Cutting off electronic tethers, etc.

[OakLeaf]

No, they knew. I asked them about it myself. These guys did the Lewis & Clark trail three or four years ago. They got their maps for both trips from Adventure Cycling, who I know provides lots of great planning information. This is a more challenging trip than they've done before (and the latest report is that they're doing fine but behind schedule, and already shipped a bunch of stuff back that suddenly seemed unnecessary when they had to pull it on rough trails ) - but they're not in the least inexperienced.

They just wanted to "cut off electronic tethers." Or save a little money, honestly I don't know what their motivation was for foregoing satellite communications, but I just think it's very irresponsible.

[HappyTexasMom]

I rely on my computer and internet for a job (I'm a software developer who works from home). I also have plenty of electronic vices: I play world of warcraft, play on here and facebook a lot, and I do watch TV probably a couple of nights a week (some weeks more, some less). I hate the phone so would be glad never to have to talk on it again, but I wouldn't really want to lose complete contact with my family (who live in another state). I have a dear friend in Canada who I text or IM regularly (our phone plans don't allow us to talk without charges). The one really useful thing I use the internet for is to learn things I need to look up (cooking mostly; lately a lot of stuff about riding and my bike).

My dream is to live in a remote forest location. I would gladly give up most of this if it meant I could give up the negative parts (basically the grind of working and living in a place that I hate) as well. I could live without the internet for research purposes (I've used libraries before, I could do it again). I guess the thing that would really be tough is contact with my family and my Canadian friend. I suppose we could go back to old fashioned letter writing.