“Doing the same old things? Why don't you try something new?”

How many times have you heard that advice? Usually from someone younger, someone who thinks change is always good and that the latest version of everything must be better than the old one.

Well, let me tell you something. At my age, I've become proficient at doing the same old things. I know where everything is, I know how everything works, and, most important, I know how to get things done without having a nervous breakdown.

Then I bought a new computer.

What was I thinking?

My old computer and I had a wonderful relationship. We understood each other. I knew where to find my files, how to print a document, and how to get my work done. It wasn't perfect, but neither am I. We had learned to live with each other's shortcomings.

But someone decided it was time for an upgrade. A new computer would be faster, better, and more efficient. It would open up a whole new world of possibilities.

They forgot to mention that it would also open up a whole new world of problems.

Take my printer, for example. It worked perfectly well with the old computer. But the new computer apparently had never heard of it. The printer appeared on the list of devices, but when I tried to print, I got a message about a driver error.

A driver? I wasn't trying to drive anywhere! I just wanted to print a piece of paper.

So began my adventure into the wonderful world of downloading printer drivers. I visited websites, followed instructions, clicked buttons, and tried to figure out what the computer wanted from me. Hours passed. My patience diminished. My vocabulary expanded in ways I won't describe in a family newspaper.

It took me practically the entire day to download and install the driver.

An entire day!

I could have written an article, prepared a lecture, answered emails, and probably solved a few microbiology problems in less time. Instead, I was trying to persuade a printer and a computer to speak to each other.

And then I had a terrible thought.

I never should have gotten rid of the old computer!

At least the old one and I spoke the same language. Now I have a machine that is supposedly smarter than its predecessor, and I spend my time trying to convince it to do things the old machine did without a fuss.

Of course, the technology experts will tell me that once I learn the new system, everything will be easier.

That's what they always say.

But here's my question: Easier for whom?

When you've reached an age at which you've mastered your routines, why should you be expected to start all over again just because somebody invented a new way to do the same thing?

I'm not opposed to progress. I've spent decades teaching medical microbiology, and I understand the importance of scientific advancement. New discoveries can save lives. New technology can accomplish remarkable things.

But sometimes I wonder whether every improvement really improves our lives.

Maybe there's something to be said for doing the same old things. We know how to do them. They work. They save time. And they don't require us to spend an entire afternoon searching for a button that used to be right where we expected it to be.

So the next time somebody tells me, “Why don't you try something new?” I may have an answer.

“Because I finally figured out how to use the old thing!”

And if they don't like that answer, they can come over and install my next printer driver.

I'll even provide lunch.

Just don't ask me to print the menu.