Remember the good old days? Movies could be seen for perhaps 25 cents; then it steadily increased to the you-need-to-apply-for-a-loan-for-a family-of-four prices to get in. Then, that quickly evolved to you and your date with a couple of sodas and maybe a bucket of popcorn or two for the cost of the evening. Skip the  five dollar each boxes of milk duds or chocolate covered raisins; you didn't need the extra sugar, anyway.

Enter the age of technology!

Yes, I recall when the simple addition of an antenna on the roof brought all the TV you needed, on all 4 networks. OK…5. I forgot channel WOR-TV. That wasn't really so bad, right? You could stay home and watch movies that were perhaps a touch old. I thought of them as 'used.'

Then came streaming services on your pay-for-tv experience. At least you could join in the conversations around the water cooler about the nearly-new flicks. The problem is that these services renew each year and some of them are a bit pricey. No, most of them are, these days. 

Thanks to the world of computers, we were ushered into a whole new age of what's happening now. Along came the computer games, which morphed into the hand-held portable ones like X-box, and PS1 and 2.  And then came games you could play on your TV and with your TV. Wii comes to mind. All of those setups cost a small fortune for most families, yet they bought them for the kids, anyway, and probably wound up playing them, too, when the kids were not home. Proof positive that when someone wants something badly enough for their pleasure, they will find a way to buy it. Witness stuff like hang gliders, jet skis, bungie cords (ok, not so expensive, maybe, but if they don't work right you will not like the medical bills, I promise you), motorcycles, ATV's, and electric bikes, even. I have a friend who has one of those and she said her biggest problem is hefting it up a full flight of 10 stairs to get to her front door, to keep the e-bike safely stored inside her apartment. But, you should see the muscles she's developed in her arms! Her bilateral shoulder bursitis is clearing up a bit, she said, which is a good thing. Anyway, I digress….

Today we have a whole new thing to play with but this one is a bit different. I don't know about you, but even if I was paid to try bungie jumping I wouldn't do it. Neither would I attempt a motocross race! But, this new 'thing' of which I speak is almost sci-fi, I feel. That's 'science fiction' for all you non sci-fi fans. 

Imagine being able to fly - and not get hurt!  Imagine being able to race in a car, or on a bike, or to play golf, bowl, fish,  join an exercise class, dive, or do so many things that my poor aging memory forgets most of 'em.  But, imagine having fun , and trying new sports or activities, at any time of day - or night - and without even leaving your house. No fighting bad weather, or dealing with jerks on the road who almost ran into you, then eventually having to look for a  convenient parking space, and not finding one. Are you really in the mood to have a good time after all of that?? 

Imagine doing any of those things - including watching tv and movies on a 'movie sized screen' - or watching an amazing video  such as those by Richard Attenborough as he shows us the miracle and beauty of so many kinds of life forms- and so many more educational things! Imagine not only having fun, but learning, too. An educational tool as well as an entertainment system - that, my dear readers, is what virtual reality is all about. 

Someone said to me, "But, the headset is so expensive!" Is it really? You can buy a really nice one for just a few hundred dollars, or you can go whole hog and really break the bank. We choose the ones Meta creates and let me tell you, they are fantastic! They are very affordable, and work extremely well. My fav is our Quest 3, which has its own charging station. It is a little work-horse and we love it! That's the best part: everyone in the family can use it. There are apps, which is computer speak for 'applications' or 'programs',  for so many interests that it is impossible to list them all.  I personally love my golfing games, bowling, hang gliding, sailing, tennis, diving, and even space ship battles. All feel and look extremely real, putting me right in the center of the action.  That is called 'immersive' view and it packs a real punch! Yes, you have to purchase them - but, you are allowed to choose which ones you want and how much you wish to spend. They are almost always a whole lot less expensive than the games for the hand-held gaming systems. So, you are in control of how much you can spend, and on what. Some apps are on a trial basis, so you get to try them out first. Some are actually free. You get to keep your apps as long as you want, so no expensive 'renewal' fees to worry about. 

Best of all is our own app, SetVR XL Unleashed!  It is an amazing app that lets me exercise how and when I want by way of martial arts movements as I battle opponents. Some opponents are real, live players!   I jealously guard my standing on the leader board, too! And, when needed, I relax in our amazing Meditation and Yoga area. Best of all, I do not get injured - and I can practice my martial arts moves at my own speed whenever I feel the urge to "play".  Also, we have the amazing History Portal where you can learn about the real heroes of Martial arts -  the "History Generals", the ones who paved the way for the rest of us. Legends, all - they are definitely worth learning about. 

 It is amazing how my life has changed so much for the better since VR has entered it. I am never bored, and to be honest, I sailed right through the COVID shelter in place experience for nearly 3 years with so much to look forward to and to do with my apps, that I never felt isolated. I will not tell you my age, but let me just say I am no longer a spring chicken. Still, my body is in fantastic shape according to my doctors and my attitude is something all of them say they hardly ever see.  When they ask me, "What are you doing? What is your secret?"  I gladly tell them, "Virtual reality…it has changed my life for the better and I love it!" For the record, I began my VR journey in 2018, fully 7 years ago. 

Now, let me ask you: Where else could I have  experienced so much fun and learning for the past 7 years, for the cost/expenditure of my headset?  The answer is:  No where else. I'm there. Divided out, theoretically  my $400 headset has cost me over the past 7 years about  $57 per year.  Divide that by 12 months and it comes out to about $4.75 per month. These days a single magazine at the check out stand in the supermarket often comes close to twice that. Are you quite sure you are bargain conscious? 

OK..I have sat here long enough to type all of this. Excuse me, but I need to go exercise and I think for today I will do our app, and then a couple of sets of tennis. 

Life! Gotta virtually love it!

Marie Shanahan 💘