(Oops – Comments are now open…did NOT mean to have them closed. This was meant to spur an interesting discussion.)
I’ve been traveling quite a bit lately and with that has come a sobering realization. My life is completely tied into technology.
I rarely talk on the phone anymore (nor do I answer it when it rings) because I directing all my contact to my email, skype or twitter.
The effectiveness of my destination’s wifi/internet access connection has a huge impact on my day. It affects my ability to multi-task. It affects my use of quality time. It affects my ability to relax because if I can’t get on my computer, then I can’t do my work, and if I can’t do my work, then you don’t have posts to read, and if you don’t have anything to read, then I am not doing my “job” well.
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And thus, the vicious cycle continues…
I do NOT like this reliance on technology, yet it is a such a rub with reality because it is now such an integrated part of my life.
So as I put this Tasty Tuesday post up early due to my sketchy internet access this past week, I reflect on technology, and my love/hate relationship with it.
What does this have to do with food and recipes?
I do NOT take for granted the ways that technology revolutionizes my ease of meal planning, recipes and cooking. Tasty Tuesday alone has introduced me to so many amazing blogs, cooking styles and recipes, yet when I see my reliance on all the things requiring electricity I am very intrigued with educating myself further in regards to living off the land, and being more self sustaining.
I’ve had a garden for a few years, but am far from a Master Gardener. I want to learn more about being self sustaining in terms of food and I don’t think my seven chickens would cut it if there was a need. 🙂
I spent a lot of time researching this back when Y2K was a scare and Iwas already grinding my own wheat for health and cost reasons (homemade bread) back then, but I haven’t pondered it much since then.
The bottom line is that I am truly a lazy American who LOVES my technology and electricity and am SO grateful for it, but that doesn’t mean I can’t take a good hard look at what would really happen to our family if those things were taken a way for a week, month or longer. Could I adapt?
Yes, I’m having way too deep of thoughts for my time at the beach, but I do think it’s interesting to think about.
What about you? How long could you maintain your household without technology or electricity?
On to our Simple Rules for Tasty Tuesday – If you’re joining in with a recipe link, two simple requests. As always, Please link directly to your recipe post and not your blog URL. Also, link back here so that everyone can join in the fun. I’m all about fun
I remember when the recession first happened there was talk of bank’s closing their doors temporarily as a measure of ‘freezing’ the economy and preventing too many losses. It never happened but it was recommended that people have cash at home so that they can cover all of their bills and needs for a period of time. The thought that my debit card wouldn’t be working for a period of time wasn’t just inconvenient, it was scary! That said, it would be a lot easier for us to maintain our household without technology than it would electricity! We have an ok stockpile started, but other than our bbq, we really don’t have any sort of alternate heating sources available.
Its wonderful to take breaks from technology and blogging occasionally and appreciate family and the simpler things in our lives more (like time at the Beach!!), but it’s definitely nice when it’s us deciding to do so and not things breaking down!
I don’t think I could live without technology for long. I much prefer email, FB, Twitter to phones… a visual person I guess!
Thanks again for hosting!
e-Mom @ Susannah’s {Kitchen} Aprons
There has been 2 different times that I’ve been without electricity – Hugo and Fran. Not fun at all! Not really into the internet much then. We rely so much on it now, that is for sure!
Thanks for hosting this each week! 😀
Sherry
I have a blog on my blog list (solarcookingathome.blogspot.com) on which the gal cooks strictly with a solar oven. It has given me a lot to think about, but I haven’t attempted it myself. I have a garden and can, freeze or dry much of what I harvest. I would have horrible internet withdrawals if I had to give it up. I wouldn’t have the means to have light after the sun set for long. I don’t know what I’d do with perishable foods. I am not ready to lose technology at all!!! I do, however, have a hand crank wheat grinder and an oven attachment that goes on a camping stove, so maybe I’d be okay food-wise.
I know I would go crazy without technology. I go stir crazy if we lose electricity for a few minutes. My husband would survive and take care of our child. And the funniest thing of all is that I posted a recipe tonight with cheater chicken – ha!
I have to confess that I rely way to much on technology! If it was taken away it would definitely change my life, but I think I could get used to it!
Thanks so much for hosting!
The idea of no technology makes me very nervous indeed, although I hate to admit it. My iPhone got dropped in some water not too long ago and I was utterly lost until I got it replaced a few days later. My diary, my work, our travel plans, my home and how I run it, keeping in touch with family and friends – there’s not much I don’t depend on technology for!
