New Year’s 2018: Get up, get out, talk to people

A surprise in my internet bill has convinced me to change my ways

It was the night before Christmas … Well, not really. It was the Friday night before the Sunday Christmas Eve, so it might as well have been, as business was effectively closed for the holidays, when I opened my internet bill for November. My heart started racing when I saw the absurdly high amount owning and I quickly unfolded the bill fully to see that I had gone way over my monthly data allotment. By a lot. Makes me cry to recall the number.

Of course, this sent me into a panic as I brought the issue to the attention of my partner. We couldn’t see how it could be, but I guess our creep into the dark side of data usage was incremental until it was complete. I checked online for the usage in December and, to my horror, we had crept over our allotment again. We shut the Wi-Fi down and went dark over the holidays. Well, not pitch dark. We still had access to the internet via our smartphone data plans; there was a tiny light shining in the distance if we needed it.

I’m not going to talk about the unscrupulous and predatory billing practices employed by a telecommunications industry dedicated to sucking money from our wallets. Nor am I going to address the appalling state of customer service, where I waited online for half an hour listening to alternating clips of music or a sales message: Do you need more space? Upgrade now blah blah blah. And then waited another 30 minutes for the cancellation rep, listening to Pat Benatar sing we belong, we belong toooo-geeeether.

I love the internet. I’m a voracious reader, and the internet provides me with endless opportunities to read something, sometimes anything. I appreciate the opportunities the internet provides me in keeping current with world events as well as in touch with friends and colleagues. I’ve had consistent daily internet access at my fingertips for almost 20 years.

It’s been just over a year since I retired from my day job — and an interesting year it’s been, too, lots of new experiences and a major adjustment to how I manage my time. I had been going to work every day, with the exception of two maternity leaves (more work than work, if you ask me) for 40 years. Yay me!

One of the greatest pleasures of retirement is waking up when you want, doing what you want, not doing anything, if you want. For me, staying home became the desired thing to do. After 40 years of leaving the house every day, I arrived at a place where I didn’t want to go anywhere anymore. I began to hermit. I could go days without leaving the house, occupying myself with the many projects I’ve accumulated over the years, reading any one of the hundreds of books I’ve collected in my library just for my retirement, talking to no one but my partner, but being active on social media. I’ve come to spend as much time on my computer in retirement as I did while working.

Lately, I’ve been feeling that it’s probably not that healthy, all that sitting. I was looking for more activity in retirement, and here I was, busy, but I felt I was wasting time scrolling through repeating screens of information, seeking the next tantalizing title while procrastinating from accomplishing tasks I had set out for myself. Things I wanted to do, too, but the pull of the computer was far more compelling. I was afraid of missing out. There’s an acronym for that: FOMO

The internet bill gave me pause to reflect on both my internet usage and my retirement goals, maybe a knock on the head from fate that said: get up and get out. You’re not dead yet, but this could kill you.

I live within walking distance of three public libraries, three university locations and untold coffee shops where I can access free WiFi. With such great library resources and local access, what do I need the internet at home for?

I went into the Westdale branch just after Christmas. I happily paid my library fees. That’s a bill I never have a problem paying. I know the books are overdue, I made the decision to keep them longer, and I know what the consequences are. And since they were free in the first place, what’s a couple of dollars here and there. Take my money, please, and thank you for your services. With my internet savings I think I’ll get a membership at the YWCA.

My one resolution for 2018 is to get out more and be more active. How about you?

Margaret Shkimba is a writer who lives in Hamilton. She can be reached at menrvasofia@gmail.com or you can “Friend” her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter (@menrvasofia)