Do you have a home phone at your home?

[Smartman5]

It used to be in our house. We haven't used it for many years. We canceled the line. Frankly I loved home phones.

[Adventurer23]

I have one. I don't want or need a cellphone, and I'm happy to have "just" a landline. I've always had one and always will... as long as it's still a thing. lol But there have been instances like a massive power outage, and an ice storm where the power was out for 6 days and cellphone transmission towers were dead, but I still had my landline to make calls and call 911 if needed. I even had neighbours come to use my line because I was one of the only ones on the street with a landline. During that time elsewhere in the city and surrounding areas, some people died because they weren't able to call for help, and a a few houses also burned down because no one could make a call with any of their cells.

Besides, things are so much nicer now that my life isn't dictated by this "thing" in my pocket that demands my attention 24/7. I'm living more in the moment in the real world, instead of a virtual one on a little screen, and I'm much happier for it.

I'm perfectly happy with a landline. I've even thought about getting an old rotary phone for my living room. Just like the one I grew up using as a kid.

It's crazy I found this picture. My parents had this exact style of rotary phone and my dad had this exact same book...

[Smartman5]

You have a very beautiful life. I want to get rid of these smart phones we have. I want to read, I want to be intertwined with books, but smartphones are getting in the way. what would you recommend me? and how do you communicate when you go out?

[Adventurer23]

@Smartman5 My apologies in advance for such a LONG reply! lol...

Well, like anything in life, owning a smartphone is a choice. You can choose to not have one, just as much as you can choose to own one. But it may not be an easy choice for anyone considering giving it up. I get that. I suppose it was a little easier for me, given that I'm 42 and I grew up in an era where no one had cellphones and it was not even a thought or a consideration because that was just regular everyday life.

But for me, not having to communicate while I'm out is the point, and is one of the glorious things about no longer owning a smartphone. For me, the point of not owning a cell is to be more present and in the moment, and it allows me to see, interact with, and appreciate the world around me in a way that isn't possible when we're all looking at a tiny screen all the time. Whether it's texting, using some app, playing a game, watching a movie or show, whatever. Not being hooked in all the time allows you to see and appreciate the nuance of life that slips by when we're all so preoccupied with our own little virtual worlds.

But for me, not having to answer calls and constant texts, or notifications from apps, and getting sucked into this little entertainment center in my pocket is such a relief. But not just having to answer to those things, but also constantly knowing that the next call, text or notification is just a moment away and is always in the back of our minds, whether we realize it or not. The amount of time and mental space it requires to constantly be aware of, and even interrupted by all these things becomes tiring. I'd rather focus my time on other things in my life, instead of being attached and connected 24/7. There's more to life than a smartphone... but only if we allow ourselves to see, discover and appreciate all those things outside of the little virtual world we create for ourselves...

[Adventurer23]

... But the fact that you want to be rid of your phone is your inner voice telling you something isn't completely right. That yearning for change is there for a reason. It means something. But for me, a part of not having a smartphone is that it allows me to see, discover and connect with other things and other interests that get shoved aside with all the time that gets tied up while doing something on a phone. I don't want to be able to be contacted, connected and attached to an electrical device 24/7 for the rest of my life. Before the advent of smartphones, people used to have and enjoy having down time, and time for one's self. To unwind and even reflect, and focus your thoughts on other things and other interests. Sometimes disconnecting from an electronic world does wonders for your overall happiness and enjoyment of life. But you have to do it to discover it and appreciate it. For some people it can take time and effort to get there, but it is SO worth it once you begin to see and appreciate the world beyond a smartphone.

But to more directly answer your question, I just have a desktop computer and a landline phone at home. I do all my communications from home and whenever I'm out of the house, that's my time for myself and I have my thoughts and the entire world around me to immerse myself in, and to be away from my computer and being contacted 24/7. It's a wonderful thing...

[Adventurer23]

... But I just communicate from home. If I'm getting together with someone, we just agree on a time and place and we meet there. No big deal. 🙂 Once I went without a smartphone I realized just how little I actually needed one while I was out. In any given year, I can honestly count on one hand the amount of times a phone would be handy to have in the case of "needing" to call someone, or some other minor convenience.

But communicating isn't just something to be done on a phone, it's meant to be done in-person and one-on-one, which not having a phone forces you to do. That's one ting so many people have lost is interacting with people - including friends and family - in real life. So much time is dedicated to communicating to people with their phone, instead of talking one-on-one. Just the act of that kind of interaction is more fulfilling and meaningful than a text.

