“Out of the Office”

“Not Home”

“In the Car”

“Just Not Reachable”

These used to be the words we could use to say when we could not be reached. This was before cell phones and pdas. Back then, there were times (maybe better times?) that you just could not be in contact with a person. There were natural breaks from business where we could turn off. You just has to wait or call back- two things that many of us are not very good at today.

Fast forward to the Internet age. Technology makes it possible for us to be in contact all the time no matter where we are (not even on airplanes anymore!)- in fact, business sometimes insists that we are always reachable. We have all become Jack Bauer- 24/7.

That’s why, at least once a year, I go AWOL. I go on Radio Silence. I become Unplugged. I am Off the Grid.

I have never been very good when it comes to balance. I love my work and I integrate it all into one life. So in order for me to truly have a vacation, I need to ditch the iPhone and laptop.  So for the next few weeks, I am not reachable. I am out of the office. No blog posts, no voice mail, no email, no cell phone, no twitter, no face book, no youtube or viddler.

Just my family and the 4 books of fiction I brought with me. Reading about zombies taking over the world never sounded better. Happy Labor Day.