We were without power a few years ago during the ice storm for about 10 days. I have a wood stove in the basement that heated the house and I cooked what little I could on it. The generator came in handy for frig and freezer, one lamp and tv, but heating water on wood stove and hauling it from the basement to the bathtub to bath in sucked out loud and of course like you I had extension cords running all over. Some people around us were without power for weeks! I HATE camping also. Hope you get your power on soon.