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Today I Was Transported Back To The Seventies For A Few Hours

Real Estate Agent with Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon

September 28, 2013 12:37 PM

Today I Was Transported Back To The Seventies For A Few Hours

I hate going to Home Depot with my husband. We always seem to lose each other and today was no different. "No worries though" I thought. No need to go in Woman on rotary phone in the seventies search, I'll just give him a ring on my phone to find out where he was and we'd be reconnected pronto. That was until I reached into my purse (pocketbook to you east coasters) and noticed my phone was not there.

This is when those myriad of thoughts went through my head. OMG..$^%&^&# DARN, I left my phone home! Knowing we were not going to be heading back home for at least another few hours I will admit a moment of mild panic. What if someone calls or texts wanting to schedule a showing? What if that offer was coming through and the buyer's agent was calling me to ask if my seller was good with a full price cash offer (OK..it CAN happen)...or what if that all cash buyer was frustrated because I didn't answer my phone and they HATE leaving messages!

All this I thought as I had plenty of idle time waiting for my husband to appear by the check out stands where I strategically placed myself. Well, nothing I could do about it so I figured I might as well pretend I was back in the seventies. If you're old enough to remember those times before we all carried around our I-pads and smart phones. Those days before answering machines where you'd have to take a walk or hop in your VW bug to see whether your friends were home or not. Those days where you VW Bug actually had some privacy and weren't expected to answer a call or text within a few minutes without appearing rude.

OK..so it was only a couple of hours where I felt transported back in time, but surprisingly, I was not as freaked as I thought I would be. Now..I did have to fight the urge several times to search my purse to see if my phone would magically appear. I am thankful however that I didn't look down and see myself in clunky shoes, a peasant top and hip hugger jeans on!

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Jordan Gouger

Keller Williams Realty Inc. - Austin, TX

Helping you to achieve your housing goals!

As comforting as it may be to be available all the time, it is good sometimes to disconnect. I went on a vacation a few years ago where there was not any cell service or internet and it was one of the best vacations of my life. It is something I hope to do again soon.

Sep 30, 2013 03:46 AM

Susan McLaughlin

Keller Williams Realty - East Monmouth - Red Bank, NJ

Monmouth County Real Estate

So true. I recently went to Lowes and the same thing happend. First, panic, then peace. I felt guilty that I might be missing a call from a client, but it was peaceful while it lasted. I am at fault for letting it own me.

Sep 30, 2013 03:58 AM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi Rebecca, Yep...since it was only a few hours I took that deep breath and rolled with it. A full day...not so sure!

Hi Margi, I try to do that as well. In meetings my ringer is off, when out to dinner or evening with friends, I usually have it off unless I'm waiting for a critical call or document that needs to meet a strict timeline.

Hi Marlis, I do too..just not on me :))

Hi Valerie...ahh, love when you find a nice surprise of yummy food!

Hi Woody, I do the same with clients and co-op agents so I know who's calling. I tend to do the opposite and not answer calls from unknown numbers since I get LOTS or sales calls that push me to being rude and hanging up on them. I must answer it enough as I recently got the "wow, a live person" from two callers.

Sep 30, 2013 04:34 AM

Monique Ting

INET Realty Honolulu, HI - Honolulu, HI

Your agent under the sun

Interesting to hear all of the reactions and comments! It is so true that we have become so dependent on our "gadgets" that depend on electricity and the internet!

I have often wondered what I was going to do in case of a sustained blackout... Our business depends so much on being able to call/text/email others...

Sep 30, 2013 04:35 AM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi Donna, I recently took a vacation to the British Virgin Island where my phone just didn't get any service (unless I wanted those roaming charges) unless I was in the hotel. I knew I had a great agent covering for me so I was able to relax and just enjoy. It IS good for us to do!

Hi Travis, or..finding your spouse in Home Depot :). It does have it's upsides which is why we are all so addicted to having it with us all the time.

Hi Lyn, Oh...I've seen those too! Always reminds me of when I was young.

Hi Raymond, there is that too. Always good to know you have the security of calling someone if an emergency pops up.

Sep 30, 2013 04:45 AM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi Liane, I used to do that with my sons at the mall when they were younger..that and have a meeting place just in case the phone didn't work. Glad you Mom was OK!

Hi Bob, We've come so dependent on them!

Hi Theresa, Now that was sure a flash back to the seventies..Archie Bunker. He was SOOO un PC!

Hi Steven, Oh, I wish we would have kept those big clunky cell phones! Technology certainly has come a long way. I can say that I remember when there was a time BEFORE computers..hard to believe! Ok..feelin officially old..LOL

Hi Gene, Yep, the pagers still needed you to find a phone. Cell phones ARE great!

Sep 30, 2013 04:58 AM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi Joleen and former office mate! Well now, YOU look great in them...me on the other hand..... I was wondering why all of a sudden I was getting lots of comments on this blog when it wasn't featured, until I noticed I was in the daily drop.

Hi Jordan, I had the same experience on my recent vacation a couple of months ago. I do like to at least check in with the agent covering for me once a day while on vacation, but it's always really great to get out and ENJOY your vacation!

Hi Sue, We all need to work on the feeling bad..or guilty for not having our phones with us ALL the time. It's so easy for us to never actually get a day off. I'm talking a day without looking at work e-mails, texts, etc. Pretty hard to do!

Hi Monique, we'd be with all the others hanging out charging our gadgets at the local place that has a generator :)).

