Yesterday I got my annual “We Know Where You’ve Been and What You Were Doing in 2020 Report” from Google. I call it the spy report but we’ve actually opened the door for them to do this and it isn’t some kind of covert operation.
The funny thing is that they told me I traveled halfway around the world (actually .48) and the only place I went was from Texas to Missouri and back. Until we bought the MO house in August, I had only been to MO three times – once in January before things got bad, once to get Addie in June and then take her back in July. Then once we bought the house, it was back and forth every two to three weeks. Lots of trips. Way too many trips!
In 2020, we didn’t go to Arkansas, we didn’t go to Louisiana. We didn’t even go to Abilene. We hardly left the house in 2020. I didn’t go through every day but I never left the house from April 2 to June 16. That’s why my car battery dies!
Then here’s what happened when I was in MO with Addie and we’d go somewhere every day.
That trip wasn’t a lot of miles – just back and forth . . here, there, yonder and back again. It probably isn’t 6 miles from the far west to the far east. Google thought my apartment was at Ernsbarger Heating & Cooling. That is who we used for our heating and cooling when we lived there and they were across the street from the apartment.
Even when I left last week to go pickup groceries, it shows what time I left the house (7:07 a.m.), drove 5.0 miles to Walmart. Took 10 minutes to get there. I was there 5 minutes. Drove home, which somehow was 5.1 miles and it took me 9 minutes coming back. Lots of 35 mph speed limit!
So, it took me 24 minutes from my door back to my door to pick up groceries for about 10 days. I hope I never have to go back to inside shopping for groceries.
I suppose if someone was doing something sneaky, getting this report would scare you half to death.
Informed Delivery through the post office is about as bad. When it comes to packages arriving, I don’t think I can say I’m not trying to be a bit sneaky. One thing for sure – I’d much rather have Vince here and deal with his frustration over my packages than not have him here!
Nancy H. says
It is amazing what is now available to track people. I know there is a theory that they are going to have nano technology in the immunization to track people. But we all carry a tracking device with us everyday in our purse or pocket. It has GPS and can be pinged. It is tracked by a satellite. Someone can find our location at almost any time. I can remember when if you left your house without telling someone where you were going they won’t know where to find you or how to get in touch with you. We travelled all over the city without being tethered to our phone. If I every want to disappear I will not take my phone with me or drive my newer car as it can be tracked also.
I had heard about informed delivery long before I signed up for it. I figured they were scanning all the mail anyway I might as well know whether I needed to be home for something important to arrive. Mail theft is running rampant in our neighborhood. Everyday we hear of someone else in the neighborhood who has had mail stolen. If their box happens to be one of those community boxes, almost all have the locks broken and the mail taken.
Liz says
I’m lucky in that I have a good USPS delivery lady. I am also on the Informed Delivery and I also use it to see what’s going to be delivered so I can determine when to walk down to the mailbox. I had a small package delivered today and the email notification came through about 5 minutes after it was delivered. Amazon is also pretty good about taking a picture and sending an email, though not as fast as the USPS.
But, I can see how the service will differ between cities and states. It’s sad that there is so much variation in service.
Judy Laquidara says
If that’s the worst of my problems, I’m a lucky girl though. I sometimes have to look at the bigger picture.