When a Simple Question Gets Complicated (Part 1)

The “10 things (not people) I can’t live without” was on a list of blog ideas I came across during my mini-sabbatical. Once people were excluded, things got interesting very quickly. One by one, I found myself discarding items after realizing there was usually a substitute, or at least another way to accomplish the same goal.

Today, we’ll look at the first four items under consideration.

First up: a vehicle.
While wildly inconvenient, I could live without a car. I’d save on fuel and insurance and could redirect that money toward DoorDash for groceries. Visiting Megan would be more complicated, though. I’d either need to pay for Uber ($25–$40 each way) or have Megan come get me—which would involve wrangling anywhere from one to three children, depending on the time of day. A hassle for her, for sure.

Trips for shopping, socializing, and medical appointments would add up quickly. Still… it’s all doable. Just horribly inconvenient.

Next: my cell phone.
Gasp!!

This would rival the car in inconvenience. And as I’m reflecting on the phone, it occurs to me that I could also live without my computer—but only if I were willing to visit the library daily to write. Yes, I know I can write by hand, but then how would I post my blog for you to read?

And if I give up the computer, do I also give up the printer/copier?

I suppose I could write my blog by hand, copy it on the printer, and mail it daily as letters to friends and family. But then… how would I find photos to use? The cell phone and computer are gone, and National Geographic and cooking magazines aren’t exactly stacking up at my house anymore. Maybe I’d revert to cutting photos out of the few magazines I still have, or start asking neighbors for their old ones and do an old-fashioned cut-and-paste. Very retro. Very time-consuming.

Without a smartphone, I’d need a phone in the house for emergencies, and to call DoorDash or Uber. Do phone companies even offer old-fashioned landlines anymore? They do! I Googled it. Apparently, 29% of American households still rely on landlines for communication. Handy information.

Without both a computer and a mobile phone, I’d need to convert all my electronic bills from digital to paper and go back to writing and mailing checks. Unless I used a public computer at the library, where I can’t store passwords, or Megan’s computer, which would require (you guessed it) an Uber ride. And she probably wouldn’t love me storing passwords on her computer anyway.

And if I get rid of my computer, what about all the electronic records I keep on the hard drive? Flash drives, I suppose. But then… how do I do my taxes? I can picture myself at the library with a folder full of documents, using TurboTax.

NOT.

As I write this, it’s becoming clear that the idea of “what I can’t live without” may need at least one more day of thinking. This is turning into a very ponderous evaluation process rather than a simple list.

Overthinker much?

So far, here’s where I land with four items considered and somewhat concluded:

• Vehicle (maybe)

• Cell phone (maybe)

• Computer (KEEP)

• Printer/Copier (KEEP)

Next up, I’m going to ask Joe for his opinion and maybe share that with you. My guess? He’ll give up everything except his gazillion tools. He’ll probably buy even larger toolboxes, transfer everything into them, and then tell me he’s keeping ten mammoth toolboxes that he absolutely cannot live without.

Your turn:
Can you name ten things you can live without? (Objects and items only.)

P.S. Today’s image was created by ChatGPT based on my idea and parameters. I suppose that answers at least one question ... definitely keeping the computer.