How Vintage Do You Go? -merged thread-

[alexandra]

For me a cell phone isn't only good for your emergency, it's also good in case you needed to be contacted because of a loved one's emergency.

 

[fortworthgal]

Yes, I think we probably *could* do it. But honestly, I don't think we'd want to.

They did have credit back then, just not credit cards. That being said, we haven't used credit cards in years and have no debt other than our mortgage and vehicle payment. It is a nice feeling. I used to be a member of another forum and remember reading posts by people who had anywhere from $10K to $80K *just* in credit card debt! And most of it was things like eating dinners out, or going on vacations. If we can't afford something, we don't buy it. Interesting how that seems to be a forgotten concept these days.

They had TVs in the 50s so I'm okay with that. For the most part though, I am very anti-modern technology. I despise Ipods and people who cannot live without them, I-Phones, and gigantic flat-screen plasma television sets. My 27" regular ol' TV works just fine, thankyouverymuch! I think cell phones are a great invention, but I'm pretty sick of seeing people sitting there texting when they are in the middle of a group of real, live people! Heaven forbid anyone have to go 15 minutes without their precious Ipod music, or the ability to text someone, play a video game, or watch a TV show on their cell phone. People are far, far too dependent on these technologies for my comfort.

Living in Texas, I'm a big fan of the icemaker and air conditioning. I occasionally use the microwave here at my office to reheat the lunches I bring each day.

Oh, and I wouldn't have a job if it weren't for the computer! lol

 

[Rufus]

Old school... I have no TV whatsoever....

It can be a conversation killer though at social events as people invariably ask if you saw some show or other, then assume you're making some moral judgement of them for having one!

I work at home though, and IF I did have a TV..... I'd get nothing done!!
so inadvertantly old School...

I love Radio and it's a constant companion.

i don't if I'd be happy without my Mac...

ruf..

 

[MrFusion]

I've never had a cell phone -- when they first came out I simply didn't feel the need for one, and I still don't.

I'm with you there. I got my first cell 11 years ago when my wife was pregnant with our first child. It was for her in case she needed help. It was an analog cellphone and we kept it as our only cell until we had to replace it because the phone companies have phased-out analog. (It was replaced by my wifes job)

I have one now too but work requires it and they pay for it.

It is convenient at times, but I could live without it in a heartbeat!

 

[shepkatt]

Re: the cellphone topic.. I have a teenager who just turned 16. There is no way I could go without a way to get ahold of me or her dad - just in case. She has her drivers permit right now and soon will have her license. I know folks got along fine without cell phones back in the day - but if having one makes it easier for my daughter to get ahold of me or the hubs in an emergency.. then cell phones are well worth it as far as our lifestyle goes.

 

[Nashoba]

Thanks to cell phones and the internet I can talk to my husband from 5000 miles away by email or messenger instantly on the computer and I never have to worry about missing his call with my cell phone. If I had to do without either I would never hear from him because he just plain doesn't write letters. He's on his third combat tour and I have 3 letters to show for it. I'm alone enough now, I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to never hear from him at all. (because I know him. he wouldn't write.)
I also have far too many friends spread across far too many places. And I've reconnected to people I thought lost to me through technology including my own sister. So I see a place for it.
I spend more time listening to the radio over the internet than I do watching tv too, because the radio signal around here can sometimes be iffy. But we have cable and an LCD flatscreen and all the techology stuff, because my husband is a technology geek. And I'll be honest, I watch tv late at night in my room because I can't sleep and it helps.
I live in a fairly rural area of TN (I don't actually live in Nashville, I'm south of there) and I have a propensity to get lost (there are a few of you here who have experience with me and my wrong turns) and there has been more than one occasion where my cell phone has saved me. My husband just bought me a GPS because he wants me to be able to find my way when he isn't around for me to call and panic to when I'm lost. I'll be honest. I suck at reading maps. He's tried to teach me. He's tried to teach me land navigation too. He gave up.
There are some things in this vein I subscribe to. I do cook nearly everything from scratch. More often than not my microwave is used to put dishes of things up out of a dog's reach while I finish something else. I can pretty much everything during the summer, making jams and sauces, and pickles and canning vegetables from the garden. But we have ipods and laptops and I know my husband is grateful for it because the flight overseas is a very long one. I run my business on the internet and my cell phone is my business phone. I agree with the debt free, we're working on it. We have credit cards but use them as sparingly as possible. Could we live without them? Yeah, probably. But I don't want to.

