Not sure what this post is going to say about me. About how much of an out-of-touch Luddite I am? About how something so petty can change my life (I'm a simple person)?

My "life changing" experience was watching someone's vlog that was sponsored by Samsung Galaxy Buds and subsequently discovering that my laptop is a Bluetooth device. I was just watching the vlog thinking the Galaxy Buds have nothing to do with me since I don't have a "smart" phone, but then there was a portion where she was at a schedule using them without a smartphone in sight, but working on a laptop. The light bulb above my head flickered slightly as it dawned on me that if my laptop has Bluetooth, then wireless ear buds could be really, really useful. 

That set me off searching for what Bluetooth capabilities my laptop has, and the clincher was realizing that I do have a Bluetooth device in my room. Years ago, I bought a Jawbone Mini Jambox speaker which has Bluetooth, but that wasn't what I bought it for so it didn't apply. I've had it on my nightstand for when I was ensconced in insomnia and could listen to CDs with my 90s-era Sony CD Walkman plugged into them via a "cable". But I went through the steps to "pair" the speaker with my computer (working the lingo) and voilà! For me (Luddite) it was like a miracle! Music playing on my laptop over here is coming out of speaker way over there with nothing connecting them! I would've become Christian if Jesus demonstrated it to me. The benefits and applications of Bluetooth earbuds skyrocketed (the flickering light bulb over my head turned into an exclamation mark)! And that, my friends, is how in 2019 I entered the 21st Century. 

Of course, the easiest thing to do would've been to go out and buy a set of Galaxy Buds, but they're expensive, equal to my Sennheiser Momentum earbuds whose cables are veritably melting in Taiwan's heat after a year and a half of extensive daily usage. I shop around, try to do "research" (those are non-sarcastic quotation marks), but find that there are so many Bluetooth earbuds on the market (I had no idea) that I end up confounded. The brands and models in stores in Taiwan don't match brands and models reviewed online, and even though I can go for a cheaper product, I don't want to end up with something that doesn't sound decent (like my purchase of cheaper Audio-Technica earbuds which I found to be sub-par and led me to immediately buy said Sennheisers, budget be damned). The Galaxy Buds' sound quality is touted by reviewers.

Within two days of watching the vlog, I shell out US$150 for the Galaxy Buds and there are pros and cons, but pros are amazing and the cons I just have to adjust to. I don't have to decide when I want to listen to something through speakers and when to tether myself with earbud cables to listen. Now everything I listen to on laptop is untethered and I can get up and go about while listening. Actually it was mostly K-pop music show videos that I listened through earbuds, so since watching was involved I had to stand no more than three or four feet from my TV screen. Now I'm free. The even greater advantage is no sound degradation from the constant fan/air conditioner during hot weather. It's something I just had to deal with before, but when cooler weather arrove and the fan/aircon turned off, it was always dismaying how much sound I was missing in the electronics/wind drone and I had just spent however many months listening like that.

Anyway, now I have to exercise discipline with expenditures. Zero temptation to replace my Sennheisers unless the cords disintegrate and wrapping exposed wire with electrical tape is untenable. Or if they completely fritz out, but fortunately they're still going strong and sound fine, great. The Galaxy Buds are just as good as far as my ears can tell. And good thing I'm done with replacing my wardrobe for most part. I have my old shirts piled up for recycling, and looking at them I can't believe I wore them for so long. Yuck, really. All my new shirts are pretty plain and nondescript, just new. Still mostly light fabric, short sleeve, button-down shirts. Unlike my old shirts, these are mostly darker solid colors, no patterns. Everything I bought, including sleeveless and t-shirts, needed to have a front pocket for my iPod Shuffle.

I think people might like the idea of needing to replace their wardrobe, not just as a matter of vanity. I won't go so far as to say it was a bother, but like I've said, I have no idea about clothes or fashion or what 'looks good', so I won't say it was fun. I'm all about comfort and ease and taking into consideration my primary form of transportation is bike. In summer months, there's nothing comfortable or easy about riding a bike to get around. It's just HOT. Can't care how I look. Fortunately, in Taiwan people might appreciate if you dress well, but otherwise no one cares how you dress.