iPod Addiction

I have recently realized that I am completely dependent on my iPod. Two years ago, I would never have considered such a device useful enough to rationalize a $300 purchase. But somehow between then and now I have come to the point where I prefer to have a continuous stream of audio input for the duration of any activity that allows it. This includes the obvious (working, driving), but lately I have been stretching the limits to include mundane tasks like grocery shopping. Not sure why I didn’t think of doing that sooner; it works really well. Anyhow, the point is that I think I may have become overly dependent.

On Sunday I got home from a weekend at my parents’ house, and could not find my iPod when I was unpacking. A horrific thought ran through my mind: I must have left it at home. “How could I have forgotten it? I must have seen it twenty times while I packed up my stuff. Alright, don’t panic… don’t panic… OK, freak out. This is a catastrophe!” During my frantic search I immediately began mentally planning an emergency trip home the following morning to retrieve it before work. It would cost me about 2 ½ hours, but would be absolutely worth it compared to the alternative: spending the entire week listening to the mind-numbing hum and whir of hard drives and rack-mounted server fans.

I actually found the iPod after only about five minutes of looking, but during that time I probably accomplished several hours’ worth of contingency planning. On Monday I somehow managed to again forget it when I went to the Coffee House. Fortunately, they usually play a pretty good mix over the house system, and I spent most of my time talking to Greg and Ryan about the many merits of a lunar-based laser weapon, so I wouldn’t have had much use of it anyhow. But still! It was a painful discovery.

I could try and wean myself off of this digital fixation, but I think instead I’m just going to be more careful from now on about never leaving the house without iPod in tow.

Also headphones.