I think I am.
But I’m not entirely sure.
I’m talking about virtual experiences.
For example, the internet fireplace.
Purists among you will be recoiling in horror, but I rather like digital fireplaces. I have a DVD with several, and, let me tell you, it was quite a nice accessory a couple of weeks ago when we had a week of wind and rain. The temperature outside was falling into that never-never-land where it is too warm for the heat to come on and too cold for the a/c to kick in. Consequently, the atmosphere indoors was damp and cool and uncomfortable as only a Florida season between the extremes can be.
My fireplace DVD was a cozy little addition to the long afternoons spent with my attention divided between books and Netflix and watching the creek rise. It’s amazing how much of an illusion of warmth is conjured by the sight of dancing flames and the sounds of burning wood. The actual heat and the smell of wood smoke seem to be secondary to the illusion. Now, I suspect this is because of years of conditioning to what those sights and sounds accompany. Future generations may not get the same illusion of comfort from a virtual fireplace as I do.
And, if I had a real fireplace, I would prefer it. I think. On the other hand…not to have to chop wood…or clean up soot and ash…or risk burning down the house…. there’s something to be said for that.
We do have a gas fireplace here at Casa Lagarto, but it’s one of those things that was on the verge of disrepair when we got the house and has crossed over. Unlike the a/c, it is low on the list of things to fix.
So, I am thankful today for the digital hearth.
And I am considering experiments with digital oceans and digital aquariums. I’d be interested in digital blasted heaths, mountain streams, stone circles, too.
The thing is, I can sort of justify the energy used to play the fireplace as being less than the carbon footprint of an actual fire. I’m not sure I could say the same for amps for any form of H2O.
So, I guess I’ll just stick to my digital fireplace and be thankful.
