What "old school" things do you still do?

[jollystomper]

Most of those won't work so well if you already used your hankie as a snotrag.

You are the one who chooses to use it that way, not I. Is not individuality great? To each their own.

 

[MC Rider]

You are the one who chooses to use it that way

Me, and my nose helps the choice.

 

[audreyh1]

I would disagree with this statement. I am in the middle of the boomer range, and the personal computer came out during my early 20s.

Me too. The personal computer was introduced when I just started my career and I worked hands on with them under NDA. Technically I’m a boomer (later stage). Also as a teacher DM used the Apple PC which came out before the IBM ones.

 

[Gumby]

I was born in 1959. I learned to program in Basic in 1977 during college. Of course, that was not a personal computer, it was a mainframe running a DTSS. The interface was a teletype machine. The first personal computer I ever used was my brother's TRS-80 in about 1983. The first time I ever used an IBM PC was in 1986. They didn't have GUIs back then, so we had to know how to use the command line get it to work. But we did have an early version of email. It was also just about that time that I made my first purchase online - a sewing machine for the young wife.

 

[FlaGator]

........
I can start most older John Deere tractors with a screw driver. Not recommended.

.........

Thanks for the reminder about arcing across the solenoid! Used to be able to do that with cars too.

 

[Ronstar]

As for computers - I started work in a civil engineering firm in 1974. There were no computers in the office. We did all of our calculations on calculators. We drew all plans by hand on the huge old school drafting tables. We made copies of plans on a blueprint machine that spewed ammonia. Our secretaries typed on typewriters with carbon paper - always from hand written notes and letters. Our surveyors used transits and 100' steel measuring tapes. Blueprint plans, pencil sketches, survey field books everywhere. Office was a mess.

A lot changed between 1974 and when I retired in 2014. By 2014, computers were doing everything in our office. Digital plan files shared online with over a hundred other firms. I dictated letters into a tape voice recorder that the secretary transcribed. She added my digital signature, created a pdf and emailed to the client. I think I went the last 2 years without seeing a piece of paper. We sent plans digitally. Time cards digital. Survey data digital. No paper plans in meetings - they were on a huge digital screen in the conference room. The office was pristine with hardly anything but computers on desktops.

Over the past decade +, field surveyors, contractors and engineers in the field have been using digital plans on iPads. Survey data going to digital data collectors - no field books needed. Construction layout data going digitally from office to field surveyors for layout then to contractors for earthmoving, utilities, and building construction. With plan data transferred to GPS coordinate data in controllers on construction equipment.

I talked to a former coworker a few weeks ago. The whole company works from home most of the week, except receptionist and office manager. Been that way since Covid. Engineers and drafters are connected to the office network and to each other, able to see each other's screens real time. Receptionist answers the phone and transfers phone calls to workers cell phones. Technology has advanced way beyond our early imaginations.

That said, since retiring I've returned to old school somewhat. I still make several pages of hand sketches and notes daily.

 

[scrabbler1]

A few more old-school things I do:

For decades I sometimes used a "split-deposit" feature the banks offered on their deposit slips. I would list the check(s) I planned to deposit then subtract the cash back I wanted to get, leaving me with the difference to deposit. A few years ago, my bank got rid of the cash-back part; not long after that they got rid of deposit slips altogether.

This didn't stop me from doing a split-deposit. It just became 2 transactions I'd make with the teller. (Yes, I could use an ATM, and back in the 1990s I often did because it was on a weekend and the banks were too busy to stand on line. But the banks got rid of deposit slips and deposit envelopes and I didn't like the idea of sliding a check into the ATM.) Also, I often want bills I can't get at an ATM such as $1s, $5s, and $50s. I usually go to the bank at 11 AM on a weekday when they are pretty empty (but not always, unfortunately).

I have no interest in Paypal, Zelle, or Venmo. No interest in Ebay, either. I don't trust any of them.

My flat-screen TV is only 24 inches (diagonal). The one it replaced a few years ago was slightly bigger, I think it was 27-inch. My TV stand isn't big enough for a flat-screen bigger than 27-inch, as I have to look up the distance between the base's legs to make sure it fits. Unfortunately, the TV makers stopped making 27-inch flat screen TVs. I am in a small apartment, and a bigger TV stand won't really fit.

Other here described their computer and programming history. Mine began with programming in Basic back in 1977 while I was the 9th grade. In college, as a comp-sci major for a few years, I learned PL/1 and later, Pascal. Both languages were helpful when I learned SAS at my job a few years later. I also learned COBOL in college, something I rarely used once I learned SAS, a far more efficient language.

On the PC side, I learned Lotus for DOS and started with Volkswriter at my job. Volkswriter got replaced with Displaywrite for DOS before we got Windows and learned Word and Excel in the early 1990s. I still used Lotus for a few spreadsheets which I could not convert to Excel due to macros. On my home PC, I use Lotus 2000 (9.0, I think) for most spreadsheets and Excel for some others. I just like Lotus more, especially if is has macros. I still use Word 2000 and Excel 2000 from a CD I got from my office when I worked from home for a few years around that time. I encounter some compatibility issues once in a while, including with installing Office 2000 and Lotus 2000, but I got passed them.

