On Security Blankets and Hard Drives
It seems as though I'm forever cleaning out my files, getting rid of papers that multiply like proverbial rabbits. Recently, my daughter gave me a piece of very wise advice. (She has a gift for doing that. :-) She suggested that I not print out so many documents but, rather, that I file them on my computer.
What a great idea! I thought. Not only would saving files only to my computer keep my office from being over-run with piles of papers, but I would also save tons of money.
So I proceeded to implement my daughter's sound advice. But as I did, I began to go through withdrawal. Truth be told, I couldn't live without the feel of paper in my hands. Moreover, the thought of storing my precious documents only on a computer that could crash, instead of in file cabinets that could not, aroused great fear in me.
As I pondered this strange turn of events, I realized that being born before the invention of the electric typewriter leaves its mark on one. A mark not easily erased.
You see, I find solace in the feel of word-imprinted paper. Book paper. Typing paper. News paper. Over the years, printed paper has become my security blanket. My comfort zone. My "sine qua non" of the writing life.
So, I had to make a decision. Would I opt for the safety of hard copies of my writing, or would I choose to trust my crashable computer?
I am happy to say that I have reached a happy medium. I have purchased a 4GB USB flash drive on which to store my most critical documents. I also make hard copies of these critical documents and keep them in a safe place. As if that weren't enough, I have an external hard drive where I automatically backup all my files every night.
At the same time, I have begun to save on my computer only those documents that could be lost without great price. While these latter are far fewer than my critical documents, they do represent a start.
Who knows? Maybe someday I'll outgrow my paper security blankets and exchange them for only a hard drive. But, meanwhile, I'll ease into the new at my own pace, remembering that some things never change.
And that's my "musing that matters" for today. What's yours? :-)
Blessings,
MaryAnn
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Comments
I wonder if the Book of Life is backed up on a flash drive. : ) Aren't you glad God doesn't need it? I went to a flash drive last year and love it. All my correspondence from the office is on that drive; I never print copies of letters anymore. But then, I do mostly e-mail and don't have the correspondence files I used to have. I applaud your paperless path, or at least your attempt to walk it. I agree with Pam: I can't imagine replacing books with ebooks. Yuck.
Good Morning Maryann,
I smiled as I read your entry this morning. I appreciated your insights re filing, but most of all I enjoyed the way you expressed yourself--so you, warm and with a touch of humor. You brightened up my day! Thank you! Laraine
Dear Maryann, this is another thing we have in common! Although I think mine is more a piling system instead of a filing system! LOL I do want that paper in my hand to read and underline and go back to. And I want to tell you and your readers of a great article I read yesterday in my Focus on the Family Midlife and Beyond, Nov. 2007 issue. It is entitled "Golden Years, Golden Opportunities" written by GINA DIORIO! I know you are proud of your daughters, and rightly so. love, rose
Well MaryAnn, you have certainly covered your bases. I happen to like the feel of paper as well, so I understand. I also am able to catch my own writing errors more effectively if I print it out and sit down to read it on the paper.
By the way, I attempted to e-mail you last week using the "Contact" button on your website here, but it my note was returned to me as undeliverable. (?)
Oh, yes, some very good points! I wish I had taken the time to back up all my files, as a virus ate my genealogy program and I lost 90% of my names...
:-( I didn't have a flash drive back then. I'm thankful I didn't lose everything.
I have been backing up my novels as I go, onto the flash drive, in order to have them witn me in case of disaster (God forbid!). There just IS something about paper, though.... No "book reading device" will ever make up for the sheer joy and pleasure of holding a book in one's hands. It's easier on the eyes, too.
I guess I don't have anything profound to say, my imagination being tied up with my NaNoWriMo novel, but I did want to say "Thank you," for another wonderful post, and comments by my fellow Musers!
I'm right there with you, MaryAnn. I recently did a major office cleaning because, once again, I was overrun with paper. I decided to print out less and save more in electronic file--not a paperless office yet, but working toward a "less paper" office. Here's another security blanket: e-mail important documents to yourself. Periodically I e-mail the book proposal I'm working on or my research file to my hotmail account as a backup. It's stored on hotmail's computer which I can access from any computer if mine should crash. I have a special mail folder where I stash my backups, and I delete the older version when I send me the updated file.
www.ButtsAboutIt.blogspot.com
Hi MaryAnn...Wow! Lots of great info from you and our blog members. Thanks to all of you. I am also another one who loves the feel of paper. Like Julie, I find it easier to correct my pieces and those of others by printing them out. I also find it easier on the eyes. My son recently gave me a flash drive on which I saved my material and is now in the safe deposit box as he suggested. I also have a nightly backup . I am still thinking of making hard copies of some of my things, which may be unnecessary, but I have a hard time trusting my computer. Seems like I am not the only one. Happy Writing!
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I know exactly how you feel, Mary Ann. I have a flash drive as well as some paper files. I keep only the most important papers in my file box and everything else on the computer.
It's kind of like ebooks or regular books. Personally, I want to HOLD a book, SMELL a book, turn the PAGES of a book, carry the BOOK in my purse!
I'm sure it's my age, too, but I don't think I'll ever get used to ebooks.