Airplane Mode: 8 Months Without a Phone Plan
Hat Creek Rim - California
In the beginning of the year my daydream of hiking the Pacific Crest Trail became less of a sparkly far off dream and more of a tangible goal. I started to assess my personal finances and trim the extra monthly charges and expenses. An already frugal person became a critical cost cutter and there was an inexplicable high that resulted. Simplifying and slashing. Goodbye car insurance, adios rent, see ya never gym membership. See you later…phone bill?
Despite all of the cuts, I was adding a monthly charge of my Garmin InReach for safety and the idea of a phone seemed redundant. The Garmin possessed the SOS feature, GPS coordinate pings, and a limited number of custom messages I could send through this new device (pretty reminiscent to my first phone when texts were numbered and had a price tag per). It became obvious for the next cut in line to be the phone bill. And in areas where cell service isn’t always guaranteed, WiFi would be available…right?
I got the hang of connecting to WiFi whenever I stopped in a store, hostel, or coffee shop. However, there was a day when my texts didn’t send through iMessage with my number. It was a rough realization. The number I’ve had since middle school, the one I memorized, and comes second nature to recite was no longer mine. Could I even remember a new number if I needed to? It all seemed so silly but that number was linked to my identity. As hard as it was to let go, it seemed freeing to be disconnected in this way.
The trail heading southbound alone brings a baseline of solitude; towns brought a heightened sense of community. Towns guaranteed fellow hikers to socialize with, foods that were fantasized about while walking, WiFi for the outside world connection, and sometimes phone service for those calls home. However, where electrical outlets and WiFi was available, hikers congregated. My calls home were spotty and brief at best. While friends were getting bursts of reception and message floods from friends and family on mountain passes I had to ration and carefully craft my limited messages via my Garmin. A “quick text” to express the thought of someone had to wait until town. In the beginning it proved frustrating but my priorities began to shift in who I was staying in contact with. Disconnecting proves who will respect your time and who is there as a result of instant gratification.
A beautiful sunset, an overflowing plate of diner food, or a late night epiphany. All reasons to press that square and share with the world your experiences. While I always told myself I shared for me and considered it a form of reflection, I started to reconsider the real intent. Did I share my photos and thoughts in hopes to justify my time and prove to others I had a great life? In a world where images and updates flash into our lives constantly, it seems that we have to find a way to make ourselves relevant. When I took a step away from the filmed days and updates, I began to prioritize the ways my time was spent. Sometimes I wish I had a picture of certain memories, but I take comfort in knowing that those memories are more special living on just in my memories.
While there is a level of connectedness that modern technology provides, rethinking the relationship with and motivations behind those conveniences is a necessary intentional breath.
The phone plan still hasn’t been added, eight months have passed and I’m challenging myself to extend it to a year. I am grateful I am able to achieve this liberation that comes with an acknowledged privilege. The privilege of being able to save funds in a way that allows the freedom to step away from the world.
Intermittent social media cleanses or airplane mode afternoons don’t have to be on the level of quitting the bill entirely, but time away is healthy. The little red bubbles can wait. Walk away, breathe, and find solace in missing that superfluous appendage. I challenge you to leave your phone at home when you go to a coffee shop for a catch up with a friend. Enable your airplane mode and music on when you cook dinner or meal prep. Take a brisk walk and do walking meditation. Pause before you enter an address in maps, you can try to find it without. Be present in your body and mind. You won’t regret it.
