I spent last week in the sun in San Juan, Puerto Rico. I love Maine, but after an endless stretch of cold, biting wind, and snow, I was ready for a dose of humidity, warmth, and the sounds of summer. My sainted spouse (an Aroostook County native) joined me, dragging his feet at the thought of enduring the same things that delight me. His ideal is a mountain of snow to shovel and he has two snow scoops to prove it.
We enjoy small town living and the sense of community it engenders. It’s why we live in Belfast. In spite of obvious differences, San Juan has its own community flavor: A compact historic district filled with tourists on the prowl for art, jewelry and crafts; historic forts and architecture dating back to the 16th century; great restaurants on every corner; an abundance of parks and green squares; and, most importantly, friendly residents.
One of the ultimate expressions of community is the interaction between and among people. Throughout our week’s adventure, we were regularly greeted in both Spanish and English, helped when lost, and treated graciously in restaurants. But it was in many of these same restaurants that we were reminded of the power of technology to change the way we interact with one another, and it’s more than a little disconcerting.
Shortly after we were seated at one restaurant, a man and woman arrived with his and her smart phones, each with a glowing screen. Seated at an adjacent table, they put their heads down and began to text away, fingers flying non-stop for the next five minutes. Neither looked at nor spoke to the other until the server arrived with menus and interrupted their flow. Meanwhile, a person at another table excused himself on several occasions to answer his cell phone, talking in a loud voice so close that we could have easily been part of his conversation. At another restaurant we watched a parent text away while his young child watched, speechless.
I confess to my own compulsive behavior with my BlackBerry, but even I have boundaries. Have we forgotten that relationships depend on face-to-face interaction? Does this bode well for those of us who pride ourselves on work that builds community? Am I missing something?
I’m back in Maine, thrilled that the snow hit DC and not us, and planning to leave the BlackBerry at home when I leave in a few minutes for dinner. What about you?