Thursday, December 10, 2009

What would you refuse to give up...

A recent study asked the question, what would you refuse to give up even if it added five healthy years to your life?

Surprisingly people wouldn't give up TV, alcohol, or red meat.

Since I don't drink, giving up alcohol would be easy, but TV and red meat I'm not so sure, especially after watching last night's Glee.

I started making a list of modern conveniences and wondered if I'd be willing to give them up.

Microwave, dishwasher, cell phone (I think I could do that one), internet, DVD's, ipods, email, washer and dryer, spandex, and of course chocolate.

It's hard to think of giving up something we've become so accustom to using.

How about you is there something you'd refuse to give up, or something in this modern era you could definitely do without?

30 comments:

MC Howe said...

Hi Patty,

I found your blog by way of Tina Lynn.

The last thing I ever want to do is talk on the phone, so that's the first thing to go. I can live without DVDs, alcohol, shoes, and tall pants.

Nice to meet you. Good blog.

MC Howe said...

Yikes! I meant Patti.

Doh!

Michelle D. Argyle said...

Great post! I was challenged in college to quit watching TV. I stopped watching it when I got married and I haven't watched it since - going on 7 years now. I see some of the shows now and then on other people's TV's and I'm baffled by how much time people waste. I'd love all the learning shows, and my daughter watches cartoons sometimes on the regular stations, but that's the extent of it. I would be addicted to the cooking station and the history channel and discovery, but beyond that I think I'd get too restless wanting to write or read instead. :)

I think if I had to refuse to give something up right now it would be the internet. :)

Anonymous said...

Speaking from experience - there is no modern convenience that you can't live without! Indoor plumbing is the most fabulous invention ever, but you can survive an outhouse. Electricity runs a close second on that list, but there are still times I forget that I can flip a switch on the wall.

I think the only thing that I could not do without is my phone - with all my family 900+ miles away, that is my lifeline to home. Other than that?

Although, I'd have to be guaranteed at least 10 years to give up my indoor plumbing! 5 just isn't enough for some sacrifices! LOL

Kristen Torres-Toro said...

I'd love to give up all phones. Alexander Graham Bell and I are going to have a serious discussion one day. He's my least favorite person who ever lived. :0)

Anonymous said...

I would give up any one of those things for a guaranteed extra 5 healthy years of life.

Giving up the Internet would be harder.

Kasie West said...

I think my computer would be the hardest thing to give up at this point in my life (and chocolate). :)

Robyn Campbell said...

Hey Patti! TV would be no problem for me. Except for the fact that I'm a news junkie. My problem would be coffee. But I think to add 5 years I could.

I could go without my computer(if I remember how to write.)*grin*

Hmm, interesting question. I think I'll ask the family tonight. That should be fascinating. :)

MeganRebekah said...

I'm canceling my cable this month. I was proud of myself for "giving up" TV until I realized all the backup plans I had in place -- DVD subscription that will mail me episodes of TV shows, hulu.com, and my old-fashioned digital rabbit ears.
So I can kinda/sorta give up TV. Just not completely :)

kah said...

I could easily give up the dishwasher. I hardly ever use it. I'm not sure I could give up my coffee pot, but I guess if I did there is a Starbucks on every other corner, so I'd survive. TV? I don't know. Maybe. I don't watch too much, so I think I could handle it.
Karen’s Blog

Ellie Kings said...

I definitely couldn't give up the internet. Blogging and researching makes me feel like I'm in touch with the world, without traveling. I gave up the microwave and dishwasher and cell phone. Things I thought I never could. Coffee, on the other hand, so not happening! :D
Your newest follower,
Ellie

Tina Lynn said...

I would like to imagine that I would give up anything for 5 extra years. But being immortal like I am makes me want to enjoy life while I am here :)

Oh, there's an award for you over on my blog.

Patti said...

I agree with Tina: I want to enjoy my life while I am here. And I'm sure I could do without a lot of things, especially in the summer when it's nice out. But I would miss the date nights I have with my husband watching certain shows.

It's funny how we're all attached to certain things. It's good to be different.

Southpaw said...

I would not give up indoor plumbing and electricity. Everything else is just icing. ;)

Tamika: said...

I need my books, coffee, cellphone, and laptop/internet and Kindle. Everything else is debateable.

ORION said...

um...I live on a boat so I can't do without the ocean :)

Jessica Nelson said...

I would never give up chocolate or the internet, although if I didn't have internet at home, I could use the library's. *grin*
I could give up the dishwasher and tv. Don't want to, but I could. Cool question!

Patti said...

Pat: It would hard to live on a boat if there was no ocean.

The internet and chocolate seem to be running themes.

lisa and laura said...

Ooh, tricky. It would be really hard for me to give up TV or the internet. As for something I can do without..I'd give up my iron (um, yeah I never use it) or even my dishwasher. I don't really mind washing dishes by hand.

Heidi Willis said...

Tricky question! I guess it depends on what 5 years those are. If my life is going to end in five years, I'd give up just about anything to gain another five. But if I'm going to keel over when I'm 85 anyway... eh. I'm not sure I want to give up too much to see 90. :)

I rarely use a dishwasher, am on a emergency-only relationship with my cell phone, like TV but could easily do a book instead, and have recently lived without a microwave, but the Internet... that might cause serious withdrawals!

Melissa Hurst said...

I cannot live without my hair dryer, flat iron, or curling iron. You would be very frightened to see me without those things:)

As much as I love chocolate, I could do without it if I had to. And the cell phone. Ugh. I was ready to throw mine in the fountain today at the mall.

Jody Hedlund said...

I could not give up my lap top! I don't know how I could write without it! I type so much faster than I write by hand!

Carolyn V. said...

I wouldn't give up my internet or my lappy. I love them too too much. =)

Shannon O'Donnell said...

I could never, EVER, give up books!

I don't think I could possibly give up chocolate, I'm sure I could NOT give up baseball, and coffee would be rough.

For 5 years, I could give up most other things.

Candice said...

My computer and the internet. They would have to pry them out of my cold dead hands!

Stephanie Faris said...

Hmmmm... 5 years? I don't know if it'd be worth giving up something I really enjoy. I'd rather enjoy life now. But if it's just something like DVDs or red meat, I think I could. Chocolate? No way.

Cammie said...

I'm with Stephanie as far as 5 years v. worldly pleasures. Been a vegetarian since I was 5, so red meat is a non-issue, and I don't have cable TV (please say I'd still be allowed DVDs, though!) Alcohol poses a dilemma ... specifically, margaritas and red wine! (Oh, and I'm right there re chocolate and the internet ...)

Patti said...

I'm still seeing chocolate as one thing no one is willing to give up, must be close to Christmas. I concur with Jody, I type way faster than I write. It would be hard to give up my computer.

Dara said...

I'd refuse to give up modern plumbing. :P I like my flushing toilets and hot showers :)

Oh and electricity...that's another huge thing. After last year's massive windstorm, we had no power or hot water for 8 days. After that experience, I'm always counting my blessings for those modern conveniences.

Sure they aren't necessary to life, but I don't know if I'd like my quality of life as much without them--just to add five years. Besides, I look forward to heaven :)

Anyway I could give up a dishwasher (as I don't currently have one now...although I wish I did) and I could probably give up TV. I watch a fair number of shows but I find I don't get too upset if I miss them.

Mim said...

Hi! I've tagged you with a Writing Meme!