The Hazards of Living Off the Grid

My husband and I have now been in our new home a little more than two weeks. Most of the problems during the move have stemmed from people’s reliance on computer systems. Automation can be a boon to efficiency or a bane to our sanity. When we rely on computers to organize our lives, we abandon human communication and ingenuity, which sometimes lead to better results than raw data. Particularly when the data are incomplete.

Even though it is part of a well-established subdivision, our new home is in a newly constructed area, on a newly constructed cul-de-sac. We are the first family to move into the cul-de-sac, which is located beyond all mapping applications. Therefore, no one can find us. We are literally off the grid. Or at least the grid that everyone recognizes.

At the top of our list of problems was the United States Postal Service, as I wrote last week. Finally, last Thursday, we received a mail delivery at our new address—almost two weeks after we moved. The mail carrier in Zip Code A had stuffed our mailbox. Unfortunately, that feat was not repeated on Friday or Saturday. So I don’t know if USPS just didn’t have any more mail for us or if they forgot us again.

Moreover, because of the earlier USPS error in inputting our zip code, various retailers’ verification databases refuse to accept our new address. I am still hesitant to order anything online, though I have put a toe in the water. I tested the waters with an order from Target. I am pleased to report that Target’s delivery system found us and delivered on the date they promised. They win my “Retailer of the Year” award.

I have also placed an Amazon order because Amazon permitted me to add detailed instructions about the nearest intersection to our house that is on Google Maps. Let’s hope it arrives as scheduled. Will Amazon do as well as Target?

Another success story has been the Kansas City Trash Department, which picked up our garbage on our first and second trash days without any problem. But the Trash Department’s recycling contractor (which makes a separate pick-up) is not as efficient—both weeks have required a call to the City’s 311 hotline, after I noticed that the rest of the neighborhood’s recycling had disappeared and ours remained at the curb. Maybe soon the recycling people will get the memo. If the 311 people bothered to send them a memo.

The newspapers—both The Kansas City Star and The Wall Street Journal—had a problem finding us. I complained almost daily to both newspapers (which are serviced by the same local carrier). They both make it difficult to get a live human, so my complaints went to their automated answering systems and email.

When I received their automated email responses, I responded with an email plea that they have a live human contact me, so I could explain where our house is located. Finally, someone did. I gave that individual the same directions I gave Amazon, and the next day we had newspapers.

Human intervention is a miracle.

I’ve also had to personally call our bank and broker to get the address changed on our financial records. Neither of those systems permitted me to change my address online. The broker was easy because I have a human contact. But the bank made it hard to find a real person. The only way I could reach a customer service rep was to go into their system through their mobile banking app. There, after much searching, I found a button that said “Call us.” So I did. Their rep was able to change my address, even though I could not use their self-service system.

I suppose that the address verification databases that retailers and service providers use generally lead to more accurate deliveries than relying on fallible humans. But in my case, these systems were a hindrance, not a help.

Thank goodness there are live humans who can override computers. If one can find them.

When have you struggled with automated systems?