Unplugged: Travel Without Tech
I’ve not gone on a vacation since 2008.
That’s a bold statement for someone with a travel blog; a very bold statement for someone with tens of thousands of photos of places-where-she-does-not-live. Just this morning I transferred eighteen months’ worth of iPhone photos to my Macbook, and the following images flashed across my screen: New Orleans, Tulum, Grand Cayman, Disney World, San Francisco, Yosemite, Napa, Bermuda, New York City, Montreal, Cape Cod, Shenandoah, Pittsburgh, Miami, New York City some more and New Orleans again. And I’m confident I’m forgetting something, somewhere.
But at no time during any of those trips did I actually vacate.
In a few short days, I’m going on a trip. I’m not even telling you where, because…well…the point is to be on vacation (though I can tell you that it is a repeat visit to a destination that may already be listed above). And I’m seriously considering leaving some-or-all of my technology behind. Here’s why:
I’m becoming one of those people who loves to fly. Not because I like being squeezed into a coach seat; not because I particularly love the logo-embossed cookies on early-morning Delta flights (ok–I actually really do love those cookies). But because, like many overly-plugged-in people before me, I welcome the ‘please shut down all electronic devices’ announcement right before takeoff.
I also love to drive. Sometimes I drive really, really far away for no good reason. I feel the same way about driving as most old men feel about fishing–it is a relaxing respite from life. Not to mean that I do not fish, when I’m on one of these solo expeditions. I rig up my bait and put on some Women’s Fishing Leggings to venture our fishing in swampy bogs. Check out tailoredtackle.com to see what attracts beginners and experienced anglers. Even when I’m in bumper to bumper traffic, at least I’m not glued to my phone or computer. I have music, sunshine (or rain) and open road. I’m moving forward–and that is all.
So I think I’d like to make this next trip tech-free. But I have no idea how to do that. Which brings me to my actual point:
What qualifies as distracting technology?
There are three things I’d never ordinarily leave home without–my iPhone, my Macbook, and my dSLR camera. I’m thinking that’s two things too many.
Each of these items interrupts travel (and life) in different ways. A camera alters your focus (no pun intended); when I travel with a camera (which is always) I look at the world differently. I pause at different times and for different reasons. A laptop eliminates downtime; even when I return to my room at the end of the day, there’s work to be done (or, worse, time to be wasted). And an iPhone tethers you to your regular life in every way; emails, text messages, phone calls, the unrelenting pull of all forms of social media. With a smart phone, you’re never really alone. I used to think this was a good thing; a miracle of the modern age, even. Now I’m not so sure.
So let’s say I take a trip and don’t take one of these three items. Or let’s say I take a trip and don’t take two of these three items. Which item or items should stay at home? Why? And what would a tech-free trip look like? How would it even work? Would the cost be worth the benefit? Please weigh-in in the comment section below. And then sit back and stare in wonder as I take my first vacation in almost five years.
It’s amazing how addicted we are to tech now. Not so long ago we never took laptops with us. We never took phones with us. Cameras? Yes. But in the pre-digital years we took a lot fewer photos because we were limited by the number of exposures on each roll of film (maybe 12… 24… 36 at most) and the cost/time/delayed gratification of having the film developed at some point in the days or weeks after a trip.
Ditching your camera is the most beneficial renunciation I think. At least for part of every trip – if not the entire trip. Computers and phones are convenient, but yes, sometimes it would be great to toss them away too. Maybe someday…
Wow–I forgot the days of limited shots! And the waiting! That REALLY wasn’t that long ago.
It kinda makes you wonder what thing we are currently living without that we soon won’t be able to imagine giving up!
Leave the Macbook & Camera at home, take your cellphone with you, but turn off the data part of it.
Best of both worlds since if you need the internet, you can still get it on your phone, but won’t have to deal with getting notifications and such for email/Facebook, etc.
Oh and I’m off to Houston next week and then my Alaskan cruise 2 weeks after. It’s travel season!
I think I’m ok with leaving the computer at home. I’m not sold on the camera, though the idea is growing on me. I have a friend who has a lens for his iPhone; I may ask to look at slash borrow it for this trip. I feel that is not cheating.
Agree with Liz–only bring phone. Unless I am actually expecting an important call, I ALWAYS have my phone ringer off. I don’t want to be interrupted (no matter what I am doing) by the ringing of my phone. Turning off the data plan ensures you won’t be interrupted by annoying alerts during your day. If there is something you see that you feel MUST be photographed, you can always snap a quick pic. I am like in you lots of ways–agree with everything you said about driving (LOVE It for all the same reasons you expressed so beautifully) and I sometimes get so caught up in “taking pictures” of the beauty around me, I forget to just soak it in. I am working on NOT taking so many pictures and just being in the moment. I have to constantly tell myself “You don’t have to take a picture of EVERYTHING!” HAVE FUN on your vacation and I can’t wait to meet you in Toronto in a few weeks!
I LOVE taking photos. When I can’t take photos, I still THINK about doing so. But I think I need a break. You’re right–it takes you out of the moment (wait–but does it? Or does it put you MORE in the moment? I’m not sure…)
See how I’m torn???!?
I also always (always) have my phone volume off; my phone hasn’t actually ‘rung’ in maybe three years. I can hear it vibrate from the other room, though. :-/
As you know, I have the same problem you do, but in one regard, I think I can help. I often shut off the background data syncing on my smartphone, so it really only serves as a phone. And since nobody really ever calls or texts me off of Facebook or Twitter unless it’s an emergency, the phone sits in my bag and doesn’t distract me. So you might still be able to bring your phone–as long as you have the willpower not to use it. 🙂
I think you’ve hit at the root of this problem, Gray. I don’t have a tech problem. I have a willpower problem.
Have to agree with everyone else. Keep the phone. It has become a safety device in many ways (especially if you are driving or traveling solo). AND it can be your alarm clock, your source of music and/or books and a notebook if absolutely needed. AND if you MUST take a photo- it’s not a bad camera. If you only want to do without one device, then also bring the camera. But only if you REALLY REALLY REALLY want to.
And my guess is you are either going back to Disney or New York.
Hope you come to Charlotte soon.
Those are GOOD guesses! REALLY, really good! (Ok they may both be correct. I’m not saying that they ARE, I’m saying that they MIGHT BE.)
I will be in Charlotte before the end of the summer. Even if I don’t come down for work, I want to do a road trip. And that’s the direction I’ll be driving. I’ll be in touch!
Hope all is well!
Good for you, Tracy. I’m sure the break will help reacquaint you with some of the things you loved about traveling in the first place. It will be interesting to see how it might influence your writing and future traveling – almost like a language teacher going back and learning another language then using that experience to reevaluate their current lessons. Enjoy every moment!
Great analogy!
Though I have to say, I may need more self control than I have. Says the woman sitting on a ship balcony on her macbook…sigh…
Old habits die hard!
No computer, ever. Smart phone is like a tiny computer and that is bad enough. Thankfully I am not a hardcore blogger and I just hand write everything and organize and post it all on my return.