However, I learned something unfortunate. Prime Video has a limit on how much content you can download. I’m not sure if it’s a gigabyte maximum or a number of titles/episodes, but there is a limit, and I hit that limit fast. I was at the library one weekend when Amazon Prime told me I couldn’t download any more titles. I had been deleting all my videos, so I did not understand why  I couldn’t download any more titles. I re-read the message; I could only download Amazon originals. That was very disappointing. Now, you might be asking, what about Netflix? Who doesn’t have Netflix? It is true; I do have Netflix, but they have been starting to crack down on their password sharing. I have stopped using it as I was using my parents’ Netflix, so I have primarily been using Amazon Prime (I know, screw Jeff Bezos). I even tried to use my parents’ Amazon Prime, but I quickly ran into the same problem. So, I am now stuck with only downloading Amazon Prime originals on my computer.

 “I found myself much calmer and more rested after working on these paint-by-numbers.
It feels like I got to be creative without thinking.”

I also tried to use my best friend’s Disney Plus. However, they only allow downloads on mobile devices (i.e., phones, tablets, etc..). So, I can download videos and watch them, but only on my phone, which lowkey sucks. I feel like I am 12 years old again, discovering my unsupervised Netflix privileges.

Photo credit: Elisa Ventur on Unsplash

So, with my newfound streaming issues, I have needed to find new ways to occupy myself and ways to unwind. One of these ways has been with paint-by-numbers. I figured I would like them, so I went to Dollarama and picked one up. It was not of great quality, but it sufficed. I quickly fell in love with it. I finished it in a week. I was proud of my work, but the paint quality and the brushes made it hard to feel satisfied. I went to Amazon and found one that I liked. When it arrived, I got right to work. I finished that one in less than a week. I spent about 3 hours per day working away at it. The paint quality and the good brushes made it much more enjoyable.

The second paint-by-number kit done by Nadine Steinley. Photo credit: Nadine Steinley, 2023.

During this time, I also listened to two audiobooks and several podcasts in French to help improve my French skills. I found myself much calmer and more rested after working on these paint-by-numbers. It feels like I got to be creative without thinking. I also took the chance to work on my knitting projects, although I haven’t finished any of those yet.

“We always hear about how bad screens are for us and how spending so much time online negatively impacts us, but I’ve never taken it to heart. ”

Now, after I’ve figured this out and found a way to deal with it, I have decided to move, which means I will have wifi soon. I considered not moving because I knew that having wifi would mean I would be more connected, and not having wifi meant that I could disconnect from the world. Once I move, I think I will take this as a learning experience. We always hear about how bad screens are for us and how spending so much time online negatively impacts us, but I’ve never taken it to heart. I knew how bad screens are for us, but I’ve never experienced the other side for myself. I enjoy my wifi-less apartment and will definitely miss the forced disconnectedness, but I know I will also benefit from and feel some relief from finally having wifi. Unfortunately, we live in a world of perpetual connectedness, so it is necessary to have wifi at my apartment, but I will forever remember my year of forced disconnectedness.