out of pocket

So, I was on-line checking out hotels in Mackinaw City.


For those that don't know, The proximity to the Mackinaw Bridge, numerous historical sites, and Mackinaw Island makes this small, rather boring town a very popular vacation destination.  
You don't really go there just to hang out in town, in other words.  Not a foodies paradise (jesus no), not a golf and fishing destination.

A jumping off place....
While camping nearby, was there for the day a couple weeks back, at several of the afore-mentioned historical sites, and I had noticed a hotel, which was right next door to one of them.

On the water. 

It had the most spectacular views of the bridge and the straits, better than any other lodging option (there are dozens and dozens) in town. 

it caught my eye, in part, because it was not a chain.  It looked kinda quaint, hearkening back to hotel stays I enjoyed as a kid.  it looked, in my always-thinking-in-terms-of-story, like the kind of place you'd stay after the season's over,  going to sleep with the bridge lit up outside your window, getting up in the morning, stepping outside with a hot cup of coffee on a cool morning, to walk the beach, barefoot with your jeans rolled up a bit. 

I could, in that moment, taste it, smell it, hear it....... 


Anyhow, being the glass-is-half-empty kinda guy that I am, I was checking out the very few negative YELP reviews of the place, when I came across one that really stuck with me. 

Whomever this person was, gave the hotel a one star rating.  Not because service was bad, room was unclean, air conditioning / heat was not exactly what they wanted it to be. 
Nope.   

Main complaint was the fact that this family run hotel did not offer in-room WIFI.   Not even for an upcharge, let alone for free. 

"So much for getting any work done during my trip." 

I don't know this person, nor her situation.   Which makes it easy to take her complaint and run with it anyway I choose. 

Woot! 

So many questions, and thoughts, just by that one sentence. 

Ultimately I end up with this. 

You don't drive from wherever you are, to Mackinaw City, to GET WORK DONE!


You may THINK it's a compromise, you going off for the weekend with your loved one(s), but still being able to get work done, but... it's not.   You're not fully engaged. 

You short those that you are with, and your heart's not in the work.  Everyone loses!

yay!!!!
You go there to jump off to other wonderful adventures, OUTSIDE, walking, biking, hiking swimming, boating... 


Another, positive review nails it.  "Who goes to Mackinaw City to spend their time in a hotel room?" 

Review's 4 years old, old enough to have been posted before every single one of us carry a computer in our pocket. 
I would hope that the reviewer's life and priorities have changed to the point where they're no longer worrying about getting work done when they should be worrying about quality time spent with those who are important. 
if not, they're somewhere right now, holding their Iphone up above their head, bee-yatching about not getting a signal, with their husband / boyfriend/girlfriend/ children standing around, not getting the best of them.

To quote Bill Maher, there's a reason why Fred Flinstone yells "yabba dabba doo" when the workday whistle blows.     

Work day ENDS, rest of life is enjoyed.   
Balance, people. 

I've got no big complaints at the moment, with that balance, though I've certainly struggled with it more in previous positions.   
I do struggle with the electronics, though.     

I spent 45 years NOT plugged in, NOT having the world at my fingertips, in my pocket, wherever I go, and I likely did not suffer from it.   
It's hard to be truly "out of pocket", with your phone and computer IN your pocket.   

We used to have to provide the name and phone# of hotel where we were staying, if we wanted phone calls.   

I find myself amused to find hotel rooms still have phones in them.   

Perhaps the way to go would be for a hotel to offer a phone lock up service when you go to stay.  

I started writing this a week ago, and was prompted to finish it just now, as I fell further down the electronics rabbit hole.  Was looking at alternatives to the crappy, restrictive hot spot contract I have for my house, that just completed.    Hey, I can get a portable one, better than the one bolted to my house, and carry it with me wherever I go. in addition to my iPhone.... 
Geezus..

Because smartphone's not enough!!!    

Might still get it, as it sounds like a decent option for home wifi use, but won't take it with me.  Gotta draw the line somewhere...