So, hindsight is 20/20. We all know that, and gosh darn if ignorance isn’t bliss. We must have all experienced this: you discover something that is so life-changing that you cannot imagine how you ever lived without it. Of course it can work the opposite way as well: you could discover something and wish you could go back to living without it. These things certainly have a way of jumping up and surprising us in the nastiest way possible, and then we long for that ignorance: that sunny drive to the doctor’s office for that routine check up, or that day several years back before you realized that your favorite store employs child labor.
These changes can be minute or grand. They can be meaningful or superficial. Lately I have been experiencing a mixture of both. There is the birth of my daughter, OF COURSE. And that goes without saying to be the supreme grand-daddy best-in-show titan of life changers. And I couldn’t be happier.
Here are some other, more superficial things I couldn’t be happier about:
A smart phone. I didn’t have a cell phone at all. Eeeeevery one else had one but me. I held out and so did my husband. We wore our cell phone free labels with PRIDE. (I may have even strutted once or twice after I talked about it. Tossed my hair in a haughty holier than thou fashion.) But the phones just started getting cooler and cooler. And my husband likes his gadgets. So he started drooling in the store windows (you know, the ones on the internet – so the monitor screen clean up got to be a bitch). And then I got pregnant, so we realized that the phones were now a necessity. So we went from no phones to smart phones with unlimited data.
Although I hardly ever use mine for actual phone calls.
OH HOLY HECK. It seriously only took me three days before I was wondering how I lived without texting. And Twitter. Seriously? I didn’t understand that phenom before I had a phone. Now I am hooked. And my husband’s phone is even cooler, because I can talk at it and tell it to find a Starbucks, and it will download my global position, find the nearest Starbucks locations and map them for me. All within 20 or 30 seconds. I deprived myself of this little tech-y beauty for way too long.
Air Conditioning. Speaking of Twitter…those of you who follow me on there will have seen the saga: Multiple power outages (4) over the course of 3 days. And then the power just stayed off. For almost two days. During a massive heat wave. And since we have the baby we needed to at least run a fan. So we spent a few days with my in-laws with their air-conditioning. And then the power came back on and I realized just how CRAPPY our air was. So I investigated and it turns out it was broken. And since it was a Saturday night and we couldn’t get a repair guy out till Monday, we went back to the in-laws for the weekend.
So on Monday, the guy came out and repaired our central air. And within 1/2 hour, 45 minutes, the house went from 86 and muggy to a downright chilly 80 degrees. LOVE.
Oh, and did I mention that the air has been broken for years? We thought it was just an old system, because it still blew out some air that was somewhat cool, but that’s it. So all those years we had been depriving ourselves of real a/c.
What are some of the things that you can’t live without? What is that you deprived yourself of but now you can’t remember what life was like before?
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The Read Queen 
Hubby and I went through a similar thing with phones. Oh, we had cell phones and had discovered texting and I got certain people’s Tweets as text messages, but we had those everything unlimited for $45 a month cheepie phones. Then, someone we knew got a smart phone with a touch screen and the Android market. Her phone did all sorts of amazing things and I determined to get one. Hubby was still unconvinced.
Then, right before we planned to get me a smart phone, one of my husbands co-workers (a guy this time) got an Evo and brought it to work and let him mess with it a bit. When I went to pick my phone, he suggested I give the Evo a glance before deciding and they were on sale. You could get TWO for less than the price of ONE! Hubby ended up with one too. Now, neither of us can imagine living without them!
It’s amazing how you can deprive yourself and not even know it!
Great post!
Allegra-D, today. Man is the pollen high here. Great post!
I felt this way when I got my Kindle–life changing!
Kathy
Amen to that, Kathy. Love the kindle
Photography. My sister was good at art and drawing but I was abysmal. So I tended to avoid any visual graphics related endeavours. Then I joined a photo club and started to realise I am pretty good with a camera for an amateur.
When I was younger, my family didn’t have central air. This changed when we moved, and now, 15 years later, I don’t want to live without it. Computers and cell phones are also things I don’t want to live without. I love my DSLR, but I could always shoot film if I lived in the days before digital. You have to take technology back a long way before there’s no photography.
Without my GPS I’d be lost all the time! Great post!
Awesome post I enjoyed reading it so much!
