Tv: Blessing or Scourge?

I am house & dog sitting for my boss for a few days, and they don't have TV. Not even fuzzy basic stations. They have a DVD player and VCR to watch movies with, but no actual service. For those of you who haven't run away screaming or fallen to the floor in a quivering, sobbing heap, I think they may be on to something.

It is quiet in here. Blissfully quiet, even. Sure, if I didn't have TV all of a sudden I would be pretty honked off since I do enjoy a few shows *coughLostcough*. But just in the day and a half I've been cable-less, I have gotten a big chunk of Anna Karenina read (much easier to do without the oh-so-wonderful stall tactic of a Law & Order marathon on USA), and even done a bit of work on my next big craft project. I can honestly say that if I had the option of watching TV instead, my book and craft project would still be in my backpack, and I would most likely not be writing this.

I am willing to admit that I think it would take me about a week to totally adjust to not having cable. Netflix means I wouldn't miss any shows I like, and would have the added bonus of watching an entire season of a show in one weekend. Tempting, no?Also, there would not be commercial upon ever-louder commercial to deal with. In the history of television, I think maybe 2 commercials have actually made people want to go RIGHT THIS MINUTE to purchase whatever was being advertised. They're annoying and I hate them. Most of them. And just think how much people would get accomplished! Everybody has that little list somewhere of things they would like to do someday. Learn to play the guitar. Take a couple night classes at a local college. Sign up for dancing lessons. Whatever! If there wasn't TV to rush home to all kinds of stuff could be checked off that list.

This is an experiment I would be willing to seriously take a stab at. Now if only I could convince my roommate (whose lifeblood might actually be a cable signal) of the possible benefits I would be all set!