I have been unplugged the last 10 days and even though I occasionally checked emails and read up on the news, I felt like I have been off the grid. I can see why it is so easy to get off the internet just as it is easy to get on.
I have heard and read stories of folks who became addicted to the internet and ended up neglecting their true personal connections offline. I feel differently. I have personal relationships with people offline and online. My mother, for example, doesn’t know how to use the internet. When I need to contact her I have to call her. My dad is a little better. At least I can video chat him. My mom is getting there. There are people who I considered as my friends who I have never met in real life. They are willing to answer questions and we chit chat about stuff. And there are people who I connect with online and offline.
So for the past 10 days my interactions have been more off line than online. Only two of the 44 people on the cruise (one of them being me) bought the internet package. So they pretty much leave the phone back in the room. Occasionally they take it with them to go take pictures. Since they don’t have phone access I don’t bother bringing mine either.
Last night we drove from Miami to Cocoa Beach, hoping to get the last harrah before we have to go back home. But we spent too much time in Homestead picking tropical fruits. I bought a few boxes Myself. By the time we got to cocoa beach it was really late. Added to the trouble, Hotwire oversold the rooms (6) that we booked. They had to relocate us to a different hotel and that took another 2 hours. I was just too exhausted to do anything afterward.
Today we are driving from cocoa beach to North Carolina. I have been driving too much and am exhausted. I get to be a passenger for a bit as I sit here typing up this post. So my future-brother-in-law is driving the car for a little bit. He will probably finish the drive tonight as we make a short stop in Fayetteville to sleep. Then we will do it again tomorrow.
For now, good night.