 

[mrswheats]

I like my modern conveniences and my vintage aesthetics!
QUOTE]

Same here. My mother (born in 1940) told me that she remembers being the first house in the neighborhood to have a TV, and how all the neighbors would come over to watch.
So I guess I come by my gadget-love honestly

And my husband needs 24/7 access to his email and phone due to his job, so there's no way we're living a low-tech lifestyle!

 

[Ada Veen]

Hmm... I have no TV, microwave or car but use my computer a lot... and i like my ipod, so I'm a strange mix of 'old school' and 'hi-tech' with the intermediate technology missing

 

[Lulu-in-Ny]

I'm 100% for no TV in the bedroom- I've never had one, and never would. TV is for waking hours. My boyfriend would love it if I put one in there, but I'll never budge. If I did, he'd have it on constantly and I'm not having that. Not to mention, I'd never get any sleep as I'd get involved in whatever happened to be on.
You can definitely do without credit cards. Another thing I've never had, and I've never felt like I was missing out. If I can't pay for it in cash, then I can't afford it.
Cell phones I would hold onto, though. Yes, people abuse them, and have no manners in regards to them, but the emergency factor is too scary for me to ever let go. Especially as my son is rapidly approaching driving age.
While I can definitely appreciate that certain aspects of life have deteriorated rapidly as time has gone on, other things have improved exponentially. I think getting rid of everything and going 1930 House might be throwing the baby out with the bathwater. After all, I'm sure that in 1930, people reminisced about how much better things were way back when...

 

[Slim Portly]

I think getting rid of everything and going 1930 House might be throwing the baby out with the bathwater. After all, I'm sure that in 1930, people reminisced about how much better things were way back when...

I came here to say this, although in 1930 I bet there were more people dreaming of how great things would be in the future. I live in the world that my grandfather worked his whole life to make for me. My grandfather wore black oxfords because that was the one style of shoe that was in his size at the one shoe store in town that he could afford to shop at. I wear black oxfords because I can use my satellite connection to search the world via the Internet for the style of shoe that I choose to buy today of the tens of thousands of styles that are available to me with the click of a button.

The baby, the bathwater, and the 47" flat screen are all safe in my house.

 

[The Shirt]

how far back do we go?

I like my laundry machine, my toaster, my microwave (for warming only), my dvd player, and my computer. I don't think I want to give those up. But honestly I went kicking and screaming into the cell phone world. They annoy me, people who text annoy me, people who have belt attachments for them make me laugh. I never have mine turned on. I rarely ever check it unless I know someone is going to call.

I'd never put a TV in the bedroom - bad for the s!!-life. If I need or want to watch TV to doze off - I lay on the couch and wake up at 3 in the morning all stiff and walk to bed.

Living on cash is a great aspiration - but currently not feasible for me. I spend a lot of my efforts to pay off the things I apparently couldn't live without during my college years. I hate College Jennifer - she was spoiled. Adult Jen has a much better head on her shoulders.

 

[ScionPI2005]

I definitely like my technology and I truly believe that the only piece of modern technology that owns me is my computer with internet. For me, it seems like internet is my main source of conversing with friends, and I do enjoy my forums.

I never had a TV in my bedroom growing up, and even so, I only used the family one for maybe 30 minutes of TV a day if I currently had a show I was interested in. I now have one TV, and its not turned on all that often, and mainly used for DVD's.

I have had a cell phone for 4 years, but I don't let it own me. It has a power switch, and voicemail, and I know how to use them. If I'm driving, or out in public, checking out in the grocery line, the person can leave a message and rest assured I will get back to them soon.

I have grown up with a microwave and I do find microwave meals convenient from time to time. I wouldn't overuse the microwave, but I do like it.