First I got my ipod touch three years ago and I love it from the first second on, til I got my ipad which is even cooler. And then facebook of course, I must say I’m a little addicted. (;
Loved this post. There are so many things I couldn’t live without: facebook, mobile, my piano and definitely music!
Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed!
Diet Coke.
😉
Seriously: I’m no coffee drinker, so this turns out this may be my only vice. And it seems I talk about it often, considering Diet Coke recently reached out to me and gave me (and 20 others across the country) a mini-fridge stocked with Diet Coke as part of a new viral campaign!
I’m totally with you on the smart phone, too…
I agree about the smart phone. Can’t live without it. 🙂
First off, I would like to just say that until one month ago, I never wore glasses, and never thought I needed them. The thought never crossed my mind that I couldn’t see. In school I always struggle to see the board and the professor’s scratchy chalk marks, but I thought that was the same for everybody. I failed the eye test at the DMV, and they told me to get glasses. So I did. WOW. HOLY COW! I can’t believe I can see everything so good, and clear!!! And to think, I thought my eyes were fine! Never leave the house without them now! (And not just because I am required by law to wear them while driving.) I don’t know how I’d live without them now. Great post, by the way (:
Simon
My blog! Before I started blogging, it was like there was something missing. Now, even when I don’t post something, I’m all over the place updating my site or reading other blogs. It’s a bit addicting, but I love it!
Phones, I can live without! But Jim, I’m with you on that 100%…I’m new to blogging and thought it would be a ‘phase’ thing – but I just want to write all the time and likewise, if I’m not posting – I’m busy getting around in other ways 🙂
TIVO. I thought it seemed like the silliest thing ever, but now I don’t even know when anything airs. It just appears on TIVO and I watch it. It’s magic!
We can’t live without AC. It was 114 here yesterday, and no I’m not in the Middle East or the Mojave.
I’m chuckling at this because back in ’95 or so I was saying “What do I need that for?” when a friend of mine was telling me how much fun the internet was! My life was full, my life was happy, all these newfangled services were fluff I could do without! HA! I still hear people bragging about how they don’t have a cellphone or use FB or Twitter or even have a computer, and I think “Uh huh. You have no idea what you are missing.” Not that they can’t make do perfectly well without these things, but … they still don’t know what they are missing.
I love the theme of this post. My “can’t believe I did without it” item is a 59 cent cup holder. My 67′ Mustang was made before the days when dining in your car was a way of life, so it had no cup holder. I found one that hangs on the door and matches the red interior and now I can’t believe I ever did with out it. Love the small joys of life.
I have no cable, so I have no idea how I lived without Hulu, seriously, I don’t remember what I did before!
nice post
-grace
http://herumbrella.com
I think its so interesting that we all can’t live without our technology; its become so integrated into our daily lives. I have such a love-hate relationship with technology, though. I so wish that our lives didn’t revolve around it, but yet I am still so addicted to it. Nice post!
I love this post! Congrats on being Freshly Pressed, too! I’m on twitter, but I haven’t gotten really into it yet. Maybe I need a smart phone 😉 Hunny and I went without internet at our house for the first year of our marriage to keep our expenses down. Then an affordable provider showed up, and I probably wouldn’t have my blog without it! Thank you internet!
I thought i couldnt live without my cellphone as well, i was a texting freak. not so much anymore. but now its my ipod. i cant go a day without it glued to my ear! its pretty old tho, so got to get a new one. ah technology!
I can relate to you. Now smartphones are the crazy of our time. We like to use the ‘smart’ aspect of them more often than the phone aspect.
Delali
http://gadel.info
My family and I use the Internet for entertainment, communication, research, etc. When it is down, we really miss it. On the other hand, we have not had cable for over 12 years and I don’t miss it at all. Hubby does.
Embarrassed to say I’ve become addicted to texting after giving up and getting a “modern” cell phone. My kids and I communicate way more now, too!
One thing that I deprived myself of/ was deprived of was a musical instrument. Kept begging my dad to get me one but he never did.
But now that I’ve bought a guitar, I have no idea how I used to live without it in the pre-guitar days.
