Very good. I would appreciate that convenience too.

That’s very cool. So many tech items just seem like toys to me, so glad to hear you found a practical,purpose. I just got a Ring doorbell and the thing is driving me nuts. It told me three times that there is a squirrel at my front door.

I didn’t know about smart bulbs until about a month ago when my sister told me how she even has her house’s a/c & heating programmed using her Alexa. It’s all sounds very cool. I have an Alexa stored in the pantry but those reports about her listening to everything gives me the creeps. Maybe one day I’ll give her another try, but for now, I use a set of plugs I found on Amazon that turn on & off using a remote. I have to admit, it’s my favorite gadget.

Good for you. Why not?

There are so many conveniences to take advantage of. I like asking Siri to call so and so when I am out walking the dog and it is easier than juggling the leash etc.

We have aa nest in our Florida house. We get alerts if there is a package etc.

We have Google Assistant and I am getting used to asking it questions. I won't be hooking it up to lights though.

DH and I often say that we are happy we got to see all these advances in technology.

Dedtired your post made me laugh!

Dedtired, too funny!

I like the idea of a plug and remote Lukki. That would have suited me just fine. Alexa is built in to my Sonos internet radio speaker, I wouldn't have bought her on her own. But now that I have her, it's handy for a timer, the weather, math questions etc.

I'm glad I didn't need to use my phone to use the plug. I seldom use it and wouldn't take it to bed with me just to turn off my light.

We use Google Home. I have 4 Hue lights programmed to it. Our front porch light goes on a dusk and off at dawn so the flag is illuminated. My favorite is the walkout basement light that we tell to turn on when our fur baby needs to go out at night. Technology is a wonderful thing.

Well done.

As an alternative for others, there are also sound-activated switches that turn off and on with a hand clap.

Jazzy, wouldn't our parents and grandparents be incredulous over these small gadgets? Can you imagine what they would say about the things a little cell phone can do?

dedtired, do you know that you can set your Ring to a sensitivity level? At least we can with our Ring security cams.....it might not be true for the doorbell alarms. We've programmed ours to pick up humans and it has greatly reduced the number of squirrel and cat alarms!

I'm happiest with our smart irrigation system that runs according to actual rainfall and humidity levels. Rather that running automatically on pre-set days of the week, it will only water when it needs to be watered.

Rhizo, that smart irrigation system does sound smart! Ours is really old and ot easy to figure out so I’d love that too!

Jasdip, I’m not technical with the home stuff at all, that sounds complicated, you did good!!!

I have one of those Christmas light cords , (its green with a red button you can step on) I have mine hanging over my head board so i can turn the fan on & off from a distance.

WiFi outlets are pretty handy, and at a good price point. I think you are even smarter, though, for thinking of alternating your side of the bed. As a creature of habit, that would never occur to me.

Smart irrigation timers are great. Our yard is on an incline. In order to water the top long enough, the irrigation has to run so long that water runs down the street on the bottom side of the incline. The smart timer is smart enough to know that it needs to run for, say, 5 minutes, then stop for 2 minutes to let the water absorb, then run for 5 more minutes. No more run-off. I really like it.

I have a security camera at my front door that shows videos (no sound) of cats and moths visiting, but no squirrels. My doorbell (which is a Kuna light) only notifies me when there is a person, and it is smart enough to be able to identify people in the videos it makes.

Alexa, make this all stop!

DH uses Alexa to change the TV input from the satellite or the Wifi or what ever and the tells Alexa to switch input and she either ignores him completely, say All right and does nothing what so ever, or once in a while actually says all right and does it. I tell him Alexa needs a dope smack. He could use a remote. Hmmmmm.

Alexa is not fun when your DH’s name is Alex....there were many times I wanted to dope smack her! Another reason why she was banished to the pantry. (dope smack! Ha! I love that!)

One of my DS's had to put away their Alexa. They heard my grandson asking Alexa what is 7 plus 8? Off during schooling now!

Another bedside table (maybe from a yard sale) and another lamp'd get the job done for this old coot.

Oh, but ... I sleep in what was aunt's single bed for a while, then change to uncle's for a while ... with night table and lamp between them. The current problem avoided.

When one has become too large in the middle, does that tend to cause the bed to sag half way down, on either the left, right or middle ... over time?

ole joyfuelled

OJ, do you not think if it were feasible, I would have a second end table??

Rhizo, I keep changing the sensitivity. I don’t seem to have found the perfect level yet. The squirrel, who came back this morning , was on my doorstep. The camera is supposed to differentiate between humans and non humans, which mostly does. I’d like to keep an eye on the dog walkers who go by as well as whoever comes to my front door. Not interested in every car that goes by!