Reliance

Historically I have been an early adopter of new technology. Especially computer and game console technology. I have owned more computers that I care to recount. Almost all of those have gone by the wayside except the Mac and Microsoft driven computers which we used to call IBM clones.

My first Apple computer was an Apple ][plus with 16K of RAM and a cassette recorder for file storage. There were very few programs out for it so we all learned how to write are own. A lot has changed since those days. Now we look at a computer as one more appliance we have to have. Same with smart phones. We have come to depend on these devices, especially our phones. The problem is smart phones aren’t really that smart. I mean they can’t even keep themselves charged.

But the desire to stay connected through social media begs the need for a phone that can take photos, let me post them to Facebook, email and text them and do what ever else I feel I need to do with them. My point is we all have come to depend on these phones which are nothing more than sophisticated computers. When a storm blows through and you lose power in your home panic sets in. How much battery power is left on my phone! We all tweet about the power lose and looming problem of dead phone battery which means disconnection from social media.

I could go on about this for a long time but you get the drill. That’s what I love about Block Island. It is a low tech place with spotty wi-fi and nominal cell service. It is a place where you can reconnect with yourself and someone you love. We all should turn off our phones at least one day a week and allow ourselves to just be.