Ignorance is bliss in that sense; we can’t live without the loves of our lives once we become acquainted with them even though we used to be perfectly happy when we didn’t have them. 🙂
I don’t know what you are talking about. I would love to live without some of the things we do have; which I think is the opposite of what you asked. I would love it if I could figure out how to get by without a phone. I hate phones. Ditto TV. I did get rid of TV reception about 6 years ago, but am now hooked on watching DVD’s. I am more a book person though. I love my books. I hate cars – I would really love to be able to get by without one, but it would be too much of a hardship. Electronic amplifiers – I can’t tell you how many days and nights I have been tortured by neighbors with very loud amplifiers playing rap “music”. I guess by now you have figured out I am a grumpy old person. Se la vie.
Janet, I’m with YOU. There are so many aspect of technology that have actually taken me away from what I probably should give my undivided attention too. I love to read, and reading great blogs like this one – is what keeps me hooked. I have a 9 year old and a 4 year old – and I’m sure there are time that I sit at my laptop for too long or text while they play at the park. It’s almost embarrassing. Now, I’m not a total junkie. I will not answer my phone at dinner, or on date night with my hubby, etc. I watch junkies all the time and think to myself….if I ever get like that , shoot me. In a way, I’d love for our world to go back to the simple life…where the world wasn’t so small. But it won’t, so I’ll stop wasting my time thinking that way. Nice bloggin’ with ya!
Regarding the air conditioning debacle — I almost just started crying for you before I read about the resolution on Monday.
As a new blogger, I will agree that — while I waited a good long while to give it a go — I am addicted and couldn’t dream of giving it up!
Great post!
Absolutely loved this very interesting read! 🙂
The thing I love most about traveling and being away is being able to disconnect and leaving my phone, computer and everything behind
I’m with you entirely!
My husband got a smart phone a while ago and I opted out. What was I thinking!?! Not that I’m bitter.
I love air conditioning too and my refrigerator ice maker. I could live without it, but I am in love. 🙂
I was the same with the smart phones. I mean, I did have a cell phone before I had a smart phone but for a long time I was like, “No, no, no! I do NOT need the Internet on my phone and all that other stuff…I’m fine with just texting and phone calls.” Well, I finally gave in and got a smart phone and I have to say the one thing I love the most about it and am addicted to is Words With Friends! haha
phone and a/c are like MUST HAVE, can’t live without them!
I also can’t live without the internet connection, I use iphone and Iphone without connection is nothing!
but hey there are so many things which are not part of the technology we can’t live without >> water, bathroom and food =b
Great article. I have written a similar article. I can so relate to what you wrote. Please take a look at my blog article:
http://lifestyle30.wordpress.com/2011/07/29/the-30-over-project-back-to-school-old-school-vs-new-school/
Without my GPS I’d be lost all the time! Me too
I always figured those “I don’t have a cell phone so I’m holier than thou” types just didn’t know what they were missing. Turns out, that’s true!
Just had this discussion today with a friend – I held out as long as I could before getting a smart phone. I didn’t want all the capabilities (read: responsibility) it came with. I didn’t want to check my work email away from work, I didn’t want to have facebook on my phone because I check it enough on the computer (FB lasted a month before I had to get rid of it). In the end, however, there is a lot that has been streamlined by having this new, fancy, shmancy phone. I love the calendar and reminders, I love facetime, I love all the fun little apps – esp Shazam (my mom calls all the time asking what songs are, I just downloaded the app to her phone). Oy, I can’t go back now.
To be honest, I couldn’t live without my Nokia- from the 90’s. I can’t work out the new phones- and though it seems to be my generational right (I’m 17) to want better and newer and more, I really like my little phone- I have the high score on Snake and I never accidentally text my gynecologist instead of my mum.
Great post. I got a phone years ago when my parents got old and there was a lot of driving back and forth. My husband and I held out against smart phones though, for a long time. I insisted I didn’t need a phone that was a camera or could receive my email, and surf the net. The rare texting was a pain w/o a qwerty keyboard. Then we go iPhones. We’re still pretty light phone users, but I’d never go back.
I’m SO with you on the Air cond and the twitter/facebook thing. I wonder now how I ever managed without my phone though! It must have been a very primitive indeed!
شكرا لكم
Anti-depressants. (Not prescription, but supplements: vitamins, amino acids and etc. that my doctor recommended.)
It’s like I was living in black and white and now I’m in the full-color world with everyone else.
