I’ve got the digital jitters. I am in Alaska as I write, about to head on a 9 day kayaking excursion. The adventure begins shortly with a float plane and then a paddle, and then a hike to visit a bear sanctuary. From there we will continue on and explore the Glacier Bay area of Alaska. I’ve heard there is no connectivity out there and I’m quite nervous about it.

This trip was a ten-year work anniversary trip to myself. I’ve been at Burson-Marsteller for ten years now, first as a consultant, and in November it will be ten years as staff. TEN YEARS! When I started at the company we didn’t even have email for every employee - my first email account was a shared one with the design group. Given that my job was to develop an interactive capability I’ve always stayed extremely connected - first via mobile phone, then via email, then via remote access, and of course now via blackberry. So the idea of completely disconnecting for 9 days has me quite nervous.

I have an awesome team so I’m not worried about the work getting done or the clients being serviced. I know Tery, Rome, Chris and others will do an awesome job. It is more that staying connected is an important and fun part of my life. I’ve written about work/life balance before, and my lack of it, but some of that is at my own doing. So, I’m considering this a social experiment of sorts, to see how I do being unplugged, and to just chillax for a few days. I’ll write about the experience when I get back, and am now off to see the bears.