A guy in a Lisbon cafe told me my setup was 'sad'

I was working at a spot in Bairro Alto last month, just my laptop and noise cancelling headphones. This older guy at the next table leaned over and said, 'That is a sad way to see the world.' He was sketching in a notebook. He said he'd been traveling for 20 years and never owned a computer. Said he made a living teaching local crafts. It stuck with me because my gear is my whole income. Is the digital part of this life killing the real experience? Or is that just a romantic old view?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_joel21d ago

Used to feel the same way as that guy until I broke my laptop on a trip. Had to write everything in a cheap notebook for two weeks. Felt more connected to the places I was in, honestly. But @lee330 is right, it's just different ways to make a living now. My notebook didn't pay the rent. Fixed the laptop and went back to work.

lee33021d ago

Got a similar comment last year at a coffee shop in Austin. Some guy with a film camera said my laptop was a "cage." He was there writing in a leather journal. My work is all digital too, design and project plans. It made me wonder if I'm missing something by not having a physical craft. But then I pay my bills with that "cage." Maybe it's just different ways of making a living now. What did you say back to him?