To ride or not to ride.....

[Biciclista]

we use calendars AND talk a lot. We still double book FREQUENTLY and forget stuff and... well... sometimes life is just too too full, imho.

Silver, I'm glad you rode.

[blueskies]

We started using the google online calendar a couple months ago... and it's been great. We have 3 calendars (his, mine, ours) & they show up on the same virtual calendar in different colors.

This is a supplement to talking in person, not a substitute. Neither of us can keep our schedules straight in our heads. I don't think I know anyone who doesn't use a calendar, really. The nice thing about having it online is that DH can see it at work.

Another unexpected bonus is that it's easy to see if our individual activities are getting too lopsided. With the color coding, we can see visually when the week's gotten over booked with separate activities, and then we make the effort to compensate with something like a lunch/coffee date in the middle of the week. We love it.

Blueskies

[Crankin]

Well, I don't use a calendar...
I didn't use one when my kids were around, either. Important notices about events went up on the fridge, but that was for their benefit, not mine. Since the other 3 people in my family have different learning styles than me, they all did whatever it took for them to remember stuff individually. I made sure they never had more than one activity in addition to religious school, so it never got too crazy. They all use technology a lot more than me, but I don't think my sons use an electronic calendar for anything except work, if that. When I was teaching, I wrote meetings down in my plan book, but the two million email reminders we would get probably would have done the trick, too. Now that I'm in school, I just use the syllabus for each course to see what's due, but I do map out a study schedule in advance as to when I need to work on each part of each assignment. And I actually write it down on paper and stick it up in front of the place where I keep my books and notebooks. It's on line, but writing it helps me remember what I have planned.
I do write very important things down in my little date book, but generally, I remember it all. If you remember the thread on technology, you might recall I said the same thing before.
It's just me and my husband now; and although we socialize with other couples on the weekends and I might meet someone for lunch during the week, most of what we do revolves around outdoor sports, which we plan together or with our friends who cycle and ski with us. That's the stuff I keep in my head.

[Aint Doody]

Well, how nice.

[Veronica]

I think every family needs to work out their own communication style. It doesn't matter what it is, as long the family members agree that it works.

Veronica

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I think every family needs to work out their own communication style. It doesn't matter what it is, as long the family members agree that it works.

Veronica

Well said.

[Crankin]

I totally agree. I just can't believe that so many are dependent on electronic calendars for their personal lives. I know I am an anachronism. To me, it's all a symptom that the world is too crazy, over booked, and over stressed.
I am not putting anyone down; but when someone said that she didn't know anybody that didn't use a calendar, I would beg to differ. I know several people who don't, at least for social stuff.
But it's true, I am generally a technology hater and a last adapter. I think I secretly enjoy it, too.
Heck, my brother doesn't even have a computer or cell phone and he is a generation (11 years) younger than me!

[Tuckervill]

You just said you used a 3.99 date book.

Isn't that a calendar?

Isn't that technology?

Using electronics does not mean we are overbooked or overstressed. It just means we incorporate useful things into our lives as they become available. Like date books, but comprised of bits and bytes.

Karen

[indysteel]

I'm your basic Luddite, but even I use a Blackberry for my calendar. I would't say I'm overbooked, but I have a number of activities and obligations that I need to keep track of. I was starting to lose track of things, so I decided I needed a better way to maintain a calendar

The nice thing about the Blackerry is that it's programmed to ding at me when I have an appt. Plus, it's synched to my work computer and email. It's helped me stay much better organized. I still don't have a home computer, but I love the Blackberry.

[PamNY]

You just said you used a 3.99 date book.

Isn't that a calendar?

Isn't that technology?

Ah, that is one of my favorite arguments. Filling in a calendar is pretty much the same process whether you write by hand or type. And sticking a paper calendar on the refrigerator makes it interactive. Way too much importance is attached to technology (sometimes).

Pam