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When you vacation, do you remain connected?

By Dale Taylor (Intel) (46 posts) on August 4, 2009 at 12:22 pm

As summer vacation time winds down in the US, I’m wondering just how many people worked to stay connected while they vacation compared to those who left the connected world behind.  The trends seems to be we are more likely to remain connected than ever before!

Last year I spent nearly 6 weeks vacationing in Europe where nearly all the time I had a wonderful cell and data connection.  I was astonished to see that even in Estonia hours from the city hiking in a wilderness area I had 5 bars and sent and received text messages from the US.  In Puerto Rico when hiking in the Caribbean National Forest we received calls from our kids at home in the states wondering how we were.  It’s very surprising when your phone rings in such remote places!

Just a month ago I was backpacking in the US, where I had driven 3 hours into Wyoming and then another hour on dirt roads where we left base camp and hiked several more hours into the wilderness (mentioned in this blog: Backpacking with Mobile Internet Devices).  Here in what has to be considered a remote area (it’s a designated wilderness area) I was also able to send and receive text messages though no cell connection was possible.  I was honestly shocked I could accomplish this.

This month my brother is on a 2 week backpacking trip in the High-Sierras of California and has been able to send me his location information using a SPOT device (http://www.findmespot.com/).  This is a hybrid device that uses a GPS to determine your location and uploads it via a satellite network which then uses your pre-selected email list to send your location information to those you feel might be interested.

In certain instances being connected and able to send location information can be a life saver, in fact it has been for many Spot users.  For most of us it’s a convenience we are growing used to day by day.  When I went to get some map information on my phone in the wilderness area it failed and I used a traditional map to sort things out.  I was able to get along just fine without the connection in that location but a connection does provide additional useful information.

Given all of this and how I tend to be a VERY connected person, I really enjoyed my days in the wilderness where I could freely ignore any connection and share time with my son enjoying the beauty and wonder around us rather than be concerned with the latest deadline or news item… then again I surprised as we drove down from the wilderness and were immediately confronted with the news of Michael Jacksons death (we have satellite radio in our car). 

Categories: Cool Software, Mobility

Comments (3)

August 4, 2009 3:33 PM PDT Kyle Bennett

To directly answer your question Dave, "HELL NO!' If techies are connected on vacation, it ain't really a vacation.

August 4, 2009 5:24 PM PDT Amanda Marvel (Intel) Total Points: 1,590 Status Points: 1,090 Brown Belt

@Dale, As addicting it is to stay connected I think it's so important for sanity's sake to get away too. If we're looking at the US Census numbers, we have the shortest number of vacation days out of the industrialized countries, and on average three days are left on the table unused each year. Eek! In addition to sanity, I think that taking time away makes us appreciate the digital world that much more and attributes to increased productivity when we return to the job refreshed. Cheers, Amanda

August 4, 2009 5:28 PM PDT Dale Taylor (Intel) Total Points: 8,824 Status Points: 8,324 Brown Belt

Amanda, I agree and love to "recharge" during my disconnected times. To enjoy the world, the sights, sounds and smells of nature or whatever you happen to use as your personal recharge time. Since I spend so much of my work time on mental exercises I also find it important to do physical exercise, to push my physical limits during my off work time which also helps me keep some kind of balance. Thanks, Dale

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• When you vacation, do you remain connected? | Rachna
  August 5, 2009 3:02 AM PDT

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