Saturday, May 16, 2009

Living in the Past?

I am a huge fan of books about time travel. Maybe that explains the following:

I don't have a cell phone.

I have been thinking about buying a cell phone for months, but I can't seem to convince myself that it's necessary. Then I was reading (again!) about cell phone usage in the US. Apparently the adoption rate is 85%. Holy canoli.

That's higher than the number of people who have computers at home.

My husband has a cell phone, but I very rarely use it. Only to make a long distance call after 7. Otherwise, I dial a nifty code so that I can get cheap long distance. It's kind of fun because then my number comes up as unavailable -- only the brave answer. But really, what's so brave about answering the phone? I answer the phone all the time and never know who's calling. Why? Because I don't have caller ID either. Gasp!

But come to think of it.... not that many people call. My friends tend to e-mail me. So I've started answering my e-mail regularly. But I'd rather talk on the phone. Sometimes I lose the phone in the house and can't answer it in time. People rarely leave messages. Maybe they think I have caller ID.

I'm beginning to think that people don't call me that much because I don't have a cell phone. Or maybe they don't want to hear my kids screaming in the background. (Probably).

Here's the problem:
1. I'm really cheap.
2. My husband's cell phone doesn't get any reception inside the house. We have to keep it on the windowsill so that it will ring and then go outside to talk.
3. I'm afraid that if I get a cell phone people will start to be late and stand me up. With the current situation, if I say "Meet me at Magnolia's at 9", people show up. The only other option would be to leave me alone outside the restaurant.

At the same time, I kind of want a cell phone. Kind of. I'd like to be able to call for information on the road when I'm not with my husband (granted, that doesn't happen that much). I hear that when you have a cell phone you don't get as many trash phone calls. Despite allegedly being on the do not call list, we seem to get TONS of telemarketers and surveyors calling. I also HATE that since I am the only listed member of my family in town, I get calls from all kinds of random people (including creditors) when anything happens to anybody with my last name (whether or not they are related to me). Curses.

Here's the things I don't consider problems:
1. Emergencies -- I have had multiple flat tires and car problems. Somebody always has stopped to help me.
2. Kids -- the school has my work number. The secretary will come and get me out of class if there's a problem. I can't have a cell phone on while I'm teaching anyway.
3. Caller ID -- I don't really care about this. If I don't want to talk, I don't answer the phone.

So.... what to do? Any advice? I know you have a cell phone. Convince me.