I write this railside in Washington, D.C. We are waiting for our train to Florida and the wi-fi isn’t connecting us. I’m posting this via cell modem using my friend’s iPhone as a mobile hotspot.
How do you connect to the internet? You must do so to read this, and as such, we are a minority among the citizens of the world. Do you remember before you used the internet? Or did you grow up with it and, like electricity, take it for granted?
The web has changed the face of everything, including seduction and romance. Before the internet, we met potential mates in the typical watering holes of the world – bars, cafes, events, and other such things. Before that, we were introduced – and in some cultures, still are – by trusted members of our family or circle of close friends. Some online dating sites claim a high rate of success in matching compatible mates. There are even concierge services that will discreetly match clients with each other. While services like that have been around for generations, use of the internet allows enhanced privacy and speed of communication.
Here, then, are 5 tips for how to prepare for the inevitable technology SNAFU. I hope you don’t find yourself in that situation but, if you are, you’ll have what you need to be ready.
1. Have a card with important telephone numbers on it in case your mobile phone dies or you misplace your charger.
A friend of mine recently couldn’t make a scheduled telephone call because her phone didn’t reload its minutes; when she called to fix it, they couldn’t help her because the phone had lost its charge looking for a signal. The phone numbers she needed were in the phone, which she couldn’t access because of the dead battery.
2. Have things to do that aren’t internet-related. Bring a craft or games with you – even if it’s just a pack of cards (and a small instruction book if you can’t remember how to play any of your favorite games).
3. Bring music in your car or have CD’s loaded in your computer.
At work, for example, we have a small bandwidth and I can’t run Pandora when others need to access the network. Most of my music consumption these days is through Pandora so I had total silence when I couldn’t access my stations.
4. Carry a map.
Honestly, I can’t tell you how many people I know who get lost WITH their GPS. GPS units are terrifically handy. We’ve used ours, for example, to tell where we are as the train passes through tiny communities. But if you need to get somewhere and either your method of transportation breaks down or there’s some kind of problem (severe weather, road closure, terrorism) then it pays to know the context of your area.
5. Stash your cash.
I’ve learned this the hard way. I don’t particularly like to carry cash because I have a bad habit of spending it. But if you get stuck somewhere and need to get a cab, then you want to have cash since not all of them take visa (though that is changing, slowly).
What do you do to pass the time that isn’t internet-related? We’re on a train trip, and I wanted to find a printed guide to the route – a service available just a year ago. None of the customer service people I spoke to knew what I referred to. It’s probably available on their website, but of course I’m on a limited connection since we’re using a cell modem. In days gone by, I either would do without or come prepared.
Just like the Boy Scouts know, it always pays to be prepared for anything. The internet isn’t ubiquitous and it’s not protected from occasional failure. While it’s handy to have available, it’s not a panacea. To stay safe and happy during internet seizures, all it takes is a few steps to keep your cool.
And there’s nothing sexier than calm composure during a crisis. Who knows. You might find your next mate by offering them a stick of gum when everyone around you is losing their heads.
Happy seduction!
