Great story! Really takes me back. In our case we extended the pipe from the well up through the floor so the pitcher pump could be on the main floor. It never froze but during February the water table dropped too much so we still had to haul water then. We used a Coleman lantern for light and there were no phones yet. When we did get a Whitte 'light-plant' years later the sound kind of annoyed me, I liked the total silence and being able to hear every step of animals lurking in the woods. The vibration caused the bears to abandon their centuries old trail and circle around our homestead. If that generator ever missed a beat the whole family was instantly racing out to the light-plant shed to see what was wrong! 
I envy your lifestyle and your youth, my friend, though I sure don't miss hurrying down 'the path' in the dark  at 60 below!