Today's topic from our fearless leader: Ten Things to Do instead of Watching TV:
1. Read. I'd put money on that this will be on every post.
2. Sit on the deck and laugh at the dogs' antics.
3. Take the kayaks out for a paddle.
4. Go for a bike ride.
5. Collect flowers to identify and press.
6. Try a new recipe or make a familiar one.
7. Meet up with friends to knit.
8. Write.
9. Paint.
10. Clean out a closet.
Okay, maybe #10 isn't much fun, but I finally cleaned our linen closet last week. It was a dee-zas-ter! I sorted and tossed and refolded and organized, and now this thing that made me anxious every time I opened the door makes me happy.
From 1992 until 2006, I didn't have television. The apartment in which I lived from '92-'00 had terrible reception, and my budget was too tight to pay for cable. It was an easy thing to do without. I still watched movies on the vcr, but I missed a lot of shows that became cultural references. When I bought my tiny co-op in 2000, there simply wasn't room for the tv anymore, so I no longer even watched movies. I read a LOT. I was in school for my bachelor's and two and a half master's degrees during the no tv years. I once had a peer ask how I could always be up on the reading. My answer? "I don't have a tv." She was shocked, stunned, completely unprepared to give up hers. Look, I wanted to say. I don't judge. I don't care if you would rather watch tv than read Homer. To each her own.
Everything changed when I moved in with Neal. He loves to watch sports. He's into a lot of History channel shows that don't seem too historically based to me. I hang out with him when he's watching these things (knitting!), but usually if I'm in the room, unless his dearest darling Cards are playing, we watch something on dvd.
I would ditch the tv again in a second. There is just too much wonderful (and sometimes practical) stuff to feed my mind and occupy my time with to want a serious relationship with tv. Now and again, though, it's fun to flirt with!