In which we contemplate a life offline.

We lost internet for about 24 hours this week (it rained basically nonstop for about 4 days, a tree fell and snapped the overhead line that runs to our house). This got me thinking about the ridiculous amount of things we rely on the internet for–to the point where a couple of times, my brain started assuming that the power was out, because it was nearly the same.

To the best of my recollection, I’ve had internet in every place I’ve lived since around 1994 (We had Earthlink and/or Mindspring, but I feel like the News & Observer offered internet for a while and that was first? Was it called Nando?). So for 3/4 of my adult life, life online has been a reality. Of course early days were different–there wasn’t much to do online for a 9 year-old except download instant messenger and talk to girls or talk to friends about girls.

Now, at least the following is dependent on internet:

1. Both of our jobs are mostly remote and require constant and consistent access to the internet
2. All of our television is streamed, so whether it’s something live via youtube tv or trying to watch Silo on Apple, we need the internet for that
3. Most of the video games we play require at least some online component
4. I finished a book on my kindle…and couldn’t download the next thing to read

So now you’re talking about a pretty significant piece of our days.

What this is not is some sanctimonious piece about getting back to nature or some shit. I like that I can do all the things listed above. We also get out, walk the dogs twice a day, I’ll run in Duke Forest later this afternoon. I’m happy with the balance we’ve created. Perhaps just a little worried about the future and potential longer internet outages. I did get one good thing done, which was clean the closet in my office. It’s kind of where I’d throw everything work-related I didn’t want to deal with, and now I’ve organized it so I can see exactly how many books I’ve bought but haven’t read yet (the count is…let’s just say over 40). And maybe if I have less internet, I’ll read more of them. In the meantime…

Watching: Silo is pretty great, the season finale is next week. Maybe I’ll have more to say after that.

Listening to: Jason Isbell’s Weathervanes. So far I really like King of Oklahoma, Middle of the Morning, and Miles.

Reading: The Inner Game of Tennis by Timothy Gallwey

Playing: I beat Elden Ring for the second time last night, and now it’s on to Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom