I remember when it was so prohibitively expensive to call overseas from New Zealand, or from the UK back to there that we rationed the number of calls to one every couple of months, and they were planned for and long anticipated, such special treats to talk to family when I was so, so far away, way back in the last of the 80s and first of the 90s.
Since I embarked on this American journey I’m hugely aware of the massive difference between then and now…
In the first two weeks after I left Melbourne (which was now, almost 4 weeks ago – crikey!) I have coordinated a house-sitter for my flat when unexpectedly Miss PUSS did not take to her new surroundings and needed to be repatriated to the family manor… this involved advertising the house-sit, coordinating responses (eep 20+ of them), interviewing prospective house sitters… all while I’m in NZ, and my flat and its prospective sitters, of course are in Melbourne.
On my first day the US, in Los Angeles, I sat on a hotel bed, answered emails with clients, logged into their websites and trouble shot problems (which of course weren’t manifesting when I looked at them… typical). I also had a phone chats, with said client, nailed down some other issues and generally smoothed the waters to prepare for the next big project we’re embarking on together.
I fielded a concerned message from a friend who couldn’t get past the screen doors in my house to go in and clear the bedroom/bathroom of my personal belongings before the house sitter moved in the next day… The neighbours have the key but were nowhere to be found… So while I’m fielding calls from her I’m messaging the neighbours to see how far from the house they actually, are… and before you can say “Trans Pacific Data Transfer” the keys are handed over and the job’s done… all coordinated from all the way over here. It just so happens that older ears don’t always her knocking on the door and a text message to alert them to their caller is all that’s required. A text message that starts across an ocean or more. Brilliant.
I love living in the future.
The attached image is HRH looking all blissed out with the lovely lady who’s currently living with her in my house. I think it’s safe to say it’s going well.
Hi Dee,
Yeah, it’s absolutely amazing where we’ve got to now. I used to make monthly calls home from the UK as well! It is so more convenient now…
Mind you, there are times when I think we may have had some things better back then. Ie if you went out for a day, then you were truly by yourself. No one could call you, email you, text you, tweet you, etc. I think I focussed on the moment more as a result…
Anyway, those thoughts only last a couple of minutes before I have to stop and check Twitter again! :)
Oh, I KNOW! I think about the next two months when I’m so far away and the fact that if I get misty for home, I can just pull up a Skype window and chat as if I was still just up the road, or across the Tasman.
Technology for the WIN.
The future is here, it ‘s just not evenly distributed. William Gibson (@GreatDismal ) dixit.