Thank you for hosting!
We were without electricity and water for a few hours one weekend… I really had to get creative to get food on the table! Thankfully it was corrected within a few hours (maintenance on the road), but no water, no oven, no microwave.. I was at a loss! Thank G-d for gas-powered stove top and milk – we drank chocolate milk and ate pancakes 🙂
I also rely way too much on electricity and technology…can’t do much when the electricity goes out! I don’t think we all realize how very dependent we are on those things…
We have had some storms lately that have caused our power to go out for sometimes the whole morning. It is so sad that the house seems to go to shambles when the lights go out.My kids are at the age where they don’t understand why Mommy can’t turn the lights back on. However, we now play games like having a “campfire” with flashlights and now they squeal with excitement when the power goes out:)
I think about this often too. Internet is not even a luxury to us, it’s a necessity. Funny how things change. I try to embrace it, not let it control me. Before internet we were perfectly happy. I think I could survive without it, I just don’t WANT to. 🙂 This is all too fun!
Wow! The recipes this week look fabulous! Can’t wait to sit down and peruse them. And yes, I struggle with being tied to tech … my husband has been away traveling, and I have felt even more tied to my tech in order to get info from him.
I love technology and rely on it a lot! I’m not sure how long I could go without it. We went almost a year without internet access at our home and that was really tough!
Our family (mostly me and my son) could NOT go without technology. We love our laptops and tivo. I even have the internet on my phone and an IPod Touch. I want an IPad too:) I love gadgets!
On our list (you know, the list that starts “when we’ve got some money”) is a whole-house generator. The kind that runs on natural gas & will run the entire house. IF we ever get one of those, I’ll feel a lot better about possible catastrophes, or when the next hurricane comes. Right now, we’ve got a gas stove/oven & outside gas grill, plus a gas water heater. BUT, we’re on a well, so w/o power = no water!!!
As far as technology, I love it, but I’m probably one of the few Americans who doesn’t own a smart phone (or so it seems). I just can’t see paying $300 for a phone! That’s a lot of groceries!
@Elaine, Elaine – if you it makes you fell any better, I don’t have a smart phone either. I only started using a cell phone a few years ago. Now, with the blog though, the Iphone or Ipad is something I am seriously considering because if I am gone for the day then I feel like I am missing out on people trying to get a hold of me. It’s my fault that I told everyone to email me and not call…..lol 🙂
@Jens, Yes, I do feel better! Our worship minister is a techno-phile, to the nth degree! Rather than just put a CD into the player & push play, he finds a song, downloads it onto an ipod nano, then has to plug it into the sound board, then “find” the piece of equipment so the board will play it, find the song on the nano, THEN push play! My word, I’m only 10 years older than he is, & I feel like a luddite!
…Rabbit trail not about technology…
This meme makes me drool so much!!!!! I’m so hungry now!
I definitely would struggle without technology as much as I struggle finding a balance WITH it!
I know the feeling. WE live so far out GPS can’t find us! seriously. When I loose signal I try to remeber I “have everything I need” right now. And if not service, then I don’t need it right now! *Blessings* LIB
We’re overseas, and there are times when the internet isn’t working, or the electricity is off for some reason and we don’t know when it will come back on. It doesn’t happen as much as it used to, but then we seem to have more family time. Usually we are all off in our little corners of the apartment with a computer. It does get interesting when the electricity and water is off at the same time, however!
I don’t know what I would do without technology these days. You can’t have one without the other.
Ginger
OK, serious question, so serious answer. Most people remember a time when we did not use any gadgets (e-mail, cell phones, etc.) on a daily basis (and many older people still don’t use them). It would be quite a readjustment to be forced to put the Genie back in the bottle, though. Business of course is completely tied to technology. And, without electricity we’d have to become the equivalent of the Amish or Quakers. Doable, as they continue to prove to us, but would we really want to do without our refrigerators, or without medical equipment which requires electricity? What we need to do is find a balance which is right for each of us as individuals, so that we do not become slaves to the technology which was meant to give us more freedom. Our family uses technology A LOT, but we go on a one-week camping trip almost yearly. We bring no technology whatsoever. It’s very relaxing.
I have found that technology does not necessarily equal progress! I am very low-tech, and struggle with trying to figure things out. I don’t watch TV when my husband isn’t home because I don’t even want to try and figure out 2-3 controllers. I have a three year old cell phone that my husband got me for when I have to travel at work, and I only use it when I want to use it, keep it turned off the rest of the time. People have told me that they tried to call and when I tell them I don’t keep it on, they say there’s no point in having it. I’m thinking, yes there is, it’s for me!
