Ring-a-ling-a-ling. It's for you.

When I was a kid living in Florida, I distinctly remember my mom bundling us up in our pajamas to go to the Jiffy Store, think 7-11, to use the pay phone to call my grandma. We weren't always without a phone, but there were times that I remember running to the neighbors to use a phone. I didn't feel like we were out of touch though. But, what do you know as a kid, roughing it is not being able to buy slurpies and ice cream on a hot summer's day. You sure as heck don't care about all that adult stuff like paying bills.

I think times have changed some though when kids in kindergarten are carrying cell phones and have their own entertainment centers in their rooms. However, that's not my point. I am thinking of dropping my land line - that's my point. I really don't use it much. The cost is probably twenty-something a month. It used to be a lot less though. I think for barebones basic I was paying $6.50 a couple of years ago but then SBC took over and now AT&T has the reins and it's costing me the equivalent of a pair of shoes on serious mark-down. For what? I have a cell phone, and most everyone I know calls me on it. Actually, what they usually do is call me on my home phone, then when I don't answer it they call my cell. Why not cut out the middle man? Because, I feel like I'm a drifter without a phone. It represents security, dependablity, and permanence. People who have phones aren't fly-by-night characters. Heck, it used to be if you didn't have a phone you couldn't write a check to buy groceries. Shoot! Other than paying my rent, I can't even remember the last time I wrote a check for something. I do have to provide my number to the drycleaner to get my clothes. And, the few occasions I've called Pizza Hut they knew me by my phone number. Can I get Pizza and my drycleaning if I only have a cell phone? Will telemarketers find me and start calling my cell?

The other thing holding me back is that I really like my phone number. It's one of the easiest numbers I have ever had. The first three digits are the same as the next three and the last one is only one digit more. There's also the fact that if someone I've lost contact with wants to find me they can if they know my last name. I've never changed it and I have yet to see a listing for my surname with an R other than my own. So what if that has only happened a hand full of times in my life, it could happen again. I've met a lot of people in my life. However, I've had my cell number for ten years so they can always reach me that way too.

I geuss what I'm looking for is opinions, pros and cons that I haven't thought of yet. What do you think? Have you ever been without a phone? Did you have a cell phone? Was there any problems? Am I nuts?

Scratch that! I know the answer to the last question.

Thanks!