This post originally appeared on the blog Stepping Away From the Edge on July 27, 2022.
There are certain things you just . . . take for granted in life. One of these things is enjoying privacy in your own home. And the other is WiFi. And right now? I’ve got neither of these things!
Oh, one of them — the privacy thing — is completely my own doing. And kinda funny, besides. Because my house painters? They’re busy-busy-busy and swarming the house all day long. It is strange to walk into a 2nd floor room, though, and find . . . someone right there! Hard at work on the other side of the window.
It’s not like we walk around naked all the time or anything, but we really do need to be on guard when it comes to painters popping up in our windows. This morning, for example, I decided to forego my usual meditation and yoga routine when I walked into the room and found this . . .
(That shadow there in the window? That’s a painter.)
So having painters around every day kinda . . . cramps my style a bit. Especially in my bedroom — and in the garden beds near the house. And although they are a very accomodating crew – and would get out of my way if I asked them to – I really don’t want to impede their progress to, oh . . . say, lay out my afghan squares on the patio (in the good light) so I can take a photo for my blog, y’know?
So you get this instead. . .
(JoJo insisted on being part of things.) (And the 10 squares are finished, by the way. I’m currently contemplating adding 3 more to the original design.)
The other thing, though? The WiFi? Now THAT’s a problem.
There is some sort of utility work happening on a nearby street, and on Monday mid-day our WiFi went out. From what I could tell, the outage (which is very localized and doesn’t impact many people, although it does impact us) was supposed to last “up to 24 hours.” Yesterday, after 27 hours without WiFi, I contacted AT&T and found out that it’s some major issue . . . and may take up to 72 hours to fix.
I’ve figured out how to use my phone as a hotspot, but it’s very slow.
And it’s all made me realize how very dependent we are on having WiFi!
Want to watch something on TV? You need WiFi.
Compose a document or write a blog post? WiFi.
Watch your latest art tutorial? WiFi.
Work out on the Peloton? WiFi.
Print something? WiFi.
Airdrop a photo? WiFi.
FaceTime? WiFi.
Holy cow. So much of my day-to-day life depends on WiFi!
It’s a good thing I have plenty of books and plenty of offline activities to keep me occupied. In the meantime, color me inconvenienced!
(And I certainly realize very how minor and insignificant these inconveniences are in the overall scheme of the world.) (I’m just whining.) (But most all of us are surprisingly dependent on WiFi in our daily lives these days — and we really notice that when it’s gone. It really is hard to be without it.)
==
PS. Our Wifi is back up this morning!
