Ann Patchett and cutting the cord even more

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Some of the happiest years in my life I lived in dorm rooms without a television. There were televisions in the common rooms, but I rarely watched them. And, I rarely missed TV.

It has been an off and on love affair for me. As a kid with only 3, then 4 channels, I watched a ton of TV. Then as a teen, I spent far more time out and about alone or with friends. Didn't miss TV much when out, but would reflexively turn it on when home.

I remember going to hotels as a young adult and being excited to see what cable had to watch, since I felt like the only person in America without cable. It was thrilling for awhile, but eventually I was like, why the **** would anyone pay for this shit? Like most communities, ours had a cable monopoly and a shitty service rep. I held fast.

I always loved the Simpsons, and Seinfeld. For 20+ years I watched little more than those 2 shows, and sports at home on TV.

A friend finally sold me on Direct TV. For a few years I loved it. Then a woman I lived with insisted we get a DVR. I loved it even more. Eventually I came back around to the Boss' attitude: 57 channels and nothin' on. I dropped Direct TV for awhile. I was living alone and kind of depressed, and everyone told me TV was a necessity and maybe it would help. I got DirectTV again and it helped until it didn't. Finally I decided once and for all that paying for TV made sense if you owned a bar or hotel, but not for a home owner unless maybe he/she was a shut it. Even then, not sure. So, I cut the cord, as the saying was at the time. I did get a Netflix account and an outside antenna.

A few weeks ago I quit paying for Netflix. I haven't really missed it. I go to a bar to watch the Bengals games. I bought the biggest TV I have ever owned about 10 years ago. I still have it. It is a Vizio plasma. It still gets a great picture with the aerial antenna. I just don't turn it on much. Colbert a few times last week when I was up at night. But, I could watch those online a day or so later, right?

Ann Patchett (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Patchett) is this writer I got turned on to in graduate school. She was on Fresh Air the other day, and she talked about how not only does she not own a TV, she never watches one. Ever. And she doesn't have a cell phone, doesn't do social media, and doesn't even go to movies.

It really made me think about "screens" as she described being "screen free" and whether I want a TV.

I have been thinking about giving my TV away for a long time. I guess I could sell it but don't think a ten year old plasma that weighs a metric ton would fetch much. Ann has me really thinking about it. I like my music, a smidge of NPR news, I scan the NY Times headlines (used to subscribe but don't any more) and just don't watch much TV. I think two of my sisters do not own televisions, but not sure. Anyway, bitches be crazy, especially my sisters (kidding sisters, if you are reading this). I know how they feel about TV. I want some outside perspectives.

Anyway, anybody here that does not own a TV? Tell me about it. Anybody with a compelling reason I should keep my TV? Or get rid of it? Tell me about it.

Thanks for your feedback.