Sep 30, 2013 05:07 AM

Dagny Eason

Dagny's Real Estate - Wilton, CT

Fairfield County CT, CDPE Homes For Sale and Condo

I think we have all panicked like that at least once if not twenty times!

Sep 30, 2013 05:37 AM

Nora Sims

Northern Shadows Realty, Inc. - Sedona, AZ

helping folks like you since 1978!

If one thinks not having access to one's cell phone is a set back, add to it so many of the other blessings we take for granted; RMI's, 911 services, electricity, water, sewage, food on the shelves of the grocery stores and the posibility of the Fed shutdown.

I was in Argentina several years ago at a time when the farmers were having a strike. I walked into a huge, modern, two strory grocery store (they use a modified escalator which moves one and one's cart up to the 2nd floor and back down) only to gaze at an entire produce department without produce, a meat department without meat, no milk in the dairy cases, etc...

We must learn to put day to day happenings into proper perspective.

Sep 30, 2013 06:34 AM

Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner

Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 - Mission Viejo, CA

Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395

I used to love the "turn off technology" weeks the kids had at school. Maybe it's time.

Sep 30, 2013 11:09 AM

Dorte Engel

RE/MAX Leading Edge - Bowie, MD

ABC - Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton & rest of Maryland

Dear Cindy,

There are actually places that have pretty much no cell phone coverage. Drove in western Canada this summer in a fire for 4-5 hours without access to a cell phone. It is possible to survive, even though I sometimes do not believe it, when I run to an appointment for an hour or two, while accidentally leaving the phone on the charger. I like Karen's "turn off technology week." Just think of how spiff the garden would get in that time.

Sep 30, 2013 11:50 AM

Marte Cliff

Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID

Your real estate writer

I disconnected a few years ago when I started working from home. Cell phones don't work here, and I only go out once or twice a week to get groceries and run errands. BUT - I do carry a "throw away" phone just in case I need to phone home when I'm out and about.

And a friend and I decided that from now on when we go shopping together we'll both take our phones - so we don't spend an hour going in circles in Costco unable to find each other. Yes - we did that once.

Sep 30, 2013 01:15 PM

Kimo Jarrett

Cyber Properties - Huntington Beach, CA

Pro Lifestyle Solutions

Everybody has a lifestyle and living your lifestyle has options and choices, yet it seems that almost everybody couldn't survive without their cell phone. Imagine a lifestyle without your phone for a few hours every day to appreciate the life and beauty of the places, people and things that really matter in your life. I'm learning that there are more important things in my lifestyle that really matters in my life and turning off the cell is a beginning to celebrate life.

Sep 30, 2013 07:07 PM

Deleted Account

Fort Myers, FL

At least you weren't expecting a phone call on the acceptance of an offer. That happened to me one time, but luckily they didn't try to call!

Oct 01, 2013 09:38 AM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi Dagny, and I'm sure it won't be the last time too!

Hi Norma, well said! I do count my blessing every day, but sometimes it does take a trip like yours to TRULY be reminded of how very fortunate we are.

Hi Karen, I've heard that although the kids..and parents alike moan and groan at the thought, by the end of the week they've not only survived, but the family tends to be closer because they are actually talking to each other.

Hi Dorte, but...but, don't you take the phone out to the garden with you? :))).

Hi Marte, I too work primarily from my home office, and thankfully I get great cell service. I find that when I work from my home office I tend to get lots more accomplished than when I had the actual office space. I gave up my office (still have the company office with desks and conference rooms and such), save that monthly expense and love it. Oh..it's a must to have cell phones in Cosco!

Hi Kimo, good for you! What a great attitude!

Hi William, Oh..that is always a great call to get and one I would have been happy to see when I finally did reunite with my phone.

Oct 01, 2013 10:43 AM

Dana Basiliere

Rossi & Riina Real Estate - Williston, VT

Making deals "Happen"

Yes indeed Cindy,

We should all take a seventies break from time to time. It's pretty darn hard to do in real estate though... however we should!!

Oct 21, 2013 05:14 AM

Jean Hanley

Coldwell Banker Kivett Teeters - Hemet, CA

Specializing in Folks Who Want To Buy/Sell Homes

How funny this is Cindy. This last Friday, my husband came into my (home) office where I was just trying to finish up some things, said come with me for a sec. Two hours later, we came back home. He just decided to get me away from my iPad for a while. So sweet. Except, I left my purse, my phone, everything behind. And, I am happy to report to you all.....the world DID NOT come to an end.

Oct 21, 2013 08:33 AM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi Dana, Not sure I'd like to go back to real estate in the 70's. I've heard mention of the big blue book!

Hi Jean, I know...isn't it amazing! It's good to get away or tune out....at least for a couple of hours if possible.

Oct 21, 2013 12:55 PM

John Juarez

The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA

ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

There are times when we feel too on-line…too available. And there are times when we forget our phones and we freak out because we are not available enough! Any yet…once we reconnect we realize that we wound a way to survive, our lives did not end and we did not cease to exist. Also, the world managed to continue to turn…

Oct 24, 2013 02:52 PM

MichelleCherie Carr Crowe .Just Call. 408-252-8900

Get Results Team...Just Call (408) 252-8900! . DRE #00901962 . Licensed to Sell since 1985 . Altas Realty - San Jose, CA

Family Helping Families Buy & Sell Homes 40+ Years

Yes, too bad you both didn't have your pagers with you to solve this communication crisis! :0)

Nov 12, 2013 03:52 PM

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