A Week with No Internet
“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” – Wayne Dyer
I did finish this painting during my no-internet agony. Watercolor by Pat Bean
It Wasn’t Intentional
A few months ago, my Wi-Fi was down because I needed an updated modem. As a stop gap, I realized the Wi-Fi connection of my brother was near enough by so that I could use it. It worked well and my life wasn’t interrupted while I waited for a new modem to arrive.
A few months later when the contract for my internet provider expired, I learned that the company wanted to increase the cost of my internet-only service – I don’t own a TV – from $70 a month to over a hundred dollars, I was incensed. I talked to my brother, and he encouraged me simply to cancel and use his Wi-Fi, which I already knew worked quite well for me.
The Internet lets me see my youngest great-grandchild Cora grow up, and lets others see me with this precious one when I do get to see her in person. — Photo was taken by another family member during our Christmas get-away in Florida.
Great, I thought. My limited, fixed-income budget was grateful for the brotherly love. And it was — for a couple of months. But then things began to go haywire, and after I was without internet for a couple of days, I knew I had to get my own. I found a different provider, however, one that was only going to charge me $45 a month for life –well there was another $10 for monthly modem rental and the life was only good for as long as I never moved from my current location, which I almost certainly will.
Of course, it took time to get reconnected to my own Wi-Fi, which left me almost a whole week without internet. It was agony. It made me realize how much I need and enjoy being connected to the world.
I begin my days by reading the New York Times online. I stay in touch with friends and family, getting to see my great-grandchildren who live far away grow up day by day. I blog. I submit writing to potential publication markets and search out potential writing jobs. I use the internet prolifically to find answers to my always questioning mind. I stream TV and movies on my computer or Kindle. I do research for my essays and blogs. I play computer games. I look at maps to see where I’m going or want to go. I shop online. I read Amazon reviews of my book Travels with Maggie online, and I download books from Amazon and the library. And I moderate a daily writing forum called Writer2Writer for Story Circle Network.
That’s a haystack made entirely of needles to this old broad, seeing as my family didn’t get a TV until I was 14 years old.
The world changed, and I guess I changed with it.
Bean Pat: First you must believe you’re a writer https://lithub.com/how-to-say-im-a-writer-and-mean-it/ A blog for writers.
Pat Bean is a retired journalist who lives in Tucson with her canine companion Pepper. She is a wondering-wanderer, avid reader, enthusiastic birder and is always searching for life’s silver lining. Check out her book Travels with Maggie, available on Amazon, to learn more. She can be reached at patbean@msn.com
Pat Bean's blog 
Living in remote areas, usually without an easy internet option, I tend to stay behind when finally on line… but then my hours at home are blissful ones – without being distracted by things cyber… Oh, but I miss the easy connections, the ability to research something (like what WAS that strange bird that doesn’t come close to any in the field books…) .. so when on line I open about 30 pages to read at home and then wonder why the browser crashed!
Ah, but the ability to focus – especially on art or writing or musing — and your painting reflects it! That’s a very soothing painting, yet it also makes me smile.
So true Playamart. But I also found I lost my focus without the internet. So I’m conflicted, but come out on the side of worldly connection. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I have gone time without the internet which made me realize too just how much I rely on it. It’s crazy to think how much we rely on something that could end so easily.
Yeah, most of us would be lost without modern technology. Its powers are incredible.
Neil Scheinin
I can’t bear when my internet goes down or I’m stuck somewhere without it. I, too, google things constantly. I need to KNOW.
We had to do without internet for six months a couple of years ago, so I feel your pain! And I love your watercolor 🙂