Living without internets

We all know a few people who never use the ‘net, some are a bit scared of anything ‘high-tech’, others are just uninterested.  But for those of us who spend a good portion of our life online, being away from the web feels like being disconnected from part of the world.

I recently moved house, and made careful arrangements with all the utility suppliers etc to make sure that life in the new residence would be the same, just with a bit more space and a nicer location.  I called my broadband supplier and explained when I would be moving and to where, and they advised no problem, I would be connected within days of arriving. 

A couple of days after moving in, I received a letter from my broadband supplier, who were sorry I was leaving them and advising my broadband would cease in 30 days!  What!!  It turned out that when I called to have the connection transferred, the dozy person on the other end of the phone had pressed the wrong button and cancelled my contract…  After much messing about, including me having to get pretty angry with them, and spending over two hours in total on the phone, I am promised I will have a connection five days from now – only about two weeks late… GRRRR!!!

It’s funny how things we lived without become absolutely essential to us when we are used to having them.  Have you forgotten your mobile phone recently?  Until around ten years ago, most of us didn’t have one, but now if we go out without it, we feel lost and suddenly panic – how will somebody get hold of me if they need to?  It’s been similar without an internet connection – what if there’s an important email waiting for me? 

Is the answer that we’ve got so used to doing everything instantly, we forget that most things are just not that urgent! 

 I think I’ll try spending a bit more time away from my connected life, maybe I’ll be more relaxed for it!