It’s an idyllic scene: after supper, the whole family cuddles in front of the fire to play a game of scrabble, go fish, monopoly. We jog, knit, canoe at sunset, go on wildlife jaunts and canvass the neighbourhood for the local animal shelter. The Family Unit prospers, without a stitch of ADD in sight.

But here’s what I’d rather not fess up: I am addicted to America’s Next Top Model. So is Justin (shhh: don't tell anyone). There. It’s done. Our illicit love affair with trash teevee is officially de-closeted. And yes, we do feel dirty afterwards.

I don’t need seventy channels. I just need TLC for What Not to Wear, Showcase for cursing and naughtiness, Spike TV for surprise reruns of The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller on those dreary nights when you need to decompress and expect there to be Nothing On.

We don’t buy ice cream. If we did, we’d eat it. Same as cable—once you get used to it not being there, you accept its absence and dive into a good book instead.

Or so I’m told.

Calling Eastlink to order our phone-net-cable bundle for the new house, Justin and I were both struck (as happens every two years or so) with a righteous optimism: a desire to cancel it, cold turkey. We can depend on the fabulousness of Rogers Video Direct for entertainment, and own a few choice DVDs for our tank engine-entranced boy. We’ll own the television—it won’t own us.

I was bolstered by this article, the testament of a man who unplugged his family from the mechanical boob. Best thing we ever did, he says. It’s worth a read. You can’t help but be inspired.

After all, a cable hookup provides 10% quality and 90% surfing and complaining. TV Sucks. <two hours later> TV Still Sucks. Sucks sucks sucks.

And another evening of our lives is vapourized by the big black box. Spent willing it to give us something to chew on when we could have been poring over the Giller Prize nominees or mastering the art of french cooking or doing yoga and feeling at one with the universe.

Or maybe not.

I hesitate for all kinds of habitual reasons. Have you ever cancelled cable? Love it? Failed at it? Wouldn’t dare? Tell me about it. I really want to know: is it worth it?