We now live a very meager lifestyle, no frills, no fancy things, just enough to live a happy and joyful life and we are happier than we have ever been.
But, then we read about a new gadget and we really think, “We have to have it”. Most of the time, we justify the cost and usually choose against it. Now we did get the Reader, but that was an investment that was worth it.
Lately we have been wanting to get the latest and greatest phones, especially the iPhone. We chose not to because we did not want to change from Verizon to AT&T, well now the iPhone is coming to Verizon. Then to make matters even worse, we have been looking at the Droid X and loving all the neat things that are available on both of these phones.
Let me first explain, we hardly use the phones we currently have, we have a great unlimited plan for a fantastic amount, that if we choose to change it we will lose all the free stuff that comes along with it, plus what we pay is so much less than what others pay for even less than what we have in our plan. All of this is because we have been with Verizon from the beginning of time and our plan is grandfathered in.
So why on earth would we want to change all of that for something that we would hardly ever use?
Sure, at first we may use them, but eventually the novelty would wear off and the only thing we would end up with, would be a much higher bill.
So, instead, we will learn to live without the latest and greatest gadgets and just learn to love all that we do have and not always want something more. Because, all we currently have is all we truly need. Taking time to smell the flowers or stop to enjoy the rainbows in life.
7 comments:
Those flowers smell pretty great out there, don't they?
Great post!! Simplifying is what this lifestyle is all about and that is what makes it so grand. Thanks for the post!!
Mike & Gerri (happytrails)
http://freedom2roll.blogspot.com
We got the droid after having an old school cell phone for several years. The Droid can do so many cool things, but it's practical too. I like being able to use the internet anywhere there's a signal. It's also great for keeping up with friends and family when we're away. I highly recommend it!
Nellie
Little did I know when I was choosing my Droid that it would be so beneficial when traveling. Gosh, it's not really a phone with apps., it's a mini computer with a little phone built in!
We've gone from living a secluded life in the middle of the woods to road warriors equiped with gadgets!
Blessings,
Kathy
http://seashellsandoveralls.blogspot.com
Try out a Droid phone if you can. We got a MyTouch from T-Mobile and it's Android based. I love it! It syncs with Google so I have my calendar on it and reminders. I can check my yahoo email, paypal account, facebook, etc. I do transcription and I use a Dropbox account. Well, they have an app, so I can see when someone has loaded work into my Dropbox. I really, really love the Android based phone and when we begin to travel in earnest I'm sure it will be very useful.
Christina in Alabama
Think about getting an Apple Touch iPod or iPad. They will do almost everything that an iPhone will do, but with no monthly service charges. You'll need Wifi, but you have the Verizon myfi hotspot. Use your old school cell phones for making and receiving calls, and the iPod Touch for email, internet, video calls, etc.
Your fellow full-timers, Terry & Renee
I hated cellphones. They just sat in my purse and never got charged. Then my plan at AT&T allowed me to get the blackberry. Had it for 10 days. Hated it. Switched for free to the IPhone. Best choice I ever made.
At night, I read on my free Kindle app while listening to the always awesome This American Life Radio show app or Slacker Radio or Pandora radio.
The Kindle app is like having your very own flashlight under the blankets. So much easier to read it than a regular book with a reading lamp.
Recently, I read about people getting the EVO and finding out the coverage was very spotty and only in major areas. My husband got a Droid from work and hates it. After just a week or two it stopped charging altogether. The battery life is horrible.
After he saw how much I was using my Iphone, he wanted an IPhone, too. He loves games. I get him a 25.00 ITunes card every month, and that keeps him happy. He plays so many games now and really loves Angry Birds. He no longer spends a lot of money to play his favorite games online.
We both play scrabble over bluetooth against each other, and there's Life, and Monopoly, and Uno, and so many more.
We have apps for camping, gas prices, GPS, Old Time Radio shows, sleep machines that help you sleep. You name it.
Most apps are usually about 99 cents and you own them for life. We steer away from ones that charge a monthly fee.
Anyone who owns an Iphone will tell you that it is not the phone ...it's the Apps. So many talented programmers out there! I truly appreciate the work they do.
We have the unlimited plan for everything. A little pricey, but you don't know my husband. He loves to call long distance (I never do) and texts constantly and spends lots of time on Facebook keeping up with his family. Neither one of us cared much about Facebook or email until we got our Iphones.
So many websites are now building alternate sites or websites that are Iphone compatible, I can go to a lot of my favorites with Mercury Browser.
Being an artist, I love to mess around with pictures. There are apps like VintagePhoto and Studio and Sketchbook.
And there's now a new artform in galleries called Iphonetography.
We have some friends who are fulltimers who use 2 AT&T phones and a Verizon wireless card. That pretty much keeps them connected everywhere.
Hope this viewpoint helps. We've had IPhones (3Gs) for about 6 months now.
You can have our Iphones when you pry them out of our dead hands. (Just kidding, but there's nothing like having one when you're waiting in a doctor's office or other downtime).
:)
Lynne
alaskainmydreams.com
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