Stepping Back from the Digital Abyss

Given that meshU and mesh last week were exhilarating but exhausting, the thought of then going away for a boys weekend at a friend’s cottage was a little difficult to be wildly enthusiastic about compared with the idea of recovering at home, eating food that wasn’t cookies or beer, and catching up on sleep.

Still, when the duty calls (along with the prospect of good times with friends, cold beverages, BBQs, low stakes poker and golf), you do what you need to do. Once arriving at the cottage, several of us discovered there was no Internet access or neighbours willing to share a Wi-Fi connection. This meant at least 48 hours without access to the Web – a lifetime for someone connected all the time.

So what do you do when forced to go Web-less with no Twitter, Techmeme, TechCrunch, YouTube, etc.?

Well, there’s talking with friends. Reading. Reflecting. Laughing. And time for deep thoughts. In other words, an opportunity to get off the grid and recharge, which seems like an oxymoron but, in reality, should be mandatory once in awhile.

Without Internet access, you quickly discover what great reads the New York Times and the New York Times Magazine can be. You find yourself rifling through bookcases featuring romantic pulp, well-worn classics and non-fiction that you pull out, dust off and retreat to the couch with beverage in hand.

You realize going off-line feels good and gives you an opportunity to breath non-digital air. It doesn’t take long to feel re-energized, which is just what you need upon discovering there is 155 messages in your inbox.

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