Then there's the amount of money saved from not having to pay for phone plans every month, and not having to buy new phones whenever it becomes obsolete or gets broken. I've literally saved thousands of dollars by not having to pay for owning a smartphone. Money that can be saved or used toward other interests I have. It can even pay for entire trips and vacations. It's money in your pocket and it adds up over the months and years...

[Adventurer23]

... Anyway, I could go on endlessly about all the benefits of no longer owning a smartphone, but I digress. The choice to not own one is yours though. I would suggest trying to make some adjustments to how much you use and depend on it from day to day and from hour to hour. Instead of constantly browsing, scrolling, texting/chatting, gaming, etc., try shutting your phone off and do something else. Go for a walk, get out in nature, get together with a friend, or do some reading that you mentioned you want to do more of. Just shut it off and disconnect, and reconnect with yourself and interact with the world around you in a different way. You may feel like a fish out of water with your phone beckoning at you for your attention, and it may take time to get used to it. But I can assure you, the effort you put into putting it down or even getting rid of it entirely will be time well spent in the end once you get there, I promise.

The funny thing is that 90%+ of people would probably never consider giving up their phones. But of the people I have known or talked to who have, every single one of them said their life is a whole lot better without one. Just a little food fo thought. The choice is yours.

[Static_In_The_Attic]

Growing up we had a home phone & my parents still do. As for me my home phone is my cellular phone.

[Smartman5]

Do you use mobile phone?

[Static_In_The_Attic]

I had a mobile phone a long time ago now I just use a cellular phone.

[Smartman5]

what is the difference between them?

[douride2]

I still have a land line in my home mainly because the cell service here is sketchy most times.

[Smartman5]

Where are you from?

[douride2]

Canada. The lousy service has to do with the rocky hills & lack of cell towers.

[Smartman5]

I understand

[douride2]

Thanks for a MHO

[rosemilk]

no. we also don't have cable tv because who watches tv anymore...

[Smartman5]

I watch a little TV

[Likes2drive]

There is in the living room in my stepdads and also at my dads , seems like people in their 70s prefer it. I just have a cellphone but a landline is good for a fax machine

[WindAtMyBack]

It's my only phone. I have never made a call on a cell phone. I've never texted either. I Just never saw the need to.

[LiamJHayden]

I have a business land line, really just an extension of my office that is 14 miles away.

[Smartman5]

Isn't it boring to go this far to go every day? I know there are others who go more

[LiamJHayden]

I don't go every day. Really just when we run payroll. That is why I have the line at home.

[Smartman5]

So you work from home?

[AviatorTom]

Not any more. Last phone line I had was about 10 years ago, and it was only because my home security system required it.

[Mimi_758]

I do but i don't use it its just for decoration 😂

[CrimsonAngel09]

Yep, but they have been inactive for a long time now.

[Redstang88]

My mom might still have one, not sure. I never have

[Nikki1989]

We have one. Our cellphones are only used for work purposes.

[zagor]

My parents have a landline. I haven't for years.

[bolverk]

I have a landline, but its rarely used by me, incoming calls and internet only.

[NostalgiaSenpi]

I haven't had a landline since I was eighteen.

[DancingQueen16]

We used to have a home phone but my mom got rid of it a long time ago

[Smartman5]

Was it a bad thing for your mother?

[DancingQueen16]

No she just got rid of it because we didn't need it anymore

[Smartman5]

I understand

[AFretiredTXn]

I have always had a landlines phone. It has just recently been added to wifi.

[TacosRAwesome]

Nope. That said, I'll get one if I find one that looks cute.

[Smartman5]

Who?

[TacosRAwesome]

A house phone.

[Phoenix98]

We have a modern home phone yes not like the ones we had back in the 90s though lol.

[Anonymous]

If you live in your car is your car phone a home phone? If you live in a jail cell is your cell phone your home phone?

[Smartman5]

not both

[exitseven]

yes, it is my main phone.

[Smartman5]

Do you use mobil phone?

[exitseven]

I do but it is only for family to call me.

[Smartman5]

I understand

[serious]

I had one but not anymore.

[SnowedIn]

Not anymore. I, too, miss them.

[WhitneySnow]

No. Just mobile.