I agree. It is a bit sad to me. Sometimes I wish I had never started the technology trail in my life. But, also it has been a real blessing in a lot of ways (especially to us home-schooling momma’s). I enjoyed seeing you at the Practicum! )
We went through hurricane Ike. We live about 4 hours from the Texas coast and we were without power for over two weeks. I remember looking around the house, thinking there is NOTHING do do! No TV, internet, cell phone battery had died…couldn’t vacuum, do wash, etc! While it was stressful-I was also 10 weeks pregnant, and had a 3 year old-it was also very liberating!
This is a tough one for me. While I love my internet service and it’s my real connection to the outside world sometimes. I hate being dependant on anything! I didn’t have a cell phone until 6 months ago. People would look at me like I had 3 heads when they would ask my cell # and I would tell them I didn’t have one. I’m cheap, what can I say, lol. I have Onstar in my truck so God forbid if anything happened I was covered in there. It also has a phone, so I was not completely without one. My husband surprised me with an iphone (I think he was sick of not being able to get a hold of me, lol) and I DO love it. But I never talk on it, lol. I text and use it’s wireless capabilities. I’m not sure if I will renew the “phone” service on it (when it’s up) because you can use your home wifi with it if you don’t have the data plan. And there is a texting app you can get for it (like the itouch ipod).
We are planning on getting a generator in our new house as well. It’s in the ” country” so power goes out more than normal. They have VERY basic cable (which I’m looking forward to, since I watch almost no tv, lol) I wish we could order JUST the channels we watch, wouldn’t that be great?
Anyway thanks for the thought provoking post!
Kristi
I just read back what Joy said and agree. My biggest argument with cell phones (and why I didn’t have one for so long) was because since when do we need 24hour contact with EVERYONE and everything?
I now realize it is easier when having kids and having to do things, but still. We make it this way! 🙂
GIRL!!! I am soooo impressed with you and your blog! You’ve just got it going on! 😉 Actually wanted to let you know I’m doing a giveaway, and would LOVE for you to get in on it! I’m trying to be better about consistency and promoting my blog…I need to learn from you!
Hi Jen, Isn’t is amazing how technology has changed our lives? And I wonder what will happen if it’s taken away? LOL. I, too, love the relationships that have been forged because of it. We’re in it SO DEEP that it’s scary now. I think.
Great post, as always!
Hugs.
I love technology, but when we moved out here to the boonies I really wanted to learn how to live off the land as much as possible. Don’t get me wrong, we still enjoy our technology, but we’re working on ways to utilize natural resources, too – partly for preparedness if we lose power, and partly because I just enjoy it 🙂
We currently use a root cellar, which would double as a (free!) enormous fridge. We heat with wood stoves, and could cook on them if needed. (Like when we have a huge snowstorm and the power goes out for two weeks!) We have dairy cows, lots of chickens, pigs and cattle and know how to butcher if needed. I garden with heirloom seeds, and am learning how to save seeds instead of buying them. We raise wheat and grind our own for flour. I make all of our soaps, lotions, chap stick, and such simply because I love the process.
Our first winter out here was absolutely terrible, with 15 – 25 foot snowdrifts, impassible roads, loss of electricity, and other fun stuff. It’s made me more cautious and wanting to be as prepared as possible – just in case!
Boy, that’s a tough one. I also have mixed feelings about technology. On the one hand, it allows family living thousands of miles away to participate in our lives. On the other hand, I feel like I’m tied to the Internet. I don’t own a smart phone. I find that I spend way too much time viewing blogs and getting ideas…and never any time to actually do any of the ideas! I’m also getting tired of some of the very popular blogs too.
Could we make in without electricity? Not sure…we’ve got a wood stove that we heat with wood we chop from our woods. I make my own soaps. No chickens…at least not yet! We’re working on that one. I do have a garden and I end up canning/preserving what I can (but there again I end up freezing a lot of produce which means using electricity).
I think it’d be neat to be off the grid- not in a “the world is going to end” view but in a “I wonder if it can be done” view. It seems that most options to produce electricity don’t make sense financially. Maybe some day there will be an option for regular old homeowners which is affordable.
I don’t think I could do without the Internet in terms of all the recipes I’ve found and gathered! I couldn’t do without that!