NotSoThoreau

We’ve been using technology at arm’s length a bit this year, sort of like the Amish. I thought I’d let you know how it’s going.

Phones: We don’t have a phone line. Cell phones die about five miles from our place. This means I’m not on the on call rotation at work. It also means that I usually have to get in the car and drive a bit to call in sick. That’s the down side. The rest is all to the good. I talk on the phone all day long, so I have no desire to talk to anyone on the phone at night. I write letters, yes real letters, to my aunt. I do communicate with some folks by email. Most of the calls we had at the old place were junk away and I hated even dealing with the answering machine. I have a prepaid cell phone that I carry with me, but seldom use. Too many people are spending their time with a phone glued to their ear. It’s a real time waster.

Television: The tv died before we moved and we didn’t replace it. We’d have to have satellite but there’s just no need. Everyone always tries to point out the good things about tv. The truth is that we mostly watch junk. We are encouraged to eat things we don’t want, buy things we don’t need and to go against our raising. I’ve spent more than my fair share of time watching “What Not to Wear”. I just don’t miss it that much. The best memories we have seem to be of listening to radio shows at a friend’s off grid cabin. We can make those kind of memories on our own. Besides, Jeffrey can always go over to our friend’s place if he wants to watch NASCAR. It’s a lot more fun that way.

Refrigeration: We bought ice last year. This year, we have access to a refrigerator, where we make our own ice. We can use the freezer to put a few things away for later in the week. It’s not at our place but is a few miles down the road. It’s been a big help this year. I’d still like to get an ice house and root cellar built. Maybe we’ll manage that next year. We’ve been charging our battery at the same place, which means that we don’t have to run the generator as often.

Water: Hauling water is a major hassle and takes up a lot of Jeffrey’s time. We think we’ve figured out a place to put in the garden next year, that will let us tap into the small spring we have on the place. And we’d like to build up near that spot anyway. In the fall, there’s enough rainfall to water the animals and use for baths. People really don’t appreciate how nice it is to have running water.