I don't think I could live as I do without access to the world and my family and friends through my computer.
I have to admit to not being very good technically, but if I get a problem I just post it on one of my expat forums, or an IT forum, and there is always someone willing to take me through it. I do sometimes have to ask them to explain it without jargon - somebody told me I should be compacting my folders, to which I replied 'What's a folder?'
In my last three years at the Inland Revenue, we went over to computers and ditched all our manual systems. Unfortunately, the offices were burgled and all the chips were stolen and it took six weeks to replace them. We were unable to work on any of the files, which pleased most tax payers unless they were waiting for a rebate! I now have a notebook in which I write any essential passwords, e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, etc. just in case I lose the use of my computer for some reason, such as a power failure. My photos are held on Picasa so I can always access them.