As the lights went out all around the county this week, so too came the barbecues, steaks and bottles of high-end beer. Neighborhoods came alive with residents enjoying the halcyon weather and clear night skies on rooftops, as other suburbanites juggled between wine glasses and dog leashes. A cornucopia of lit candles gave new meaning to urban romance while stars shown brighter than they had in years. The fact is, though the blackout took its toll on our county — an estimated $100 million of damages along with the countless refrigerators full of spoiled, now unusable food — for many of us, it was a holiday of utmost spontaneity.

Sure, there’s a lot to take from the blackouts that transpired. Obviously, it’s time to update the emergency preparedness bag hiding in the back of that slightly out-of-reach cabinet among the other dust bunny denizens. (No, batteries from any time Monica Lewinsky was relevant don’t work well anymore.) Neither would it hurt to buy a few extra water bottles, flashlights, duct tape, candles and a sturdy space blanket. If and when the time comes when those extra supplies are necessary (or you need to fashion a fort of epic proportions), you’ll be glad you spent the extra dollars.

But while you’re at your neighborhood friendly grocery store shopping for the next apocalyptic event, pick up a bottle of wine and a good board game. Hell, even make your own blackout party mixtape and buy enough glowsticks to outrival Electric Daisy Carnival. Enjoy the break from classes, the unceasing workweek, the mounding homework and those other miscellaneous daily doldrums. The fact is, despite how sophisticated our power grid is or any number of other safety precautions, blackouts happen. It’s a fact of life; San very own snow day, if you will. Better to celebrate the unexpected downtime prepared, ready and in true San Diego style than be — quite literally — left in the dark.