Would it pay off to drop my Verizon Wireless internet connection? I'm talking about more than the $53 dollars per month. The main benefit would be the killing off of the bad habit that the internet has become. But there's more: without worrying about internet coverage, North America will be a much bigger and better place to camp.
Does the reader know of anyone who has done this, and whether they are happy they did?
There would still be wi-fi in town or at country stores. I really like the camping-style of coming to town once per week to do the usual errands. Internet usage would just be one more errand. It would be fun to look forward to it. Access once per week would be adequate for paying bills, catching up on the news (mostly just entertainment trivia), and reading websites and blogs (more trivia).
Once per week would be adequate for a little bit of internet shopping.
Nor would dropping Verizon Wireless internet service mean that my computer lies fallow all week. I can still write my blog, although the posts would only be once per week. But maybe it would be a good thing to let an idea marinate in brain-juices for a whole week, before posting.
An offline computer is still good for reading a backlog of eBooks, and for listening to a pile of old music, and for editing photographs. But would I find new stuff easily enough when using wi-fi at, say, a noisy McDonalds or laundromat in town?
For now I'm holding off on this idea because of the fear that I'll "cheat" by driving into town, which would quickly destroy the nominal savings, especially for a rational accounting of the true costs of driving -- say, 50 cents per mile. If that's not bad enough, you'll also squander money for coffee or food.
Once again, I'd like to know if the reader has any direct or second-hand experience with this idea.
Does the reader know of anyone who has done this, and whether they are happy they did?
There would still be wi-fi in town or at country stores. I really like the camping-style of coming to town once per week to do the usual errands. Internet usage would just be one more errand. It would be fun to look forward to it. Access once per week would be adequate for paying bills, catching up on the news (mostly just entertainment trivia), and reading websites and blogs (more trivia).
Once per week would be adequate for a little bit of internet shopping.
Nor would dropping Verizon Wireless internet service mean that my computer lies fallow all week. I can still write my blog, although the posts would only be once per week. But maybe it would be a good thing to let an idea marinate in brain-juices for a whole week, before posting.
An offline computer is still good for reading a backlog of eBooks, and for listening to a pile of old music, and for editing photographs. But would I find new stuff easily enough when using wi-fi at, say, a noisy McDonalds or laundromat in town?
For now I'm holding off on this idea because of the fear that I'll "cheat" by driving into town, which would quickly destroy the nominal savings, especially for a rational accounting of the true costs of driving -- say, 50 cents per mile. If that's not bad enough, you'll also squander money for coffee or food.
Once again, I'd like to know if the reader has any direct or second-hand experience with this idea.
Comments
Your idea sounds like a good one. A bit like why I don't have certain things in the house, like donuts. If I have to get in the car and go out and buy them, I don't.
Only you can decide what is best for you. Personally, I wouldn't give up the accessibility to instant research though. Everybody has to figure out on their own to what degree personal vs. impersonal contact with the world is comfortable.
I give you folks who author blogs alot of credit. I see the work in it. Personally, I wouldn't last a week.
It's a delicate thing, the sort of contact with the outer world that works for us. One of the wonderful freedoms we have that we so often overlook.
Living is about change. 10 years ago I searched for a dial up line to connect to the internet. At that time. I wrote monthly columns posted to my web site. Worked great and better thought out writing. Might be a lesson there. Even with internet access everywhere, perhaps I might want to consider weekly posts rather than daily drivel.
Jeanie uses it primarily for entertainment and for that alone it is well worth the price. Internet really means freedom for me.
One BIG disadvantage to pubic internet access is that they are not secure, and can be hacked.
It happened once to me. One should never do anything that needs security (ie email) on a site that doesn't say "https." (Yahoo email is "http", not "https", and is how I got hacked.) G-mail is "https".
"https" doesn't guarantee you won't be hacked, but it takes a more sophisticated hacker.
I'm heading out on the road in May, and am facing the same issues you are. I have relied on public internet access before, but I don't really like the risks. Still, I was only hacked once, and that was before I knew of the difference between "http", and "https"..
Take the risk, or not. That is the question.
Larry M
I don’t have any of the profiles set up under your comments section, so I’ll just send this via e-mail.
Time to Drop Verizon Wireless Internet?
This blogger (http://www.shalyard.blogspot.com/) doesn’t have internet when boondocking and only uses a Tracphone. He usually posts once a month and says he creates a list of things to look up and does that when in town. It sounds like he enjoys internet and would like to have it but isn’t there yet. He’s also very much into living in nature, trail running, mountain biking, tai chi, etc.
My guess is that there are lots of interesting characters out there without internet, but they don’t write blogs.
I’d probably miss the research aspect of the internet but realize it's mostly noise and see it as a useful experiment to go without. Might be interesting to try and report on your observations.
I don’t know of too many people living without internet @ home, but I do know several who just use Smartphones for everything. That would probably drive me crazy because I can’t stand the tiny screens.
Another thought is that living a mobile boondocking life requires one to “give up” many things that most take for granted. So, if you get real enjoyment and value from something, I’d say keep it.
McBe
If it were me, living your type of RV lifestyle, I would need the internet for "company." You can only read a book so many hours in a day, and you know when writing your style of blog you will need a fact-check frequently... so don't thing you could even finish a post without that.
Box Canyon Mark
At first you miss it, then you start noticing things and doing things - like longer walks, etc.
But I'm a writer, so I need lots of solitude. To me, it's mostly a big distraction. But you'll want a weather radio.
After searching the internet for a couple of hours today, I have found what I think is the only way to securely access the internet via hot spots like Starbucks, Library's, McDonald's, etc.
It's via a Virtual Private Network (called a VPN) like "Private Wi-Fi", or "proXPN."
These services use an encrypted link from your computer to their servers which then completes your access to the internet.. All info going out and back is encrypted. Any prying eyes, so to speak, would only see undecipherable garbage. Both have paid access (as low as $6.25 a month), and proXPN offers a slowed down free service (which I intend to give a try).
Here's a link to a 6 month old article I found on Wi-Fi security mentioning these two providers. There may be more VPN's out there, but these 2 seem to have good reviews. They both have videos on YouTube about their services.
http://www.networkworld.com/columnists/2012/081712-cooltools-261733.html
When I head out again I will probably use proXPN's paid service. It will be nice knowing that no one is going to be able to steal my identity while I'm online enjoying my coffee. Certainly worth $6.25 a month.
Larry M
Boonie,
I'm experimenting with my air card. I still have it but it is on the shelf. If I survive a couple of months I'll cancel. Will let you know how it goes. Easy for the net to draw me in. Day is done and I haven't thought a 'thunk'.
It was easy to throw away my last TV some years ago. To stay in touch I have a TracFone, also on the shelf. I check it most days. No calls, no dollars. I do carry a weather radio and a Kindle. I suppose I could de-clutter further but I am comfortable.
Wish you well. Bill
I think you will find running errands more often for that need to connect to the world. Also nice to research where you want to go next and stay in touch with whats going on in the world and educating yourself, on the spot, with whatever comes to mind.