For the last 2 weeks and a bit while I’ve been travelling in Italy, I’ve had my Phone on Airplane Mode. No phone calls, no text messages, and for large chunks of the day I have no wifi access. Part of the reason is a desire to run away from the world, and part of it is more practical – I don’t want to deal with roaming charges.

It’s not as though I’ve got all that many people communicating with me when I’m home, plus I tend to screen my calls, but I like that now it’s not even an issue. I like not being exposed to that sinking feeling of seeing an unwanted number pop up on the call display, or a notification of a voice mail that I don’t want to listen to. It makes me realize just how much dread I was having about ordinary communication.

WhatsApp has been convenient because it’s allowed me to keep in touch with my best friend. We talk usually a couple of times a day, and that’s helped to keep me grounded.

In less than a week I’ll be back home, and while I feel ready to be done with the trip, I wish I could leave my phone on Airplane mood indefinitely.