I remember thinking, when Apple Pay was released in 2014, “why on earth would I want to pay for things with my phone?!”

It just seemed so cumbersome, fumbling with a phone to pay for a coffee. That’s what the things in my wallet are for!

Fast forward ten years: I don’t even bother to take my wallet when I leave home; I pay for close to 100% of what I buy with my iPhone.

Practically, this has only caused issues twice in three years.

The first time was early in my relationship with Lisa. We were out one night for a glass of wine and some oysters at a well-known Charlottetown restaurant. It was still “serious COVID time,” when eating in a restaurant required both having proof of vaccination and personal ID; although we both had our “vax passes,” neither of us had ID. 

To the infinite credit of the restaurant, they allowed us to call up our respective blogs (this one, Lisa’s) on our phones by way of establishing our identities (personal publishing for the win!).

Thus, in truth, not a practical problem at all and a good story to boot. 

The second time was a few weeks ago at a well-known Charlottetown hotel (managed, by coincidence, by the same group). I had popped in to pick up a book they had on sale, and, somewhat perplexingly in 2024, their payment terminal didn’t support “tap.” I simply didn’t buy the book (and will, instead, borrow it from the public library, so actually a win for me).

Otherwise it’s Apple Pay for everything.

Indeed, I’ve bought hook, line, and sinker into the “keep everything in my Apple Wallet” system;  the current contents include everything from my credit card, to my vaccination records, to my library card, to my loyalty cards (after years of “do you have a Shoppers Drug Mart Optimum card?” at the cash, I relented). 

The only reason I carry my wallet anymore is when I’m going to be driving, as there’s no way—yet—to carry a digital version of my license.

Coda: After writing the above, I thought to myself “hey, isn’t 2024 the expiration year of my current drivers license?” I looked in my wallet, and, sure enough, my license expires in two days. Not the worst thing in the world, but for I’m heading off travelling shortly and I want to have a current driver’s license with me. Access PEI to the rescue: in the olden days, you could just go and get a new driver’s license while you waited, but recent changes mean they’re now printed “at an offsite facility with advanced security features” and are mailed, arriving 14-30 days later. Fortunately there is the option, for an extra $23.00, to have the new license sent by courier, for arrival, said the clerk I talked to over the phone, “5 to 7 business days, but most are coming in 2 or 3.” Which is just under the wire for me (I hope).