Yep.
Well ok. Not really. But it sure feels like I am.
Go get some cheese, ‘cause I’m bringing the whine. 😆
I’m paying $30 a month PER DEVICE for internet. Right now, we’ve got 3 devices. As soon as my son gets the parts to fix his laptop, it’ll be 4. And that’s not counting my Kindle, which I’m too cheap to pay for, and still too lazy to download to my computer because it’s just going to be a royal pain given the download rate. For crying out loud, I can’t get anything to stream for any length of time.
This is not endearing satellite internet to me even remotely. I have no idea why it’s so crappy, except to say it’s a shared signal at a campground. Seeing as it’s still relatively early, and there are not a lot of people here, one would think it wouldn’t be too much of an issue.
Well, it is. And I am trying not to get really annoyed. If it was free, I wouldn’t be complaining. Even if it was $10 a month, I wouldn’t be so ticked off. But this is enough of a pain in the rear that I’m not keen on even using it, and I’m paying through the nose! *Sigh*
I know I’m picky. I admit it. But there is something to be said for paying for a service and actually getting something for it.
In addition to the nearly non-existent download rate, I am having a royally rotten time of even getting to WordPress. I can’t log in 99% of the time. You may have noticed that I’m not liking and commenting as I usually do. Well, you can totally blame the satellite internet/WP combo for that.
I have literally been running in circles, fighting myself. Seems WP somehow doesn’t recognize me, and it’s always timing out my log-in attempts (because somehow it won’t cache me, either), except it may not be WP; more like it’s the satellite connection timing out. I can do some on my phone, but I’m not loving that, either, because it seems to have a mind of its own much of the time when it comes to words, even when I type the whole thing out. Yes, I could turn off the auto complete, but then I lose the spell check.
There is no clear answer here.
What has been made clear is that this is as good as it’s going to get until the house sells and we’re in the next one.
We went and scoped out the other campgrounds yesterday. The one with free wi-fi and cable is nice, if you like a parking lot. It’s got good buildings, but it’s not geared towards kids. Anyone under 14 is required to be accompanied at all times (including riding bikes, it seems). Not to mention- there is zero shade, no grass, no real playground, and did I mention it’s a parking lot? I have no idea where I would park.
The killer though, was the laundry price. It’s twice what I’m paying, per load. Now, while that may not seem like much, when you have 4 kids and are doing laundry a lot, it starts to add up. Combined with the additional gas because it’s at least 15 minutes further, it really will add up quickly and more or less negate the arm and leg it costs for dismal internet here.
The second place we checked out was in the city we anticipated settling in. Well. Not only are we not going to get set up there because of distance, I am very sure we’re not even going to consider living there, unless we can’t find something here. It’s just too darn far away!
Hunny would be looking at least a 30 minute commute one way, in traffic, which could vary his travel time considerably from day-to-day. It would also completely eliminate the option for him to come home for lunch if he could.
What’s interesting to me is that many people out there live in that town and don’t think a thing of commuting that distance. In fact, one of his managers drives 45 minutes one way and doesn’t think a thing of it. It’s just a mindset I don’t really understand. Maybe it’s a school thing-maybe his kids are in a good school or started out somewhere and he changed jobs. I don’t really know.
What I do know is that I’m only concerned with schools as a point of resale. And I have no intention of being that far away unless I can’t help it.
Hunny is getting rid of his motorcycle, and I completely see why. The roads and highways are busy- so much so that riding won’t be enjoyable in the least, and dangerous, so there’s really no point in hanging onto it.
What’s also interesting to me is that people are not interested in living in the country; particularly in the smaller towns. While on the one hand that’s good for me- less competition for houses out in the country, that also means inventory is really low and really not much to choose from. Did I mention that we’re kind of picky and have specific needs with a house? *sigh*
And yet, despite all these little things, I know this is where we’re supposed to be, and I’m standing on the promise of what’s waiting at the end of this part of the change.
So. If you don’t see me commenting or liking, don’t think I’m gone. Just try to keep in mind I’m fighting with myself and doing what I can with what I’ve got. And that it’s temporary {God willing}.
In the meantime, if you’re inclined to pray for a solid, quick sale, or if you know of anyone in that area that’s looking, please keep us in mind. We’d appreciate it! 😀
Because life is a soundtrack, this is what came to mind this morning: Fighting With Myself; The Invisible
Hi TT,
Obviously I know little about where you are exactly or what choices are available to you regarding Net connections.
