On 19/02/2013 2:42 PM, Brooklyn1 wrote:

> Wasn't free, with minutes it cost $60. I have no need for a fancy
> schmancy pricey cell phone, I only wanted plain vanilla, no extras...
> there's a good chance I may never use this one. I bought a cell phone
> ten years ago with a one year contract from Verizon, the darn thing
> sat on my desk for a year, I never made a call, it never received a
> call, when the year was up I turned it in, unused. I'm not a phone
> person, I certainly don't need a phone when I'm outdoors... for my few
> calls my land line is more than sufficient. Like the subject line
> says "For Emergencies Only", it's for in case I go into town and get a
> flat tire or some such car problem. The only numbers I programed in
> is the auto repair place in town, 911, the walk-in clinic, and my next
> door neighbor. This phone is for insurance, as with all insurance
> it's something one hopes they'll never need to use.
>

I have an inexpensive flip phone with a $15.95/month emergency use plan.
It is actually in my son's name. He got a deal on it at a previous job
and when he moved to Montreal he left it with me. A little more than 2
years ago the battery died on it and it almost as much for a new battery
as it was to get a newer phone.

I rarely used to even remember to take it with me, or to turn it on if I
did remember to take it. I started carrying it more often after I
developed a heart problem. I spend a lot of time walking in the woods
with my dog, or out bicycling, so it may come in handy to let people
know where they can find my body if something happens.

I don't know about these people I see walking around with a phone glued
to their ear all the time, or texting while with friends. I must be old
fashioned. I don't feel a need to be connected all the time.

When I was working I had one of the few vehicles that was equipped with
a cell phone, but it was hardwired. Later on the rest of the staff were
issued cellphones. One of my coworkers suggested I should ask for a
replacement cell, a portable to replace the hardwired one. Nuts to that.
My boss used to have a hard time getting hold me. If I answered the
phone it meant that I was sitting in my van. If I was not in the van he
could assume that I was busy working. As far as I was concerned, the
phone was handy if I needed something. It was a PITA if it was just for
them to get hold of me. In my van I had a desk, a tool box, mobile
computer terminal, a photocopier and a cellphone..... and privacy. I
liked it that way.