Unplugging: preparing to ditch web & TV for awhile (in the house, anyway)

[Starfish]

In a few weeks, I will be moving to a farmhouse without cable or DSL. I'm just gonna ditch TV and internet at home for awhile. If I find I really don't want to be without the internet at home, I might try a broadband card for the laptop, but I think I might just see how it goes first. (Despite being out of cable range, I'm only a few minutes from the office.)

It has been awhile since I've lived consistently without TV (which I did for several years in a cabin without power or phone, let alone internet), but it has been a LONG while since I've not had internet at home. I've gotten used to having morning coffee checking up on what you all have been saying on TE!

Hmmmm, what to do? Actually read again? Get back to producing something artistic? Actually spend more time again in prayer and my Bible? Do some writing? Play some music? Just sit quietly more often?

I know there will be a period of withdrawal, as I have been using TV to distract myself in the evenings. Anyhow, just felt like sharing! While I can!

[Trekhawk]

Good for you Starfish!!
When we were in the States I could not stomach the thought of paying for TV so we went without. 3 years with no TV and my kids even survived. Now we are home its funny but we really do not watch that much TV it just seems less important. I do however enjoy seeing the sports again.

Starfish did I read right are you climbing some scary number in August??

[Starfish]

Starfish did I read right are you climbing some scary number in August??

Well, you know, we will see. Last year, after I did the Shasta Century, I was REALLY motivated to come back and do the Super Century this year. But, I have to say, I might change my mind. I am taking a month of unstructured training right now to sort out what I really want to do this summer. My attitude is pretty bad lately, and with our below-average temps, above-average rain, LOTS of gravel/sand on the roads, and increased traffic...well...I am just PO'd these days about training. Oh, and the Park is probably closing off my one sustained climbing route for training.

So...I am considering what I want to do. Start a walk/run program, and get back to lifting weights and swimming? Start setting the stage for a Tri? Just relax with training and see what happens for the climbing ride?

I am thinking of still going back to Shasta, but taking a few days, and just doing the climbs one at a time, for fun.

Anyhow...long response. Bad attitude.

(I guess since I am the OP on this thread, I can drift this thread through two topics! TV and my lack of motivation for training.)

[indigoiis]

You might want a subscription to Backhome Magazine. Lots of great ideas in that rag!

www.backhomemagazine.com

Indy

[Brandi]

So will you be going online when you are at work? I hope you will check in every once in while and let us know how you are doing? A barn? Why? Sounds very cool to me!

[tulip]

I was TV-less for many years, and I don't think I missed much. I did read more. Now I have a TV and basic cable, and I enjoy watching a few shows a week. But I have to be careful, otherwise I'll end up spending six hours in rapt attention to all those Law and Order episodes that I missed the first time around.

I keep my TV (it's small) in the closet and drag it out for shows I want to watch. If it's out all the time, it's sometimes too easy to just turn it on. I didn't grow up with a TV, so I can't just have it as background like some folks can. If it's on, I can't do anything else.

There's plenty to keep you busy in the country. Will you have a garden? I can spend hours in my garden. If you have any garden questions, ask me here or in a PM, as I've been gardening for years. It's good exercise, especially when you incorporate lifting of things and building and turning compost.

[Trekhawk]

Anyhow...long response. Bad attitude.

(I guess since I am the OP on this thread, I can drift this thread through two topics! TV and my lack of motivation for training.)

Not a bad attitude considering the weather and park closing etc.
Im sure you will have fun whatever you decide to pursue.

[shootingstar]

Ok..y'all know that I haven't lived a household for past 1/4 century that had a car.

Well, y'know, I also lived in places for about 20 consecutive years without watching TV. But did hook up to the internet in the latter 8 years of that same time period.

When I bought my own home, I never bothered to hook up to any TV.

Call me hillbilly shootingstar! How did I manage this anachronstic habit born and lived in Canada my whole life so far?

Easy, when growing up as a kid, my parents' black 'n white often broke down. So we went for months without having it fixed. When it did work, about 5 channels were clear/non-fuzzy. Seriously, they did want to control our tv fixation and hit the study books instead/read lots for school. They also didn't want to spend money repairing it all the time. Nor did they have enough money until I was 16 yrs. old to buy a better quality/ bigger tv....after they bought their lst car. I became a serious bookrm....and loved it...had a casual contest with my best friend on who read the most bks. per month. Some months I was clocking over 30-40 full novels. (Had to be forced to help with housework...)

Then at university, my 2 roommates had an old tv which I never seemed to want to share tv watching with them. Then for few years after university, I had zero interest in spending my first hard earned salary dollars on tv. It was more on sewing, travel.

So only when I moved in with my partner in last few years, I can finally claim I live and watch tv.

still I seem to sit down and watch about 4-5 hrs. of tv weekly uninterupted. Rest of the time it's on while I'm in the kitchen, not really focusing hard without...cutting my hand while chopping up veggies, etc.

Internet would be more important, Starfish.

[kelownagirl]

The big TV in our living room died about 2 months ago. I haven't lifted a finger to replace it. DH watches hockey on the TV in our bedroom once in awhile and we rent movies once or twice a month at most. My son watches some programs on his TV in the basement. However, I DO spend HOURS on the internet. However, I truly believe it's time much better spent than sitting and starting a mindless TV programs.

I must say my life is much more joyous since I stopped watching the news, and reading the paper. I check the local news website once a day so I'm aware about what's going on the world, but I generally only read the headlines.

Good luck!!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

You can always tell a family that watches a lot of tv...all the chairs in the living room are facing a big tv and 'entertainment center' (always cringed at that term, like you have to go to some 'center' to be entertained?). The tv/entertainmentcenter looks like a huge shrine of some sort. Families that don't watch much tv have their chairs all facing each other...as though people communicate with each to 'entertain' themselves instead.

[Pax]

You can always tell a family that watches a lot of tv...all the chairs in the living room are facing a big tv and 'entertainment center' (always cringed at that term, like you have to go to some 'center' to be entertained?). The tv/entertainmentcenter looks like a huge shrine of some sort. Families that don't watch much tv have their chairs all facing each other...as though people communicate with each to 'entertain' themselves instead.

We struggle with this at our place. My honey has a job that would make a saint nuts so when she gets home she really likes to sit and watch the news and then veg in front of HGTV to unwind. I'd prefer to have the TV be sitting in the corner that gets turned on for specific shows. So far I'm not winning this battle.

[Starfish]

when she gets home she really likes to sit and watch the news and then veg in front of HGTV to unwind.

Yep, it is the veg out phase that gets me. When I'm not done in from work, I will gravitate toward things that are interesting to do. But, I need a new "right after work when my brain cannot read one more thing, but needs a serious distraction for awhile" thing.

For those of you who have demanding jobs that fry your brains (meaning the last thing you want to do after work is be creative, read, or think), if you don't use TV to shut your brain off for awhile between work and evening (and you can't get outside due to awful weather) what do you do?

[Lifesgreat]

Hmmmm, what to do? Actually read again? Get back to producing something artistic? Actually spend more time again in prayer and my Bible? Do some writing? Play some music? Just sit quietly more often?

Sounds like you already have some great ideas!

[tulip]

Sounds like you already have some great ideas!

Listen to the birds.