 

[CincyDave]

I guess that I am old school since I save heirloom tomato (and some pepper) seeds. Let them get moldy , rinse and then dry for next year.

I save pepper and tomato seeds too. I do ferment (let get moldy) the tomato seeds. Currently have over 30 open pollinated/heirloom varieties of each. Make my own tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce, hot sauce, salsa and refrigerator pickles. Used to can stuff, but now just freeze and give a bunch to friends or family.

 

[aja8888]

Most of those won't work so well if you already used your hankie as a snotrag.

You can still use it for robbing a bank, but don't leave it at the scene as they can find you through DNA analysis.

 

[Stormy Kromer]

I have saved seeds of tomato plants (brandywine, Federle, and some others) but stopped doing this. As much as I enjoyed the taste of a brandywine tomato, it wasn’t worth just getting 1-2 tomatoes before the plant succumbed to wilt.

Today, I grow pony express, big beef, and sun gold. They all produce plentiful good tomatoes and will last all season.

Yes, I do can tomatoes. Tried freezing but found that I prefer canning because of the finite amount of freezer space available.

I do agree that less people do canning than they did in the early part of the 20th century.

Have you tried Romas ? They are my go to variety now.

 

[Gumby]

Have you tried Romas ? They are my go to variety now.

For sauce, I like Amish Paste. For slicing, Mortgage Lifter and Brandywine. For salads, Sungold.

 

[Gumby]

...I handwrite holiday and thank you cards - in cursive. ...

If you can read/write cursive, you can serve your country. Can you read cursive? It's a superpower the National Archives is looking for. I signed up with the National Archives today and transcribed a Revolutionary War soldier's pension application file. I am hopeful that some family genealogist may find it useful someday.

I have being doing genealogical research since retirement and I have gained some skill in reading 16th and 17th century cursive in English records. Early 19th century American cursive is a cinch by comparison.

 

[2retireearly]

I have always used google-calendars of course all linked to all my computers, tablets, phone....
BUT I also print the google calendar with all my stuff on it, to put in front of me at my breakfast table. I also have a paper, nice monthly calendar hanging on the side of my refrigerator. I have a LOT of stuff going on, every day.

I also keep up with my Banking online, BUT I also have a physical checkbook, I balance, which also sits there at my breakfast table. I also, put the monthly balances on my excel spreadsheet which is a projection of my monthly budget from now until the end of my life. Attached to it, are also my daily or balances of my investments. I like numbers.

I of course, have a note pad on the other side of my refrigerator, with the ongoing grocery list, that I rip off to take to grocery store. I could do this in Notes on my phone..but like the physical paper of it.

I get the very expensive local paper delivered to me, daily. I take it with me to different coffee shops to read, which is like a neon sign to the young people there, that I am old (I try to fool people that I'm not....)

I get physical magazines delivered int he mail to me. I like to take them to the pool...

I have, and use all the time, my printer

I use printed music scores to sing in a choir, whereas the younger members use an online Music Software, on their tablets, as their music folders. I use a heave folder, crammed full of music, I write on with a pencil!

I think it is still cheaper to have a triple play contract with Comcast, so still have a land line, which I use for dr or business calls. But I usually don't answer, as is usually scam calls. So I seem to get very few scam calls on my cell phone.

I have and love and will always use, my Cartier watch.

I have, and pay a fortune, for Cable TV with some streaming apps on it, vs just having streaming apps. I like TV, and just don't allow myself to think too much about the expense.

All of my books are electronic...yay...

 

[Jeb-NY]

Didn't know how advanced a tech guy I was before reading this thread. I even had my 1999 Ford camper van updated to an audio system with wireless CarPlay. Ten years ago I would have upgrade myself but at 76 I don't bend around enough to do that anymore if I want to move the next day.

 

[Rusa]

We have a lot in common with Gumby.
Use only a paper calendar/planner.- Easy to review your year
Make my own soap.- And candles too
Grow my own vegetables.- And process meat too.
Pressure can my home grown vegetables. Make and can my own chicken broth.- Pic worth a thousand words. Also a dehydrator and seriously thinking about a freeze dryer.
Play vinyl records.- I downsized our collection to just around 350 albums, couple hundred cassettes, dumped the 8-Tracks
Use paper maps.- We make our Grandson use Rand McNally to track and help plan our road trips.
Read only paper books.- Got a Library... including the Foxfire collection.
File my taxes by US Mail.- Up until 3 years ago
Maintain a checkbook and register.- Yup
Have a pocket full of folding green, Carry a pocket knife.- Got both if my pants are on
Polish my shoes.- Always when still working, Still keep one pair of boots spit-shined.
Drive only manual transmission cars.- Prefer to but leg injury now prevents it.

