I’ve yet to own a cell phone. I don’t want to be that available and, when on the job, that phone seems to me an electronic leash.
I lost my personal phone a few months ago, and it turned up underneath a piece of living room furniture (presumed to have been a cat toy at one point). I have to say, it was quite calming to not have that digital leash. I’d considered a home phone, but then the cell turned up again.
Sadly, the cost of a cell phone was less than that of a home phone. I have a cell for work too, so it’s not like I was completely without that leash. I’ll definitely continue to entertain it, but in an emergency, cell towers and landlines likely won’t work anyway.
That’s why I have my HAM radio!
>>>I don’t want to be that available and, when on the job, that phone seems to me an electronic leash.
That is precisely the lesson I learned with my carphone in the early 90s. Particularly the leash. I gave the phone away after a few months.
I had no more reason this this to ignore the cellphone craze of the last decade. But between spying, battery fires, and cancer scares, I think I probably guessed right for once.
Two points, one you do not have to give your number to anyone and two, you do not have to answer if it rings.
My wife and I have two cheap pay as you go cell phones ($100 a year).
We travel a lot and there are not many pay phones any more. It is nice to know you can call for help if you need it.
Unless we are expecting a call we don't answer and let the caller fill up our mailbox (once full no more voice or text messages can be left.
A cell phone is a leash only if you allow it to be, otherwise it is a neat tool to have.