An attempt to outsmart smart home tech (guess who won)

An attempt to outsmart smart home tech (guess who won)

Plus, cooking and kitchen organization, the Montessori way.

Amanda Hesser

Oct 23, 2026

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I thought I’d gotten my act together on the home-office-tech front in Ojai. I planned for a long, shallow desk whose view of our backyard would reflect natural light on my face, which everyone

over 50

appreciates for Zooms. I’ve been a laptop loyalist since 1993, but I finally broke down and got a monitor. (Apple sells refurbished and certified studio displays on their site for a few hundred dollars less than new ones, btw.) I would now be able to read spreadsheets without squinting and feel closer to colleagues onscreen.

I spent last winter and spring working at our dining room table, which produced back pain and general crankiness. In truth, I get cranky about anything that interferes with work, but that’s more of an issue for my therapist.

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