 

[Gary Crumrine]

We're not the sort of people who eschew medical advances because they happened along a little too recently. Our interest is in the quality of life, and we take from simpler times what we think might be beneficial to us (frugal living, bowties, Jack Daniels), but we're also comfortable with more modern developments (computers, automatic transmissions, cutting grades on diamond certificates). Seems to work for us.

 

[Joie DeVive]

I guess I fall into the fairly old school category. I haven't really been aiming for it, it's just how I choose to live.

We have one TV, with no cable, we use rabbit ears. The TV is in the living room. We have one car. It was used when we bought it for cash. Ok, a check, I'm not carrying around that much cash. We do have a credit card, but it is used for gas, and larger agreed upon purchases only. We visit the bank once a week and take out cash for our daily living expenses. We have ATM cards, but do not use them. This tends to make us more careful with our spending. I'm about ready to put up my clothesline, making the drier a winter appliance. I strongly prefer hand tools. I was out using a scythe on the weeds today as opposed to a weed-whacker. Until we get a manual push mower, mowing the lawn is up to my husband.

We have a microwave, which like most people is used for heating leftovers. We also have one cell phone between the 2 of us, and have been debating that for a while. I would be most unhappy without my computer and internet.

I find nothing wrong with technology or advancement, I just like to do some things the old way. I find it simpler, and simplicity brings a kind of peace to my life.

 

[Helen Troy]

As far as I'm concerned, there's nothing wrong with enjoying the benefits and oportunities they didn't have in the "good old days." Except from the style and fashion, (my personal taste is backwards to the world in general,) I think that the world in general progresses.

And concerning credit cards and such: I have a strong feeling that people "back then" wasn't any better than us, and maybe even worse. I can hardly read one novel/article/womens magazine from the golden age that doesn't meniton the downpayments on the telly, freezer, car, radio or other household items.

That said, I don't own a tv, I listen to the radio a lot, I don't own a microwave, I beak my own bread, we don't have much on our credit cards etc etc. But that's just beacuse I like it that way, not because I look back in time and think I should. I also play a lot of computer games, use the internet a lot and live a life no woman could without beeing met with some serious scorning a few decades back.

I think I would have made it pretty well in most decades. (At least the ones with widespread use of eye-glasses. Ore I would have done pretty well for a blind bat!) And now, I'm making the most of this time in history!

P.S The last years we still owned and used a tv-set, we kept it in the bedroom. Living in a small appartment, this was the only room we could have it in that was not the living room. And we didn't want to place it there, where it became the center of the room. The living room is for social life. The tv didn't fit.

 

[desi_de_lu_lu]

I remember in August of 2003 during the "great blackout" (on the eastern seaboard) how we had to do (obviously) without power.

It was a bit frightening how being without power for a few days could bring a city to it's knees. Everything was closed ....no one could even shop for food because there was no electricity to power the cashiers. There were some shops that would take cash only...but it was far and few between.

Watching people banded outside on their stoops in Brooklyn with candles (it was in hot and humid August and no air conditioning was running), or watching them walk accross the Brooklyn Bridge because there were no trains running was a sight to see.

Those couple of days made me realize that we are all living in a relative ignorant and comfortable bliss...and the fragile state of us all if we were to suffer a major power outage. (or worse)

You can't eat a 42" television.

 

[Paisley]

I do without most of the aforementioned stuff. But I do like the microwave: it's faster and uses less energy than the stove. It definitely doesn't heat up the kitchen in the summer. And it's not that modern: the first microwave went on the market in 1947.

 

[Pink Dahlia]

Freakin' crap Desi! I just got your number!

Could not do it. That's all there is to say. I could not do it.

 

[desi_de_lu_lu]

Freakin' crap Desi! I just got your number!

I know... I should talk. I have two cell phones...and yet you never call. LOL

 

[desi_de_lu_lu]

I do without most of the aforementioned stuff. But I do like the microwave: it's faster and uses less energy than the stove. It definitely doesn't heat up the kitchen in the summer. And it's not that modern: the first microwave went on the market in 1947.

Yeah, my husband was telling me about the Raytheon microwave. I had never known about it until he mentioned it. I thought he was kidding.. :eusa_doh: