On one hand, it allows me to pay my bills and enjoy the more entertaining things in life. On the other hand, I really don’t like how controlling technology can be. It has most people by the throats, whether most want to admit it or not. But now I want to shift to the topic at hand today. Given the vast variety of technological devices that exist in this world today, there are some I could go without and others that I would be lost without.

Couldn’t Live Without: Computers

Well, this one’s fairly obvious for me. Computer technology allows my bills to be paid, which is fairly important (just a little bit). Without it, my career and line of work would be totally altered. Then again, thousands (millions, actually) of people can relate to that. Past that fact, the access to the internet is also something I couldn’t live without. The ability to have information at your fingertips whenever you need it is an amazing feeling, after all.

Could Live Without: My Smartphone

I’ve spoken about my somewhat hatred toward smartphones in the past. Without question, I could live without mine. I don’t even like being on the darn thing. As someone who was without a phone for many years of his life, I can say that it’s nice to have for reliability reasons. People can always get a hold of you and vice versa. Overall, though, I could live using Facebook and other social media networking sites to get the job done.

Couldn’t Live Without: Video Game Consoles

If you’ve read any of my posts, you know that this one is a given. Specifically, I couldn’t live without Nintendo consoles in my life. From the SNES to the Switch, video games are a primary component of entertainment in my life. I honestly couldn’t imagine living life without playing video games.

Could Live Without: Streaming Devices

I’m including any device out there that can stream TV shows or movies (whether live or not). From actual cable boxes to streaming brands such as Roku, I could live without all of them. In fact, I already do. I’m a collector so I enjoy buying physical copies of movies, TV shows, video games, you name it. Then again, as a sports fan, I do miss the easy access to live sports. I’ll just keep relying on live streams on the internet!

To be honest, I could go on and on. Well, I could go on and on with the devices I couldn’t live without. I admit that technology can be a problem in my life. There’s just no way I could function without it. Every single time the power goes out, I start to lose my mind. It’s got me by the balls, in other words.

Perhaps I’m alone with this feeling as more and more people migrate to their cellphones. They certainly have their usefulness and real-world value. However, I’m also not one of those millennials that need to be glued to their smartphone screen for hours on end. Not only do I not need to, but I deliberately choose not to.

Alright, so what’s my beef with smartphones, then? Clearly, I have negative feelings toward them. Well, let me mildly entertain you for just a few minutes as I explain why I don’t like being on my smartphone.

The Interface

The word “strongly” doesn’t do this next statement justice. I strongly prefer the interface of a computer screen over a smartphone. Getting past the sheer size difference, it’s also a matter of interaction. I’m an old-school personality and like typing with a physical keyboard and moving a cursor with a physical mouse.

With smartphones, it’s all centered upon a touchscreen interface. Sure, this style of navigation is probably more convenient, but, for me, it can also be more infuriating. Additionally, I absolutely despise using touchscreen keypads when having a conversation with someone. Just give me a dang keyboard as I can’t tell you how many times I have almost broken my phone because of it.

It Can Be Overwhelming

How about this? Do you ever get overwhelmed when you’re on your smartphone? Some people are geared to always be communicating with friends, family, co-workers, etc. I can only speak for myself, but I get overwhelmed really quickly.

Whether via email notifications, new texts, or news stories, sometimes it’s nice to escape from all of it. When I’m relaxing or getting my “me” time in, I always leave my phone out of reach and mute the sucker. I don’t even want to hear it go off once. I’ll leave my ringtone on, though, as physical calls are a different story.

Because Everyone Else Does

Next time you’re in a waiting room of any kind, count the people that are staring at their smartphones. Heck, even in a restaurant, glance at the people who are on them. It’s quite a startling revelation. The bottom line, pretty much everyone these days is on their phones in some capacity.

And, I’ve always considered myself somewhat of an outsider. I prefer to do things differently than most of society. I feel like this mindset has subconsciously made me dislike smartphones. Whether this is fair or foul, it’s the truth.

Hey, this is just the way that I feel. Again, I appreciate the value that owning a smartphone brings. However, when it comes down to it, I like it when it rests on my countertop not being looked at.

It got me thinking. If I was stranded on a desert island, or just off the grid, what gadgets would I take with me? Of course, there wouldn’t be any Wi-Fi, not to mention no means of charging my gadgets — but assuming I was stranded for just a little while, there are a few things I’d love to have with me.

We all have our favorite gadgets — but what are the ones you just can’t live without?

Here are mine…

Kindle Paperwhite

A few years ago, I’d have laughed if you said I’d ever embrace an e-reader, but here we are — it’s top of my “can’t live without” list. I’m a sucker for a good book, and most of the time, I do prefer a “real” book, whether that’s a paperback or hardback. But given how fast I read, investing in a Kindle Paperwhite has been one of the best things I’ve ever done!

Now I can store hundreds of books and take them with me wherever I go, making my luggage lighter on trips — and keeping my boyfriend happy when he inevitably ends up carrying my bags. Not to mention books are cheaper on Kindle, so I can always justify purchasing the latest crime or fantasy novel. My Kindle is a few years old now, but it remains my favorite gadget and one I can’t live without.

Asahi Pentax Camera

I’m a bit of a photography geek and after studying a course on black and white film photography a few years back, I invested in an Asahi Pentax K1000 film camera. I’d want this on any desert island escape as it doesn’t need charging, so I can take photos of the trees, the sea and the beach (provided I remember to pack a few rolls of film!) This is a really simple camera to use, and I love how it looks, so if I run into any other desert island dwellers, they’re sure to be envious.

Apple iPod Nano (and headphones)

I imagine it’s pretty peaceful on a desert island with just the sound of birdsong and the lapping of the waves… but what if I’m feeling a bit lonely? I take my old iPod Nano 4th Gen everywhere with me — despite its small size, I haven’t lost it, yet. A few times I’ve considered updating it but it’s as good as new and packed with obscure music from friends at the various jobs I’ve worked in the past, so I can always find something to listen to. I don’t remember the last time I updated it, so every time I scroll through the library, there’s a surprise waiting.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Smartphone

I really couldn’t live without my phone. Ok, so there’s unlikely to be Wi-Fi on my desert island, and probably not even 4G, but I still need my phone. Firstly, if there is 4G then I can use Google Maps to navigate my way home! And if not, there are loads of games and podcasts downloaded to keep me amused while I wait for rescue. I love my Samsung Galaxy S8. I switched from Apple to Android 18 months ago after getting fed up of constantly running out of storage space on my iPhone, and haven’t looked back since.

If I really was stranded on a desert island, I think I might put off being rescued just a little longer if I had these gadgets with me. A good book, some tunes, and my phone for games — plus my camera for those essential desert island snapshots. What more could a girl need?