Technology Overload or Oh to be England - Part 1

The truth is I love learning, including learning how to use all that is available to me when I open my computer and say, "Hello, world!" The greater truth is that I miss having the personal time to read, reflect, take walks, write letters, make strawberry jam and any of the other activities which were part of the ebb and flow of life before technology took over.

I have come to despise Facebook after my inital fascination and elation over reconnecting with college friends and folks I taught twenty years ago. Twitter has proven to be a great source of information and an even greater way to communicate with a broader audience, but finding that audience takes more time. Add email, voicemail, text messages, research and I am counting the cost in hours lost. Hours of life. And life is what I experience in England.

In England I find time to walk among the sheep and newborn lambs. Time to sit in a window seat and read. Time to enjoy the deer roaming past my window and the pheasant who pecks and asks to come in. Time to wander in an out of the village shops and talk to my loquacious neighbor. Time for tea in the garden.

In England I have to drive six miles to the village and stand in line at the Cotswold District Council's lone public computer in order to check email. Forget Tuesday. It's Market Day. And Saturday and Sunday. Half day closing on Wednesday, too.

My attitude quickly shifts to "forget my other life". This is real. Wired 24/7 is not living.

American Revolution 200 years later: Give me liberty! Give me England!