Life Without TV

I forget how rare it is not to own a TV this day in age, but then I'm reminded when conversations like this take place:

Me:  I don't have a TV.
Co-Worker:  You don't have a TV?  So, like, how do you watch TV then?

Life without TV can sometimes result in awkward social situations because I don't recognize many pop culture references.  I remember the day I had to google GTL because I had no idea what people were talking about.  I've also googled DWTS and SYTYCD after spending minutes guessing what these could be.  These acronyms get lost on a person living in the stone age.

Besides awkward breakroom conversations, life without TV is pretty great.  It's been over 2 years since I've had television and I honestly do not miss it.  At first, it might be an adjustment, especially if you dedicate certain nights to favorite shows, but that passes with time.  Here are a few reasons to cut back or ditch the TV. 

I have time for more important things...

Reading.  I am able to read an average of one book every 1-2 weeks.  If I had a TV, my books would sit all lonely in the corner, unread and unhappy while I gave all my attention to the Kardashians, or some other equally ridiculous reality clan.  I am part of 2 book clubs, one locally and one cross-country with my best friend. Okay, this may seem more nerdy than anything else - but I love it!

I am not subjected to these people. 

Has anyone studied whether or not The Jersey Shore causes a loss of braincells?

Running.  This is an obvious one.  I get to run all of these beautiful places that I mentioned yesterday!  I don't get sucked into my couch watching plastic, psychotic housewives or drunk italians tanning and doing laundry.  My evenings are well spent running or working out.  I realize that most of my readers are all very diligent about exercise but the average american could probably stand to spend more time at the gym and less time on the sofa.

Talking.  This might sound lame, but the absence of a TV allows more room for conversation.  Rather than zoning out, we engage ourselves in conversation.  Angela would want me to insert a note here that says, some days  many days I am not very chatty after work and I prefer to get lost in a book.  I admit it.  I don't always like to talk. 

And I am less influenced by the media...

I didn't realize what an impact TV had on my body image and self-esteem until I didn't watch it anymore.  When we watch TV we are infiltrated with images of stick thin women with perfect hair, skin and boobs.  It's hard not to compare oneself.  I know I did.  I assumed that the size of these starlets was attainable by someone like me -- but that's unrealistic.  Without TV telling me I should weigh 100 lbs, I feel pretty satisified with my body, as I should.  (I will admit, I am having a low-confidence kind of day - but typically I feel good about myself).

Average woman?  I think not.

I save $$$$

I don't know how much cable costs these days but I've heard somewhere around $60 or $70 every single month!! Are you kidding me?  I can have a membership to the fanciest gym in town with that kind of money.  The kind that has a bar and throws pool parties overlooking the Padres games.  I can't even image dishing that kind of dough out to the cable company.  I spend that money on race entries instead.

*****

I am not anti-TV by any means.  In fact, I occasionally pop on Hulu or Netflix and catch an episode of Modern Family or Mad Men.  It's rare, but it happens.  If I am going to stare at a screen for that long, I'd rather watch a movie and most likely it is a documentary or a foreign film. 

Have I completely alienated myself by talking about life without TV?  I promise I'm not that big of a nerd.