Passwords

When exactly did passwords become so necessary to getting through life? I am old enough to remember when the only password any of us knew was the one that got us into the neighborhood tree house. And if they changed the password on you and didn't tell you the new one, you knew your social life was on the skids.

By definition, a password is:

1. a secret word or expression used by authorized persons to prove their right to access, information, etc.

I'm not sure that I should have any right to access or information of any kind. Doesn't that sound somewhat James Bondish? How could such a thing be necessary in my little, old life? But, because of my work, I use lots of passwords; passwords into bank websites, government websites, supply ordering websites; the list is endless. And all of those passwords float around in my head taking up much needed space! Now my mind is so full of passwords that it seems there is hardly room for anything else. And I wish I had a dollar (would have been a dime, except for inflation) for every e-mail received from online stores, etc. that have had to send me the "Forgot your password e-mail." I always feel somewhat upbraided after receiving one. I don't know why. And then when they make you reset it instead of just sending you the old one....Sheesh!!!! More brain space just wasted!

At my age, shouldn't I be filling my mind with memories or nuggets of wisdom to pass on to the next breathlessly waiting generation?

I read somewhere that you should never have a spreadsheet or word file with your list of passwords because hackers can steal that info and wreak havoc in your life. (And what's with hackers anyway? Isn't that a lower life form? How can anyone have so little to do that they have endless time to spend sitting in dark rooms hacking into other peoples lives? I say get your own! But I digress...)

So tell me, how do you keep your passwords straight? And don't you really wish that we lived back in the times when "Password" was a television game show with Alan Ludden as the host? Ah, simpler times for sure!