The internet is a part of my daily life, 77% of adult Americans have access to the internet as well according to this article written last year. Often I will find myself checking my email in the morning before leaving for work, often to check up on an auction I may have bid on, my email or to see what lame friend requests are being made through MySpace. Arrive at work, log online and check my work email, work calendar and schedule as well as various other things my job entails I do, most of which is online.

Throughout the day I am on the internet, my yearning to read new and fresh content on a constant basis means I have more then two dozen RSS feeds in my customized Google homepage now to track various sites, forums and blogs. Additionally, I check popular social bookmark sites like Digg and Technorati to see what is currently the hot buzz. Often during lunch I’ll be discussing something that floated around work email, like a funny photo or crazy chain letter, or a YouTube clip that is a must-see. My office has no windows, so I’ll check the weather to see what it is like out or what it will be like for the next few days. I don’t subscribe to a local newspaper but I do read that online, in addition to several other news sites.

Upon arriving home in the evening, I find myself on the internet for at least another hour, often many more. Reading, writing, contributing to this site or that, keeping up with email and friends whom I don’t always have the time for an hour long conversation on the phone with, searching eBay, and overall, just being online.

The following day will be the same routine, usually discussing whatever funny, crazy or insane things were on the internet the night before during coffee time at work.

At this point, it is not an addiction for me. I’ve had high speed internet access for long enough that I’m not amused with that alone anymore and will often times just relax in front of a TV for the night, hang out with friends or read.

I do however have friends who do not have internet access at all. They don’t have it by choice, and they really don’t care either way. Mind you I am speaking of people in their early 20’s through early 30’s, not grandparents. They either have other things going on in life that take up their time or just never got learned on how to properly and efficiently use a computer, so they don’t. I’m OK with that – it is their choice. Co-workers however, that is a different story. The company I work for and the industry I am in demands, at the very least, basic knowledge of computers and internet usage. Some of the people I work with and most of the customers give me the glazed over, deer in headlights look when questions come up like

As a child I remember not having the internet but being introduced to computers around second grade. I also remember getting online in the mid 90’s to see the internet and my mind just couldn’t soak up how much information is out there. I don’t understand how some people function without being online. Why would you spend $20 on a cookbook when there are millions of receipts online for free? Why make a major home purchase, like a dishwasher or washing machine without doing some sort of research to see what brand and model would best suit you, it’s a known fact that most retailers don’t care about you after they swipe your credit card, they just want a big fat sale.

I’m a believer that everyone should disconnect from the internet long enough to enjoy life. Don’t take your Blackberry on a mountain hike, go enjoy your hike. Do take your laptop with you when you travel, it can be an indispensable tool in finding restaurants and attractions if the front desk clerk at your hotel isn’t being helpful. In some cases, ignorance is not bliss.

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