Expiration date

So I got a new phone last night. I had to lean harder on US Cellular than necessary, but I got what I needed (wanted?) and have emerged from the communications blackout.

I ended up with an HTC Desire. It checked two boxes: handles email (especially Gmail, obviously) and social media well, and it also seemed least likely to piss me off.

That second one is every bit as important as the first.

Being reasonably technologically capable, it only took a portion of the evening to get things straight. The phone runs Android, which is pretty clearly a take on Apple's iOS. Having owned an iPod Touch since 2008, I've been around the block a few times as far as touchscreen operating systems are concerned.

There are little differences, of course, but it's pretty intuitive and slick and all of that.

For people of my generation - and those afterward, obviously - grabbing on to new technology is generally pretty easy. We grew up with computers in schools and were among the first to migrate to mobile phone and computer technology.

And though I figured it out pretty quickly, I have to wonder how long that will last. Will my generation hit a certain age and suddenly be no longer able to cope with new technology? Will the phone of 2030 completely flummox me, much as my current phone would completely blow my mom's mind?

Or is my generation immune from such things? Since we got on board early, will we always be able to handle what comes our way?

It's an interesting question. I'd like to think I'll be able to keep current as I hurtle onward. If nothing else, I hope I can avoid eye-rolling from Jack and Stegosaurus when something new gets unboxed.