Triumphantly staying on water for 24 hours in autumnal New Hampshire!
As you saw in my recent fall foliage article, I was in the heart-stoppingly gorgeous middle-of-nowhere, New Hampshire for my birthday. Throughout the weekend, the theme of “unplugging” and “being cut off from civilization” recurred… in part because my husband‘s friend decided to live for 24 hours on a raft and boat.
See Cory’s raft-home on the pond?
Let us call this friend “Cory” to mask his identity. See that lake in the photo, above? See the raft forty feet from the shore with a boat tied to it? That’s where Cory lived and slept for over twenty-four hours. Yes, that is a BBQ grill on the raft. When you live on a pond for 24 hours, you must bring the essentials.
Cory’s friends circled the raft in boats, bringing companionship and banter.
“Bring a sleeping bag when you drive up to New Hampshire,” Cory instructed my husband before the trip. “I reckon it’ll get drafty on the ol’ raft.” Hearing these words, I shivered. What if Cory rolled off the edge of the raft in the middle of the night? Imagine that freezing, watery wake-up!
Could YOU live on a raft in this lake for 24 hours?
Was this raft-home idea crazy? Not necessarily. As Cory waved at us from the heart of the pond, the White Mountains rippled their purple support. Clouds changed color and skimmed the lake. Rainbow autumn leaves cheered Cory on. What better place to watch it all than from the middle of a body of water?
My husband gazing out at the raft where his friend lived for 24 hours.
Back on land, I actually felt just as stranded as Cory, if not more. You see, I have a seriously crazy Internet and blogging addiction, and three days in rural New Hampshire with no web (besides the spider kind, of which there were plenty) was like, WHOA. Just as Cory may have gazed longingly at land from his raft, I stared at my signal-less iPhone, craving.
What a beautiful fishing moment for autumn!
The scenery was stunning, but I was in pain. What had I expected upon withdrawal from my constant level of Internet use? Some sort of white light of peace and happiness, I think. You see, articles about the “importance of unplugging” have swarmed the Internet lately, from the New York Times to USA Today.
My heart dances when I see the scenes in these photos. So pretty!
All of these “Unplugging is Important!” articles sing the same thing: Our brains are getting messed up and deprived from constant Internet use, and thus it’s essential we give ourselves time without the web to reboot and become one with the universe again. These articles imply that unplugging will make us feel better and more connected.
Heading back to shore and to connectivity.
Frankly, I don’t buy it. Sure, it was nice to unplug for the first few hours, but after that I just wanted to get back to work and to widespread connecting. For me, Internet use is about love, friendship, and being in touch with amazing people around the world. As you can see from these photos, I appreciated the heck out of New Hampshire’s foliage… and I appreciate it one hundred times more now that I’m able to use the Internet to share the scenes with readers like you!
Are you happier on water or on land? Connected or cut off?
As the sun began to set on Sunday night, Cory checked his watch, hopped in his canoe, and set his toe on land, having triumphantly completed 24 hours on water. “Geez,” he marveled, “it’s weird to be standing without swaying from waves!” He made some swaggering statements about heading back out to the raft for 48 more hours, but we knew he couldn’t wait to get to the shower and real mattress. Similarly, you should have heard my squealing as our car headed home on the highway and my iPhone suddenly showed two, then three, then five bars of reception. “HELLO, WORLD!” I sighed passionately, and proceeded to dive into my 538 waiting emails like a lion tearing through juicy zebra meat.
Finally coming to shore. Would it be a let-down for you, or a delight?
So what is your take on all this, reader? How do YOU feel about physical “unplugging” and cyber “unplugging”? Do you find it helpful or painful? And most importantly: How long could YOU live on a raft in a New Hampshire pond? I eagerly await your responses… now that I am happily back online!
Wow these are some GORGEOUS photos. I love photos from Autumn time – so many colours and so much vibrancy. Nice one!!
Thanks so much, Tom!
I like to unplug as much as I can when I vacation – even if it’s just a weekend away. I typically find I need a full day or two away from a computer to unplug – just being away for a few hours isn’t enough (I’ll crave the internet the way you did). It’s hard, but every now and then I try to have weekend days where I don’t touch my computer other than in the morning to check my email.
Ooo, useful, concrete strategy! Thanks for sharing it!
stunning!
Thank you!
These photos are stunning!
Big thanks!
Simply stunning photos and you had me at “unplugged”.
Merci!
Beautiful photos! And I am all for unplugging like this.
I really don’t know what I can say that hasn’t already been said but wow… great shots. I’m looking to do some of that.. albeit from a car and driving by (so, maybe not at all like that haha) this weekend in the Adirondacks. Hopefully there are still some leaves on the trees by then!
Good luck leaf chasing!
Awesome photos! I love to unplug for a bit when travelling, Cole finds it a bit harder especially with our live blogging we have been trying to do. But I truely believe you can never properly relax unless you are unplugged.
Ahhh, interesting!
Once again, incredible photos. I’ve done some crazy things on my many travels but 24-hours on a raft has never occurred to me, simply brilliant! 24-hours on a….. – could be a good traveling theme.
Love it!!!!
Awesome shots! Makes me miss New England in the fall!
It’s a great area!
