I first got online and got my first e-mail address in early 1995.  In late ‘95 I launched my Web design business.  Having my own company meant being online and available to my customers all the time.  I was always plugged in.  Even on vacation I brought my now vintage NEC laptop.  As time went by I joined various startups.  Even then when on vacation it was expected that I spend at least some of my time checking “urgent” e-mails and calling in for important meetings.  And I did.

But this past week I took a Caribbean cruise and did something I hadn’t done in 15 years.  I totally went off the grid.  No e-mail.  No cell phone.  For exactly 7 days and 10 hours.  It was strange at first. But overall it was great, it was freeing.  On the professional front I had help from co-workers who covered any urgent matters that came up.  On the personal front I often found myself reaching for the iPhone that wasn’t in my pocket to get that instant Internet information I thought I needed.  My technology tether wasn’t there and after a while I got used to it.  Early this week I was talking with a business contact and mentioned my unwired vacation.  She said she sometimes has “detox” weekends where she doesn’t check her “crackberry” at all. She said it was great and I agree. Try it..unplug..detox..enjoy the spring.

This isn’t a stock photo. That’s my foot on a hammock on a beach in Honduras. No cell, no laptop, no problems mon.

Interesting…somewhat surreal picture from April 2008.  My youngest son Brad took this picture on Coronado Island, California.

Your flight is over.  You’ve arrived at your destination. You schlep down the jetway and head toward baggage claim.  Now you not only have to worry about whether the airline lost your luggage…but you also have to pick out your bags mixed in with all the other bags from the flight.  Seems that everyone has bag just like yours:  Medium sized rolling black nylon.

I have one of those plain black bags.  More than once I’ve seen people grab my bag off the carrousel thinking it was theirs.  I put a neon orange address tag on it so I can tell it from the others.  

Today at the TJ Maxx store I saw this Zebra Suitcase.  Ugly as hell…but a really smart idea if you want to make sure your bag definitely stands out from the others. Nobody’s going to pick it up by mistake.  It’s unique and it looks like your headed off to safari in Africa.

While visiting Mexico after we set up our towels, sun umbrella, etc. this became our view.  Click here for the full size version.  By the way, this picture is not re-touched.  The ocean in Cozumel is really that blue. Had a great time on a true off-road 4×4 Jeep excursion.

I love to take cruises.  I’ve taken eight so far and plan to take more.  The majority have been on Royal Caribbean (RCCL), but lately I have switched to Norwegian Cruise Lines.  Their “Freestyle” cruising is the best.  Instead of a central dining room or two, Norwegian Freestyle has several restaurants around the ship.  You have your choice each night and the food and service is the best.  The Norwegian ships are large, but not as large as some of the Royal Caribbean ships.  I took a cruise on one of the RCCL ships that was billed then as the largest cruise ship in the world.  RCCL announced today they are building a new “World’s Largest”, actually they are building two ships. Not only are they large, but they have a “Central Park” style atrium.  Here’s a link to the full story…

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An only in Los Angeles Moment.  No Pepsi, no Coke, no sugar drinks at all.  Only Spring water and Perrier.  Pic from a park in Marina del Rey.

I had lots of great experiences on my recent vacation.  One of them was learning how to “ride/drive” a Segway.  We visited Coronado Island just off of San Diego.  We went on on a tour set up by Segway of Coronado.  After about a half an hour of instruction we were off to tour the island.  It’s hard to describe the experience but it’s a little like riding a horse.  You lean forward to go forward, lean back to stop, and lean the handlebar to go left or right.  The guide had the Segway set in the training mode for the first one third of the trip.  Then he stopped and let us go full speed.  We saw some of the very picturesque neighborhoods on the east side of the island.  

Would highly recommend Segway of Coronado if you’re visiting there.  Plus, it seems that lots of tourist destinations have Segway tours.  Don’t know if they are run as good as the Coronado one was, but at least you shouldn’t be put off by learning to ride the Segway.  Once you get the hang of it, it’s as easy, if not easier, than riding a bike.

— Illustration…Extremely goofy picture of me on the Segway! —