This Addiction Called 'Connectivity'

Allow me to provide a preamble stating that I am from a different generation than the tweens, teens, and/or 20- & 30-somethings out there, but this blog is not solely in reference to them.  Buckle-up, this is going to be a l-o-n-g one.

I could begin this blog by saying, "Well, back in MY day"....but I won't.  Today's technologically-driven society is what it is, and I fully participate in it, yet I do feel somewhat disheartened that today's 'kids' are not always aware of, nor allowed to experience, the wonderful things available to them without the internet.  I won't list them here, but surely you know what I mean.  Playing outside all day long and not coming home until the street lights begin to glow.  Sitting, as a family, around the dinner table and playing a game ~ a board game, or cards.  Sound boring?  Could be,  But it provided socialization and bonding as a family, as well as learning the skills of listening to & respecting others.

What does this have to do with The 'G' Spot Maine?  EVERYTHING!  Our amazing 'spot' is intentionally away from cities, crowds, airports, traffic, noise, and people.  In order to find that kind of seclusion and privacy, we had to give-up a few other things.  Like sanity, for one.  But, for purposes of this blog, connectivity!  Yes, we have satellite WiFi.  Yes, we have Direct TV (with all of the movie channels).  Yes, we have an Xbox, but not a 'live' connect, due to limited internet capabilities.  Yes, we have DVD players with hundreds of (recent) movies.  We have a library of books.  We have cards/poker, chess/checkers, games, puzzles galore, a dartboard, two corn holes sets!  Best yet, the incredible great outdoors!!!  Ocean water.  Kayaking.  Canoeing.  Wildlife & considerable seabird life.  But what does everyone want?  CONNECTIVITY!  But, why if you're on vacation?  Honestly.  If you are trying to get away from your normal hectic, manic life and get TO a place that's soothing, quiet, and relaxing, why is it impossible to disconnect?

A bit of background information, please.  The 'G' Spot Maine is on a very rural, coastal, private road.  It took nearly THREE years just to get a telephone (land) line there!  Maine is known as the 'least connected' state in the U.S.ofA.  Its internet availability is horrible, to put it frankly.  Larger cities & towns have it, of course, because municipalities must have it in order to function.  It is not so with residents, full- or part-time. 
Example:  We traveled from Virginia to Maine to meet with no less than four different internet companies who promised 'high speed' internet.  After making the 13-hour drive up to Maine (on numerous occasions) we were informed that (oops, sorry) they cannot supply internet to our area.  Too remote.  One company in particular, said that they could not 'guarantee' that we'd even be able to get a signal, but if so, we could experience 'speeds of up to 3 mbps' for a minimum of $50/month (I kid you not).  Wow, really?  Lucky us!  No thanks. 

So the company that we ended-up using is ok.  It's not amazing, but it's ok.  The only reason that we even have it is for our guests.  But we are only allowed a limited & finite amount of data/GB each month.  Of that same finite amount, we then share that 'per week' for our guests' use.  There is no such thing as 'unlimited data' where we are.  We are not able to purchase more  data, as there is simply no more to purchase.  We get what we get (and we pay dearly for it), but once it's gone, it's gone.  We have a very strict 5GB per week limit.  For those who are unfamiliar with what even ONE gig will allow, here are some examples.

1GB of data allows you to send or receive about 1,000 emails.
Browsing the Internet for about 20 hours uses approximately 1GB. 
One hour of High Def video streaming uses approximately 2.5GB.
One hour of Standard Def video streaming uses approx. 0.70GB.
Streaming one hour of 4K video uses approx. 5.85GB.
Four hours of online gaming uses approx. 0.5GB.
Uploading 143 social media posts, with photos, would equal 1GB.
Listening to 249 hours of streaming music would equal 1GB.

Point is, 5GB of data per week is not a lot, certainly not over the course of a week, with multiple people/devices in the house, and there really isn't a place for 'vacation internet addiction', neither by kids, nor by their parents.  Yet, most of our rental groups have been using at least half of their allotted data within the first day or two (!!?) and then continue to use-up the limited remaining data even after being told/reminded that they are approaching, or are over, their agreed-upon limit.  WHY???  Is it not possible to get outside and do something else?  Why come to Maine if you're going to keep your face in your phone/computer?

Besides the fact that it's extremely disrespectful to our clearly posted (and agreed-upon) house rules, why do people try to usurp more data than is allowed?  Do they, do we as a society, feel that they/we have a 'right' to use something that is not theirs/ours to consume?  If 5GB is the agreed-upon amount, why would anyone try to manipulate that to get more?  Is it a dishonesty issue?  An entitlement problem?  Intentional ignorance?  Why can't children be told to put their phones, iPads, & laptops away?  Why must parents use the house for tele-work purposes, when we've clearly stated (on our Airbnb listing, as well as our website) that our house is not to be rented if guests are looking for a working vacation, or gaming or streaming for the kids?  So why?  I'll tell you why.  Connectivity addiction.  It simply doesn't seem to register that there are places that are, and should be, 'disconnected' or 'limited'.  Keep trying to log on......you'll get on there.....  No, you won't.  It's rural Maine.  :/

Ahhhh….. Wonderful, pristine Maine.  Our delightful little town of Milbridge has extremely hard-working folks, btw.  As a matter-of-fact, virtually all of the wait-staff at the (2) local restaurants have, or are in the process of getting, their college degrees.  When sitting in one of the restaurants, however, I have found that it is rare indeed to see a child, teen, or a parent staring at their phone.  The folks in Maine TALK at the table.  They talk to one another.  They connect!  They laugh.  They enjoy the food, the atmosphere, the staff, the other guests.  They have fishing tales to tell.  They keep-up with the local sports.  They talk of family ~ recently married, engaged, born, deceased. 
When I do see a phone in use, it's usually to show others the latest photos of their new boat, home renovations, children/grands, etc., or to answer an actual phone call.  It's an amazing thing!  The connectivity is with PEOPLE!  What a novel idea!  How unique and refreshing!

Mr. G and I are 'digitally connected' people, obviously.  We enjoy staying connected to our children & family.  We have work.  I have multiple websites.  When we are in Maine, however, our phones are rarely in our hands and we never bring computers along.  Yes, we check our phones from time to time, just in case there has been a problem or emergency, but living a disconnected life in such a wonderous place as coastal DownEast Maine is something to relish.  Not everyone gets the opportunity to visit a remote, private home on the ocean in Maine, but everyone needs to have the opportunity to put their device(s) away and take a long, deep breath...….