Artificial noise and light bombardment

[henrysmom]

Two years ago my DH, two teenage sons and I took a river rafting trip down the Colorado river through the Grand Canyon for 4 nights. Other than the constant relaxing sound of the river, there was no “modern” sounds. No cell signals, no phones or other electronics. At night we laid under the stars all night with the Milky Way so bright we could see our way around camp. Amazing. Each night I laid there in tears at what is so hidden from us. DH and I did go through some withdrawal from our electronics the first day but quickly adjusted and were at peace with our thoughts. However my two sons who were then 14 and 15 thought we had transported them to hell on earth. It was just too quiet and “boring”. Very sad.

[ToomuchStuff]

When I think artificial noise, I tend to think of things like white noise generators. Other stuff, is just environmental/background noise. Don't like it, change your location. The house I first lived in, was three away from train tracks. I can still hear those and other tracks, trains, in the distance from my current house, and actually like that rumble of the trains, in the distance, at night, in summer with the windows open.
Light pollution however, from the streetlight in front of the house, (the city converted all of them to try to limit light pollution), to the five towers with all their electronics, plane lights, etc. and all the other light sources (lights on houses, buildings, security lights, etc. the sky is purple and one can somewhat read by it. I wasn't the only one looking forward to a night sky, when a relative built in the country. Their inlaws on the property, however, put a security light from the electric company, without a switch, so setting up the telescope went out the door. (built a section of deck for it)

Some days, I think back to the stories of a former neighbor and other old timers, and sleeping porches.

[catherine]

and sleeping porches.

In our quest for a lake house we saw a few sleeping porches that were so appealing to me. There is a little cabin next door to us that has one, and I'm a bit jealous... Perhaps at some point we'll add one on to the front of the house.

Last year I slept here, and walked around the quiet grounds. No internet. I think there was a bedside lamp but that was it for electricity. I had to walk to the main building for the bathroom. And interestingly, my resting heart rate (according to my Fitbit) was the lowest it had every been up to then (or since).

[KayLR]

In our quest for a lake house we saw a few sleeping porches that were so appealing to me. There is a little cabin next door to us that has one, and I'm a bit jealous... Perhaps at some point we'll add one on to the front of the house.

Last year I slept here, and walked around the quiet grounds. No internet. I think there was a bedside lamp but that was it for electricity. I had to walk to the main building for the bathroom. And interestingly, my resting heart rate (according to my Fitbit) was the lowest it had every been up to then (or since).

Wow, those cabins and that venue look incredible!