Unplugging

It’s a healthy tension, I think. A good many people I meet in the blogosphere (or whatever we’re supposed to be calling it these days) seem to walk a fine line between being completely immersed in the space and unplugging entirely.

A few months back, between Christmas and New Years, I toyed with the idea of renting a cabin in the Cape Breton Highlands for the winter. The idea went something like this:

1. Find a cabin for rent in the highlands. Preferably a log cabin, I guess. Accessible by snowmobile only is fine.

2. The cabin should have an old cookstove. An Enterprise cookstove would be ideal.

3. A rocking chair beside the cookstove is a must. The good news is, rarely have I found a cookstove that did not share space with a rocking chair.

4. With enough wood to last three months, the following provisions would be necessary:

Food. No need to go into to much detail here. Without daily access to fresh vegetables, methinks that the menu would consist of more hearty fare than is the norm. Thick soups, stews, etc. with some hot curry thrown in for good measure.

Whisky. Probably a case and a half of Lagavulin would suffice.

Red wine. There is no way of knowing how much is needed – so bring an obscene amount with the understanding that some could well return home.

Coffee. Just Us Jungle Blend for the french press, Just Us Italian Roast for the moka pot.

Yellow legal pads. A few dozen. With blue pens. Lots. I don’t know why I prefer blue ink on yellow legal paper, but I do. Weird.

A few obscenely large sketchpads. I’m not an artist by any stretch, but I find huge sketchpads useful for mapping out ideas, etc.

Flip chart paper and markers. For those times when the sketchpad just isn’t large enough, I guess.

The thing is, what I really would want to add to all of this would be my MacBook Pro and a highspeed connection. Heh.

Comments

[zoe]

a situation like that sounds sooooo appealing at the moment. with so many connections it's hard to be alone. i wonder how many people could handle that kind of isolation.

p.s. i would add a hacky sack to your list. not only is it a good activity to get your blood moving but you can play it alone and even if you don't know how to play you would quickly become a master at it :)

[Ben]

I suppose having grandparents living in similar conditions already in Cape Breton gives me an advantage for my hermit-vacations?

Good luck on the wifi though. Cape Cabins could be marketed as internet rehab.

[lesley]

Have cabin.
Cabin has working Enterprise cookstove.
Can restrict/allow all the access I want.
Will order the Scotch, Bourbon, and red wine.
You bring your own school supplies.
Me... never needed a plug in the first place.

[Reel Ninja]

What I wouldnt do for a macbook pro....
Halifax Ninja