Power Out
Due to our recent winter storms (Spring?! Where are you?!!), my town has lost power twice for extended times over the past week. Now, I won’t say I’ve completely lost power, because I have a generator, so honestly, I’m not complaining because I had heat, hot water and lights. Definitely more than what my neighbors had who don’t have generators. Overall, this is not considered roughing it. But what I found out is that my internet and cable aren’t hooked up to the generator, so no tv and no WiFi.
The funny thing about buying a house, is you learn slowly about the way it ‘operates’, during different conditions. Now that I’ve been in the house almost a year, I’ve gone through just about every season once. I now know to check the basement for water during big rain storms, that in April I will need to spray to keep the ants away, and that when the hibiscus in the front yard blooms in late summer, the giant flowers are magical. Some things I’ve learned are great, i.e. ‘I have a generator that keeps me warm during winter power outages!”. Other things are a little disappointing, i.e. ‘I’m warm during the winter power outages, but find myself bored without cable and internet.’
But how embarrassing is it that I’m bored without WiFi? I’d like to think that I’m not completely addicted to my phone / internet. I do still read magazines (usually with the tv on in the background), and also read books. But I admittedly feel a little lost without easy access to the ‘world’. Maybe I’ll check the weather for tomorrow…nope. Maybe I’ll post a blog…nope. Maybe I’ll catch up on work…nope.
However, I found that these two nights ‘off the grid’, I went to sleep at a decent time (you can only read for so long), and therefore woke up earlier and was off to work earlier. I also found myself actually calling friends and catching up with voice-to-voice conversations. I even got some painting done in the guest bedroom!
So maybe these mini breaks from WiFi weren’t too bad after all? A small reminder to put down the phone and connect on a different level. A time to work on a project without the distractions that so easily pull us away from being as productive as we could be. Being forced to disconnect has turned into a bit of a relief.
And now, the night before we’re expected to get a third nor’easter in two weeks, I have fresh magazines waiting to be read, and a new can of paint for the next room to be painted. Who else is ready for another snow day?