Feeling disconnected in the Big Apple
By Erica Hill
CNN Headline News
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(CNN) -- I was out of touch for four days last week, and I hated it. I had my cell phone, but no PC.
In the past, traveling for work meant plugging in and logging on as soon as I got to my hotel room. I didn't mind it. It was great to be able to check in via e-mail, get a little news and have the Web at my disposal. I would log on to find out about an address, public transportation routes and flight delays.
Last week, however, I felt stranded in the concrete jungle of Manhattan. No laptop -- we're on desktops at CNN Headline News -- and I share my home computer, so I couldn't lug that to New York. Ironically, I was in town for a technology conference.
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When I am on vacation, being offline is rarely a problem. When I am working, it is agony.
In addition to not having a PC at my disposal, I forgot to enable my out-of-office e-mail message but didn't realize it until I got back to my desk Monday. I think that makes me an unconnected schmuck ... but the jury is still out.
Salvation came in the form of my friend Jennifer on Thursday afternoon. She works in the same building where the conference was hosted. Jennifer graciously allowed me to log on. It was as if I had won the lottery. There was my e-mail and bank balance, all at my fingertips. I knew it couldn't last.
Jennifer had work to do, and I had a meeting. Still, for those few minutes, I felt as if a weight had been lifted. There wasn't much time to respond to messages, but knowing that nothing urgent had happened was an immense relief.
It's funny. There are days when I feel an urgent need to be connected at all times, especially when I am working. But sometimes I avoid that connection at all cost, reveling in the beautiful bliss of weekend ignorance.
In the end, it's a good balance for me, even in our uber-wired world. Next time, I just need to remember to activate the out-of-office message.