PLUS
Cut and split firewood, just switch to a hydraulic splitter 4 years ago.
Melt lead and cast bullets to reload.
I can sew some, But DW does a bunch of sewing, including making dresses. Made her own Wedding Gown.
Hang clothes out on a line.
Hand pick grapes fruits from the orchard next door and press for juice/cider/wine. Brew beer
Cook over fire with Cast Iron pots... One Dutch Oven was my Great Grandmothers.
Bake Bread Still use my Grandmothers Hand Kneading bucket

You’re ready for the apocalypse.

 

[nafddur1]

Still love driving a manual transmission car.

 

[sdawson]

Not sure if this was mentioned yet, but we still get our TV with an antenna. It is HD and beautiful. 45 miles from the bradcasters, so have a huge antenna strapped to the chimney.

ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS, WE and the lots of others such as Cozi and MeTV.

Have an old school Tivo DVR attached for time shifting and recording.

This is 100% free HD TV. I paid for the Antenna and Tivo wit lifetime subscription years ago.

At some point Tivo will go under, but there are other options now that can record off the air.

Oh,and yes, we have the old rotary landline, which also works just fine.

Oh and an old school rolodex with phone numbers in it going back 35 years.

 

[rembrandt]

Not sure if this was mentioned yet, but we still get our TV with an antenna. It is HD and beautiful. 45 miles from the bradcasters, so have a huge antenna strapped to the chimney.

ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS, WE and the lots of others such as Cozi and MeTV.

Have an old school Tivo DVR attached for time shifting and recording.

This is 100% free HD TV. I paid for the Antenna and Tivo wit lifetime subscription years ago.

At some point Tivo will go under, but there are other options now that can record off the air.

Oh,and yes, we have the old rotary landline, which also works just fine.

Oh and an old school rolodex with phone numbers in it going back 35 years.

The 80's called. They want their antenna back!

 

[Ronstar]

I'm doing some work for our HOA. I do hard copies of everything. Going to Walmart tomorrow for a 3 ring binder and 3 hole punch so that I can put my papers in a binder.

I hope that they still sell that stuff.

Speaking of not selling old school stuff. A couple of years ago, we were driving southeast on country roads across North Carolina. I pulled in for gas, and went inside to buy a NC road map. They didn't have any. They didn't sell any maps. The saleslady was stunned by my request, saying that they never sold maps as long as she worked there. I told her that all gas stations used to sell road maps - or gave them to customers for free. So we left and had to navigate the rest of the way by nav system. Boring.

ETA - Don't need to go to Walmart. I found an extra 3 ring binder and a 3 hole punch in my home office.

 

[rembrandt]

I'm doing some work for our HOA. I do hard copies of everything. Going to Walmart tomorrow for a 3 ring binder and 3 hole punch so that I can put my papers in a binder.

I hope that they still sell that stuff.

Speaking of not selling old school stuff. A couple of years ago, we were driving southeast on country roads across North Carolina. I pulled in for gas, and went inside to buy a NC road map. They didn't have any. They didn't sell any maps. The saleslady was stunned by my request, saying that they never sold maps as long as she worked there. I told her that all gas stations used to sell road maps - or gave them to customers for free. So we left and had to navigate the rest of the way by nav system. Boring.

Maps are an endangered species.

 

[ArmchairMillionaire]

Not sure if this was mentioned yet, but we still get our TV with an antenna. It is HD and beautiful. 45 miles from the bradcasters, so have a huge antenna strapped to the chimney.

ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS, WE and the lots of others such as Cozi and MeTV.

Have an old school Tivo DVR attached for time shifting and recording.

This is 100% free HD TV. I paid for the Antenna and Tivo wit lifetime subscription years ago.

At some point Tivo will go under, but there are other options now that can record off the air.

Oh,and yes, we have the old rotary landline, which also works just fine.

Oh and an old school rolodex with phone numbers in it going back 35 years.

That would be nice. We are unable to get ANY Over-The-Air TV channels where we live. When we bought this house in 2009, I went to the local Radio Shack (remember them?) and was told I would need a 260-ft. high antenna just to get 4 channels and one would be a repeat.

But at least our rotary phones still function off the copper phone lines.

 

[Ronstar]

Maps are an endangered species.

Yes they are unfortunately.

 

[Gumby]

This was my experience in traveling to Japan in November with my 40 year nephew and his 37 year old wife (who, by the way, is quite spectacular, having made all the plans). Neither one of them can go from point A to point B without the google maps directions on their phones. That's fine with me, but they are so focused on it that they literally cannot see the forest for the trees. Many times, we would arrive at a train station and they could not figure out which way to go and the Google maps was confusing them because they couldn't orient it in the proper direction. I would ask where we were going, look at the map on the train station wall or the actual area map on my niece-in-law's phone, step outside and consult the sun while looking at my watch to see which way is South and declare "we need to go this way". I was never wrong, and they thought that was some dark art that I had picked up in my nefarious past.

 

[ls99]

^^^ Direction finding, is why I only have analog wrist watch. I have impressed people over the years with the skill. Though not useful when overcast.
A thought, I think Ill get me a pocket watch. That is what the little pocket in blue jeans are for.

 

[Calico]

@Gumby

I hope your nephew and his wife are showing you the respect you deserve, now that they know you are a wizard.