If you suspect you might be depressed, check into nutritional supplements.
WOW!
Well, I might not be able to live w/out them, but when I finally bought a washer and dryer for my own space, I grinned at them for a month! Like they were people! I love them still. Doing laundry at home beats taking it out any day.
And A/C is another one. Ugh. Hot and humid w/out A/C is downright cruel!
No doubt lame, but texting… held out and held out, now I’m texting all the time! Oh, and the CD player. Ok, that ages me, BUT I held on to my LPs forever! My husband finally bought (non-refundable) and installed a CD player while I was out of town once… hindsight, ahh.
I kept my iTouch in the cupboard drawer for like a year…and then, BAM, it’s now on my ‘always-with-me’ list. 😀
you got me thinking…
well, every monster (benign and malignant) surrounding me thinks that I’m one of those too-good-to-be-true lass in this vast world.
your last questions are potent, it left this soul wonder!
thank you
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Back in the day, I was an internet sceptic. Everyone at university was getting themselves email addresses, but noooooo, I didn’t need one…
I was a late adopter of cell phones as well, although I’ve totally been won over by my iPhone, to the extent that I find myself checking Twitter if I wake up in the middle of the night. That’s probably taking things too far!
Loved your post! And I totally agree with you about Twitter! For the longest time, I couldn’t understand the Twitter phenomenon. It sounded really silly to me. What’s the point of it? Then one day, I decided to go ahead and try it out, just to see what everyone was talking about. WOW! I had no idea what I was missing! Now I’m on twitter every day and loving it.
My memory foam mattress WOW! I think even if I was in 6* Hotel I would still wish I could bring my bed 🙂
I’d find it hard to live without a reusable menstrual cup after experiencing that amazing convenience and comfort!
I’m very entwined with the Internet and desktop computers and find them hard to do without, but I have never had any kind of portable computer.
What on earth do you mean about cell phones being “a necessity” just because you were pregnant??? Women survived pregnancy for many generations without cell phones! I didn’t have a cell phone when I was pregnant, and I still don’t have a cell phone as the mother of a six-year-old, and I don’t see a problem. Would it be FUN to have a smart phone? Probably. Necessity? No.
There are no reliable sites even thguoh you will be paying for them most of the time the info they give out isn’t accurate, if there is someone bothering you then you need to call your carrier about this.
i love my smart phone, but i will say that life was simpler when my nokia would only make and receive calls. and air conditioning is something i’ve always had…i can’t imagine life without it. the past couple weeks in iowa, we hit triple digit heat indexes regularly…everybody was sweaty and stinky and melting. god bless air conditioning.
http://www.icouldntmakethisshitup.wordpress.com
My boyfriend and I were just talking about this last night. All the things we now have that are pure convenience but we couldn’t imagine living without now. IPhones, Mac laptops, Starbucks instant coffees and the list goes on. On one hand it makes me really sad because sometimes I miss the days of ignorance is bliss. Not because you choose to ignore it but because you had to read the local newspaper and that only told the half of it. But, on the other hand, you can jump online and WHAM! You could have a brand new something or other the very same day rush order.
Really enjoyed your post!
Amanda
http://bullfrogsandbulldogs.wordpress.com/
Good post!
I refuse to get a smart phone! I only carry a cell phone for for emergencies.
Speaking of self deprivation and things you can’t live without, earlier this year, I canceled the cable TV and internet service to try to cut down on expenses.
What a nightmare! Worst 2 months of my life!
I think I could live without the cable TV, but definitely not the internet!
Yeah, I’ve decided that not having a smartphone is why I still don’t understand twitter, despite my best efforts. It’s just not as handy a tool when you have to wait to share your short witticisms until you get home to your computer. 😀
I’d have to agree that cell phones and air conditioning are top on my list as well. I’d have to add coffee to it. I go back and forth drinking tons of coffee then painfully weening myself from my addiction then going back to it and wondering why I ever deprived myself in the first place!
Text messaging aperpantly has replaced christmas cards and phone calls. Do I prefer having someone send me a text to let me know they thought of me on christmas, to having them not contact me at all? Of course. However, Darien was the only person to call me to wish me a merry christmas, and that somehow bumped him WAY up in my friend rankings. Though at the same time? I totally think I sent you a text. MERRY MERRY!