Central heating is overrated. I haven't had central heating for the past five and a half years, living in a "modern" apartment in industrialized Japan, and I get along just fine.
But I'm just being silly and pedantic, here, and not meaningfully engaging with any of the primary issues in your diary.
Also, I'm in VietNam right now, and pressurised or drinkable tap water is not really existing. Most buildings have an individual water tank, and only bottles allow for drinkable water. Un roi sans divertissement est un homme plein de misères
