We got our generator during hurricane Rita and were miserable until it came in 11 days or so later (17 days total without "real" power, 6 days without water). Of course then we spent hours and hours in the gas lines getting enough fuel to run it!
I loved it then and all I have to do is remember those "good ole' days" of bathing in lakes, etc to keep it tip top now. You know that old question about "does a bear shat in the woods"?
They do! I saw them while I was doing the same lol.
Just kidding, but not kidding about the 5 gallon bucket in the backyard.
Wifey and me not happy campers that long.
For some TLC for it I'll run it every month long enough to vacuum the house. Sometimes I don't have to if we lose power for more than 3 hours and then I'll crank her up and get the fridge and freezers going. Both of those incidents gets it warmed up, the moisture out of the oil, and puts a decent load on it. I change the oil every 6 months- the last thing you want is to have to change the oil when you "HAVE" to have power.
Mine will run everything I want to run except for the central a/c units (and certainly not the heat cycles) and I've got a window a/c I'll bring in (got it during Rita too and why I can't feel sorry for northerners that don't keep at least a 5000 BTU at $99 stored away for a heat wave like they had this year- I'll get off my soapbox now about that before I get started real well
).
I get gas in 5 and 6 gallon containers (the new ones are crap by the way- arg!) and immediately put in as I'm filling them up the blue marine stabilizer. It's twice the strength of the red, it helps eliminate the issues with ethanol absorbing water, and it keeps the fuel fresh for up to a year (they say two, but I go one). I'll fill up 57 gallons before the hurricane season. It's cheaper then. You can actually get it then in one long fill (got to bring your credit card inside though). And you can use it for "other stuff" as the season goes on if a hurricane doesn't come your way and still have some in reserve.
If there is another $50 limit like there was last time, and after a hurricane the prices are up up up, then you can still top off your truck and cans after a couple of stops and be OK.