I want to cancel cable tv but keep Internet

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

21. When I moved to Santa Fe nearly eleven years ago,

I was faced with the TV decision. There were several parts. One was the cost. Which I honestly didn't think I could afford. There were various cable or satellite choices, but they all seemed expensive to me. Oh, and because I'd moved here, starting over after a divorce, if I wanted TV, I was going to need to purchase an actual TV. Which I really couldn't afford. Then there was where would I put the TV? The apartment I rented was no help. The cable hook up was on the wall directly in front of the only window in the living room of the apartment I rented. Shall I try to describe to you how strong the light is in northern New Mexico?

I knew that to put a TV there I'd be forced into closing the blinds all day long, just in case I wanted to watch anything on the TV. But I didn't want to live in a darkened apartment.

Although, really, the cost of a TV and a cable service really were the overriding decisions. So I did without. About four other times in my life I'd done without TV, and while I was more than okay with them, eventually I went back to conventional TV, and this time around I didn't think it was any different.

I moved here in 2008. I'm a bit of a political junky, and as you all know, that was a Presidential election year. I love watching the conventions. I learned very quickly that it was possible to watch the conventions via the internet, as the networks went to streaming them. Great! No TV and I still can watch what I want. Yes!

At the time, nearly 11 years ago, I honestly thought my no TV thing was an experiment, and that I'd go back to conventional TV (cable, satellite, whatever) soon enough. After all, those earlier no TV times had ended.

But this was different. I found I really liked not having a regular TV, even aside from the need to locate it in a place in the apartment that wasn't so great. I could watch what I wanted anyway.

I cannot imagine I will ever have regular TV (cable or satellite) again. Why bother? I can watch pretty much any show I'm interested in via the internet. Okay, so I'm not as up to date on current shows as you might be. But does that matter? There truly is so much to watch, we really are in the Golden Age of Television regardless of your personal tastes, or mine for that matter, that there's more to watch than any of us can keep up with.

Oh, when it comes to various forms of breaking news, such as an earthquake somewhere, or a mass shooting, or whatever, I can watch it as well as you. I just Google TV stations in that locality, and invariably at least one of them has gone to streaming. Which means I watch the local station's streaming, not one of the national networks. Far, far more interesting.

Yes, you will give up some things. And only you know what is so important to you that you might not be willing to give them up. And, trust me, I won't judge you. Just as if you tell me that your absolutely favorite TV show is something I consider total crap, I won't give you my opinion on that show. You like it. I have no business trying to tell you that you have lousy taste. Plus, if I tell you my favorite shows, well, we don't need to go there, do we?

Whatever you decide, it will work for you.