the process, he informed us that our circuit-breaker box is badly corroded and needs to be replaced. Tony inspected it and verified that indeed we look forward to that replacement. That will happen next week. We don't need to worry about electrical fires, and our electrical service is nearly 50 years old, anyway.
I got up at 5 this morning to start baking cookies, pizza and pies for the anticipated visitors. Aaarrrggghhhh! Stove not working...no heat. So much for that plan. 1-day before our Christmas celebrations begin is no time for this to happen. I am planning on hot beef stew for supper...it needs to cook all day. Do I think the wood-stove will come to the rescue? At this point I'd love to have an old-fashioned wood-burning cook stove instead of the little Consolidated Dutchwest stove.