A Life Without TV... Kind of...

A few months ago, we made the decision to get rid of TV.  Not completely, granted, but we canceled our satellite service.  It was costing SO much money, we just got to a point where we couldn't justify the few channels we actually watched.  Out of the vast array of cable channels, when it came down to it, the only channels we were sad to see go were HGTV (me) and ESPN (Steve).  I think these were our "go-to" channel surfing channels.  When nothing else was on, we could always entertain ourselves with whatever was on these channels.

And, therein lies the problem!  We got to the point where we mindlessly zoned out in front of the TV just because we had nothing better to do.  We weren't watching TV to watch a certain show... we were watching just to watch.  We figured we could not only save money by canceling satellite, but perhaps we would also cut down on TV viewing time.

Boy, were we wrong.

Yes, we are saving money.  In exchange for satellite, we signed up for Netflix and Hulu Plus.  Combined, they are less than $20/month.  Much cheaper.  But, as far as watching "less" TV, yeah, that didn't happen.  I think we probably watch just as much TV as we did before.

However, our viewing habits have changed.  When you have to actively seek out and choose the TV you are watching, you are far pickier.  No longer do you have the excuse "well, there's nothing better on."  I actually find things that I think will interest me, and I watch those.  And, if 10 minutes in, it sucks?  I turn it off.  This is like a revelation!  Turning off bad TV!  Who knew?!  And, instead of watching HGTV, what am I watching now?  Critically acclaimed TV series, independent films, documentaries.  When I'm bored, I want something good.  Plus, I can't get HGTV anymore...

The problem?  If you've read my entries in the past, you know that I get this thing called hyperfocus.  Sooo... I latch on to a TV show I like... and with all episodes in the history of the universe at my fingertips... I get a bit sucked in.  So, what used to be sitting for an hour or so watching an episode of HGTV to pass the time... is now watching 4 hours straight of TV episodes because "I like them... and, hey, they're there."  Sooo... not sure how successful I was at cutting down on TV time.  Perhaps I should say that I cut down on "crappy TV" time.  The quality of my TV viewing has improved, even if the quantity has not really changed.

This whole "experience" in getting rid of satellite has really made me think about technology in our lives.  So much of technology exists for convenience or stimulation... things that we don't need or could get elsewhere, in perhaps more healthful ways.  Every once in a while, when I think about these things, I get the urge to disconnect, move to rural Montana and live off the land.  Who needs this rat race and newfangled gadgets?

Then, I turn on an episode of Suits...