A type B traveler’s perspective
I’m unapologetically type B. My favorite travel plan is, “Let’s just see how we feel tomorrow.” Rather than spending hours researching everything before I leave, I’d rather ask my waiter over dinner where the locals go.
Need more proof I’m a type B? Here it is. I was burgled at my previous apartment seven years ago, and ever since, buying a security camera has been one of those jobs I’ve been meaning to get around to. Then there’s the fact that I’ve lived in my current house for five years with a broken doorbell, something I’ve also been meaning to replace for, well, five years. Suffice to say, home security has always been on my radar. Actually doing something about it? That’s another story.
So when I was asked to test out the Ring Battery Doorbell and Outdoor Cam Plus for my upcoming trip, I was thrilled. The setup was satisfyingly simple. I only had to skim over the instructions to understand what was required. (I guess type B’s also don’t like instruction manuals.) First step, charge the battery. It charged quickly, in the time it took me to clear my inbox and Slacks.
Second step, installation. After downloading the Ring app and scanning the QR codes to register the devices, I felt like I’d finally dragged my home security into the 21st century. To install the devices outside, I decided to call a professional as I can’t be trusted to even hammer a nail into the wall. Embarrassingly, he got the job done in under four minutes.
As I set off on my trip, it was comforting to know my home was more secure than ever. I couldn’t believe the level of detail in the notifications. I knew when someone was walking past with a dog, a person was cycling past my house, or a man was outside my door with a brown parcel. The latter actually came in very useful as unsurprisingly, I’d forgotten about the delivery of an important order, and thanks to my Ring notifications, I could message my neighbor to intercept.
Final thoughts
Thankfully, my trip passed without a single suspicious notification. But in a way, that feels like part of the appeal. Visible security devices can act as a deterrent in themselves, making a home a far less attractive target. For years, my version of home security had been leaving a light on while I was away, before I realized that wasn’t great for the environment or my electricity bill. Having the Ring devices in place feels like a much smarter and safer solution, and is easy enough to set up for even the most type B travelers to handle.