Backwoods Living with the Foxfire Woman

The Downside of Backwoods Living

Most people would consider the distance to town being the worst downfall of living where I do.  In fact, just the thought of being so far from a mall or good restaurants is enough to deter many.  But, IÂ’ve only found one tiny little thing that sometimes makes me wish I lived closer to the amenities of life.

A reliable Internet connection.  Now is that really a lot to ask for?  So far, this morning alone, IÂ’ve had to reconnect six times.  Granted, today is a bad day.  Most days the reconnects are generally two to three during an eight hour period.  Yet, it seems like the bad days are the days I rely on my connection the most.  Like uploading web pages or getting articles off to editors.

They have DSL and cable in town.  Town is thirty miles away.  Our phone company offers DSL, but they say we are too far out.  My question to them then, is why do they keep putting the insert in my phone bill asking me to sign up.

We could go with satellite Internet.  We do have a good south facing view.  So, whatÂ’s stopping us?  The cost and the reliability.  Starting with the six hundred dollar start up cost and the seventy dollar a month usage charge.  Plus knowing IÂ’m limited to a certain amount of bandwidth daily. 

We could afford it, but so far, IÂ’ve yet to hear of anyone whoÂ’s actually happy with the service.  Seems they still have a few kinks to work around, especially for the more rural areas.

So, I stick with my dial-up provider.  IÂ’m not happy with it, but reckon it will have to do.  Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day for the phone lines and me.

Hi Kay!!

{ 12:03, 2005-Dec-22 } { Posted by DonnaJoy }

I can't wait to glean from your knowledge - this is my first blog....and I'm so excited it's on a homesteading site!!
I live in the city - uck!! have all my life, but have always dreamed of a country home!!
I will be a very apt pupil at your feet!!!
I have been to your website many times and love reading about your homestead
thank you for all I have already learned from you!!!
Donna
Donna

Edited by DonnaJoy on 2005-Dec-22 at 12:04

I can relate!

{ 02:29, 2005-Dec-22 } { Posted by Dalyn }

We moved here 1 1/2 years ago to dial up from DSL! UGH! But I think the trade off is well worth it!

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{ 09:22, 2005-Dec-22 } { Posted by HSBPublisher }

Believe me, I can relate, ugh. We only just recently got cable Internet. I had satellite for two or three years and it was a nightmare....dial up is the worst. In five years, everyone's connection will be a breeze, just wait and see. ha

OK...so it is slow...

{ 10:39, 2005-Dec-27 } { Posted by Phillyfarmgirl }

But since I do not rely on it for my livelihood I am ok with it. I keep remembering how slow it used to be. I also try to ask myself, "is 45 seconds all that long?" To be sure getting knocked off line is a pain but I am not too terribly bothered. My beloved on the other hand, hoo boy, let just say he is really wishing we could get DSL! By the time we get our farm I hope the satellite is all bugged out for his sake. :-)