When I was working full time, one of the men I worked for used to chide me, “Aren’t you hooked up yet?” He couldn’t understand why I had a computer but had not “hooked up” to the Internet.

I figured I could live without it, but once I had that extra cord “hooked up” to my phone line, I discovered what I had been missing. Now, I actually make my living by use of the Internet.

For senior citizens especially, access to the Internet provides a wealth of information and a source of hours of enjoyment.

Some of my friends have told me they have a computer but never use it, or they have one but only use it for e-mail. Not a day goes by that I don’t spend more than a few minutes looking for a recipe, someone’s address, genealogy information or just plain information. Much like paging through a magazine, the Internet provides photos, maps and articles.

If you have access to a computer, you might find a whole new world awaits. Many public libraries provide computers for public use, free of charge. The libraries generally have someone on staff who will show you how to use the computer and access information.

If you have a computer and use it just for e-mail, you already know what a timesaver and money-saver e-mail can be. Especially when one has arthritic hands and writing a letter is painful, e-mail is a marvelous solution. Now, instead of writing several letters a week, we can e-mail daily to bring people up to date, share information and baby pictures and stay in touch. And it happens in an instant.

I seriously urge anyone who has not hooked up to the Internet yet, to do so. Get one of your grandchildren to help you. You’ll find it fascinating and a source of more information.

For example, you can type in the address of one of your friends or relatives, and using the “map” choice, see a picture of their house and street right on the computer screen.

Since I am dependent on the computer and Internet in my occupation, I appreciate the technology even more. One of my recent discoveries of especially good Web sites (the equivalent of a magazine or book on the computer screen) is: www.maine.gov/portal/facts_history/mainers.

This is a state Web site that gives people the opportunity to share stories of their childhood, of seasonal activities, occupations and family information.

Reading these stories is most interesting. The title of one, “Hogtown,” was especially intriguing. And I read of someone’s experiences living in Addison in the 1960s. There are articles about big storms, how a family and small towns were affected by war, fishing and hunting and much more.

If you like history and reminiscing about Maine life, you will enjoy Web site. And if you, like more than half of Mainers today, are not a native and just curious to learn more about the state and its people, this Web site will be an eye-opener. Now that I’ve found these real Maine stories, if I don’t have work to do or a book I’m reading, I enjoy just learning about another facet of Maine life.

There are many opportunities for senior citizens to learn about computers and their use. According to SeniorNet, based in California, computer use among senior citizens shows that more than 40 percent now own computers and 70 percent of them use the Internet regularly. Most people are using these machines for email and research, but “e-commerce” is growing, i.e., purchasing things on-line (the term for the internet).

Check your local school department to find out about classes offered through adult education. Other senior-oriented groups sometimes provide lessons and there are private firms in the business of teaching about computer use. Most of these places have classes geared toward senior citizens only, so you won’t be in a classroom with teenagers.

Learning something new can be very frustrating at first, but have patience and I guarantee you will be surprised and pleased at how much you’ll enjoy it.