I suppose I could do without even the ones I selected as "can't do without"— I just wouldn't want to.
While I could live without them, it would be much more challenging to do so, now, having grown accustomed to their convenience! I remember being a gamer in the mid- to late-70's, playing Squad Leader, and other AH games, only available at the local hobby store, or through mail-order (see below). I remember researching papers for school, using the dewey-decimal system at the library, to look things up in <GASP!> dusty, musty-smelling, hardcover books -- because there was no Internet/World Wide Web, no such thing as a web search engine! Duh, duh, DUUUHHH!!!
Would I choose to go back the pre-Internet age? Never…
I remember back in 1979, I ordered a 6" Criterion Dynascope telescope ($289, delivered, equal to $1,255 USD in 2025), and waiting eight very long weeks for it to show up at my doorstep. I mailed a Cashier's Check for it (personal checks took longer to clear their bank than a Cashier's Check), during those dark ages: sending them through the Post Office (snail mail); wait 6-8 weeks (it was always 8 weeks, never 6…) for stuff to show up. "Tracking? What is that? Never heard of it before -- how do you spell it?"
Back then, making a phone call anywhere outside of my town was Long Distance, and it racked up charges -- per minute! Long Distance phone calls were for connecting with relatives; making such calls to anyone else, was rare.
All advertising was through the Television [12 channels (only three stations) + UHF (only two public television stations)], or print ads, mostly within magazines.
Yep, I sure miss those days… NOT! LOL! Cheers!
reports from the final California Gen Con...