One thing to consider is a Personal Hotspot. IF you can get a reasonable download speed on one device (better connection, better device, better service provider, whatever), that device can provide Internet service to others. In my own case, my iPhone can provide service via WiFi ot Bluetooth to my iPad if I am in a location with no WiFi service. In theory, you could pay more for one good device to have flexible connectivity and the other devices wouldn’t need it. Your Kindle, for example, could benefit from this instead of connecting directly to a service provider. Naturally this all depends on the provisions and options in your contract with your current service provider.
Regarding the *horror* 30-minute commute, obviously you live somewhere very different to probably everybody else reading your blog. I have a 20-30 minute commute to/from work. If traffic is bad, it might take as much as 40 minutes. This is considered fabulous by most colleagues, who have commutes of at least an hour in each direction. Some people here get up before 5am to get on the road before the traffic builds up. In short, I’m sure a bunch of us are giggling a little at the idea you’d worry about a half-hour commute each way. 🙂 You’re so incredibly lucky to have something less than that at the moment.
Good luck with getting everything sorted out!
Cheers, SD
Hi SD,
Lool! Ya, I know.:-) We were supposed to be able to make hot spots with our phones, and that was plan. Somehow, that feature never get turned on or some such thing, and we’ve heard horror stories about the billing when it messes up your darn plan. At some point, I’ll make it the Sprint store and get it sorted out. Maybe next weekend. There have got to be better options…..
When we moved to NM, I remember being shocked that people didn’t think anything of driving 200 miles one way. My thing is, since he’s on call 24/7, having him closer is better when he’s needed in the middle of the night. I’m sure I’ll re-acclimate to the heavy traffic. :-D.
But- if I don’t have to deal with it all the time, that would better. I’m a poor excuse for a city girl, lol.
Right now he’s 8 miles away- hop on the highway and it’s two exits away. (I did actually find a house that’s just over 2 mIles from here, and it’s on my running route once I get back into shape and can start getting some distance on again….)
I’m a 30 minute commuter 😦 I would LOVE to live closer, but that will not happen until my last son graduates from high school — that internet service fee is ridiculous. Glad to know your settled enough to run!! XOXO
I think we need to get to the sprint store and see what we can do- that was a primary reason we spent the $$$ to get these phones, because we knew the fee was ridiculous and we’d need it as a tool. And now we’ve learned that it will mess up our data plan if we launch it.
If I was concerned with school districts, I’m pretty sure 30 minutes wouldn’t phase me {I used to drive 30 minutes to work because we lived in the sticks}. Even highway driving is different- this would be all in-town driving, going from light to light to light. Spoiled, I know. 😆
I’m sorry you’re having such a rough time of it, especially when you want to write & things are so difficult. Hang in there, things can only get better. I’ll be watching for you.
Overall, things are fine. 🙂 I really do think the hardest part of all of this is that it’s indefinite. It’s one thing when you know you have x number of weeks and making accomodation is no big deal. Even though we got really organized before we left, some things are unavoidable and we try to at least once a day regroup and put everything back where it started.
Things like the pencil sharpener got packed; extra pencils, etc . So now I’m in a posistion where I have to buy more of these things because they are at home. I’ll be darned if I’m spending $$$ on another elextric sharpener because what am I going to do with 2??
And trying to balance that with a serious lack of space has not been grins and giggles. This morning we did a huge hunt for the bag of sugar. It’s here somewhere; but we couldn’t find it well enough to help my son out with his morning cup of coffee.
The next big thing is that it’s cold in the morning- 40 something degrees, so it’s right at that point where layers are needed and then come off during the day, and back on at night. So, instead of one set of clothes being packed away, they are all out, taking up space.
To add to this all, apparently there is an escaped convict/murderer on the loose, and the owner has taken to patrolling the area. I appreciate this, but it does mean the kids can’t run loose like they are used to.
If it’s not one thing, it’s another! 😆 It’s a never ending adventure, for sure. 😀
Endless fodder for your blog though! I am enjoying every minute of your adventure!
🙂 Oh good! I mostly feel like I’m at it just to hear myself talk. 😀 Today was a rotten internet day, but I did manage to get some good stuff done. So yay!