I heart technology. Really, I do. I grew up with it. Dad was in electronics and we were always the first in the neighborhood to have the latest and greatest new gadget. I remember dad telling us, This is not a toy . I laugh at this now since many children's ™ toys are just that “ technological gadgets.
To say that technology has made our lives easier is an understatement.
I think we ™d all agree that the cell phone is the big winner when it comes to technology making our lives easier. How did we ever live without them? I originally purchased one for safety “ you know, in case the car broke down. Now it's become an ever-present fixture. Email, internet, calendar, alarm clock, address book, radio and a camera, all in one compact device. It's like I ™ve got the capabilities of MacGyver in the palm of my hand.
Lately though it seems that hubby and I are consumed by technology. We can't go for a minute without checking our iPhones, even during dinner. Heaven forbid that we miss an email or a Facebook update; the world may stop spinning.
Honestly, I ™m fed up with being constantly connected. Technology has become a dangerous drug and I ™m the addict. A former boss once told me as she left for vacation, if the building burns, save yourself and tell me about it when I get back . Great philosophy, to disconnect for awhile, right?
So hubby and I decided to take a break. A break from technology, from connectivity, from being the first to read about Kate and Wills ™ trip to America. And we had the perfect opportunity: a week-long vacation to our favorite resort.
That's right “ no email or Facebook. The goal: to relax, unwind and reconnect with each other. We didn't want to spend the days lounging by the pool, one toe in the water while our fingers were busy texting, emailing and posting updates.
It was bliss! Amazing! Wonderful!
OK, who I am kidding? Here's how it went down:
Day 1: Getting on the plane, time to disconnect. No problem! We're technology-free. Arriving at the resort, the iPhones are secured in the safe. Ahhh “ freedom! Let's head to the pool. Just me and hubby, chillaxing in the shade of a cabana. We enjoy talking to each other, taking in the view and reading books. This is the life!
Day 2: We leap out of bed, instantly looking for our iPhones. Where are they? Panic sets in! Oh – that's right; they're in the safe. Whew. Maybe we should check just once, to see if there's an urgent message from our dog-sitter or mom? Relax; they can always call us at the resort. Proud that we resisted, we're amused by other vacationers who are focused on their gadgets instead of enjoying their families and the beautiful scenery.
Day 3: We ™ve begun to shake. Must be tremors associated with technology detox. Nerves are a bit on edge as we see others at the pool with their laptops and smart phones. Why is she laughing? What are they talking about? Did something amazing happen on The Bachelorette? My mind races as I struggle to focus on my book.
Day 4: Hubby's on the golf course. I ™m all alone to bask in the sun. The phone comes with me, just in case he needs to reach me. I ™m enjoying my book, music playing through speakers hidden in the cactus when ping ! It's my phone! Hubby must be calling with a crisis of some sort! Car trouble? Rattlesnake bite while retrieving his golf ball from the rough? What is it Lassie – did Timmy fall in the well?
I ™d better take a look. Augh! Hubby's broken the Rule by sending me a pic of himself on the golf course. He's cheating! I cram the wicked device back into my bag. I ™m pretty sure I hear the phone snickering at me.
Day 5: Determined to get back on track after hubby's slip, we venture away from the resort. Armed with restaurant suggestions, we head down the road. Wait, we need directions. How on earth will we get directions without technology? What? You mean we have to- gasp “ speak with someone? In person?
After a quick discussion we decide that directions are a valid reason for breaking the Rule. Arriving at the restaurant it was my turn to slip. Out of habit I checked-in on Facebook. Evil Technology! Who cares if I ™m eating and it's delicious, in the same booth that the president sat in?
Day 6: I find myself making excuses to open the safe so I can look at my phone. It looks so innocent in there. But I know better. One touch of its shiny case and I ™m off the wagon. I spend most of the day in the pool, knowing that cell phones are ext
remely afraid of water.
Day 7: Our last day at the resort. Sweat pours from my face as I strain to catch a glimpse of a nearby computer to see if I ™m missing anything. Must-Resist-Temptation. Others ask us didn't you hear about it? It's been all over Yahoo . No, we grit our teeth in response. We're taking a break from technology.
Vacation over already? As we wave goodbye to the resort, we realize we can turn on our phones. But guess what? We didn't. We enjoyed our time off the grid . The world didn't stop spinning. We didn't miss anything urgent. And the Bachelorette made her decision without me.
I still heart technology. But I know I can survive without it.
I can relate to this more than you know.
It is so hard to ignore the dinging on my phone when I know someone has sent me a new email. So hard.
Glad I am not alone.
We love cruising, and are able to take 3-4 week long cruises year. I love that it forces me to put my phone away, and we only check email if we can hack a signal in port. But no surfing the web, no instant access to anything. I feels so freeing to know I can’t have access to it. But the first thing we both do as soon as we pull into home port at 5am is fire up our phones and check everything we missed!