Wow you ARE connected! That was fast! haha
You got me
I feel it’s very healthy to unplug every once in awhile. The problem I now face is that my job actually pays for my cell phone which means I am, in a sense, indebted to my work. I’m expected to read and reply to emails whenever they come in. This is why “technology free” vacations are so important to me. During these trips, it feels absolutely fantastic to turn off the phone and focus on the more important things in life!
So interesting!
What a beautiful place. I love the idea of sleeping out on the raft
Unplugging is great, it’s just the catching up when you get back that is annoying.
Ahh, we have one taker for the raft sleeping!!!
Those are some truly gorgeous photos of one of my favourite times of year. And the added bonus of water! Wonderful
That’s a huge compliment coming from a superstar photographer like you! Thank you!
That looks a great place to unplug. I can’t really unplug for too long either, for as much as I would love to, I still need to work… But now I’ve been imposing myself one whole unplugged day per week, I don’t always manage to, but most weeks I leave my computer off for the whole day. My head feels definitely better when away from the screen. Lately I’ve been enjoying unplugging on the beach, with the summer beach brigades gone, shores are a tranquil and silent corner
Excellent ideas!
Wow, great photos and such a lovely way to spend a fall day.
Gracias!
Some fantastic photos – looks like a fantastic place to connect with nature!
Thanks! Indeed!
First off…incredible photos L. It grows harder with each passing day for me to unplug. We take a lot of weekend getaways, and I usually resolve myself to leave the laptop at home, but the smartphone is still nearby. I keep telling myself I need to take a week and completely cut myself off. If I were ever to give it a try, this would be the place to do it…
I find it a lot easier to unplug when I’m traveling. When I most recently backpacked around Southeast Asia, I definitely didn’t use the ‘net as much as I do when I’m home (and as much as some other travelers). Now I couldn’t have avoided the ‘net because I need to Skype some people and contact my boss in Japan (I wasn’t traveling with a functioning cell phone). For me, it’s easy to unplug when I’m doing something productive and I don’t have the distractions of home.
Good points!
I did 17 days unplugged in Cuba. I didn’t want to use my mobile phone so I just left it switched off and there wasn’t really many options for email / internet. It was tough for a couple of days but after that, it was quite nice not to feel the urge to get online.
Mind you, there was a mad rush for newspapers when we boarded the flight home to check the sports results
Ahh yes!
Great photos! I’m with Caanan: I love unplugging. But then again, I don’t even own a smartphone and run a website all about nature and wildlife, so I guess that makes sense. The only problem I have with “getting away from it all” is the nagging feeling that work is piling up while I’m gone. But I’m definitely looking forward to a week in the Arctic with little or no WiFi.
So amazing that you’re going to the Arctic! I find it surprising, though, when anyone who runs a blog/website is able to unplug, given how fast things pile up. And I also can’t believe that you don’t have a smartphone! It’s the main way my productivity is possible. Perhaps what allows you to do this is that you’ve wisely delegated tasks to assistants and interns, so online work is not 100% resting on you?
No, I’m online about 14 hours a day when we’re not out of WiFi range. We work from home, so I just use the laptop. When we do go out, we tend to leave phones in the car so we can focus on enjoying rare quality time.
Ah, gotcha!
We are huge proponents of unplugging. Our lives are so filled with technology and information that it begins to stifle creativity and cloud our ability to listen to our own intuition. Our annual backcountry camping trip (which is quickly becoming camping trips, plural) is our way of creating some space so that we can reconnect with our creative selves and inner-compass.
And the world is just freakin’ pretty, so there is that, too.
Oooo, convincing arguments and good plan…
I like unplugging on regular basis. Not on a schedule but often spend a day or a week w/limited to no access. Beyond that I don’t think I’d enjoy it… too curious about what’s going on and I’d at least want to access NPR/BBC or the like. However, unplugging even if for a few hours is great because I focus on the here and now, what I can see and hear at than moment and only in my immediate vicinity. Balance – I think that’s the key.
Btw, loved the comment about the web, “no web (besides the spider kind…” That painted a very sharp picture for me.
Love this comment!
Looks like you had a good trip in New Hampshire.
Correct!
Beautiful photos and locely fall story. Like you I like the idea of unplugging but find the reality more difficult, not just professionally (feeling I must be in touch for ‘business’) but personally (actually letting go of those connections, even temporarily). Some say it’s a kind of tech addiction and maybe there’s some truth in that.. the short term pleasure of connection and response is certainly compulsive. But I do find a deeper pleasure in nature, when I give it the time to get a hold, once I’m through the ‘shakes’!! But it does take time to disconnect, perhaps unplugged is the wrong word – sounds too quick and simple. Like any transition from one state to another, it often takes a while to become accustomed to a different feeling and tempo.
Beautiful, wise analysis!
I’ve done it before and it isn’t easy at first, but I found it actually got easier over time to go without internet or cell phone. However, I was on a retreat, so I had something to occupy my mind.
I think it’s easier to unplug if you have something to do to replace the internet, cell phone, tv, etc.
Ahh, good point! I think a big issue for me is that I feel like I’m missing things and falling behind… especially since so much of my career is now conducted online!
Love these photos!! Also, I’m all for unplugging—just wish I did it more.
Really?! What’s stopping you??
Simple. Serene. Sublime.