I’ve used an outhouse over the years but thank goodness never lived in a house where it was the only place to do your business.
By the time I arrived on the scene my grandparents farmhouse had indoor plumbing, but the neighbours didn’t. So if we were visiting, and the urge took you, it was off to the outhouse.
Before I started school, I had a huge fear of falling through the hole. That fear was replaced by monsters in the pit grabbing you and then by my preteens it was fear of getting bit by a huge spider.
Back in the day, the stinkiest outhouses were the ones in the provincial parks and picnic sites. But I think that was only because you would use them in the heat of summer.
Only ever used an outhouse in the dead of winter a couple of times, but I remember the chilly winds somehow coming up through the pit and freezing your parts. I can’t picture using one for an entire winter, but I’m sure plenty of folks in this area have gone through that.
Have you used an outhouse? I’m sure there must be some young’uns out there who have never used one. And those space-age plastic port-a-potties don’t count!
