Some old habits just don't shake off.

A brief thought about wind-up watches and prisons.

Recently, I was speaking to someone and needed to check the time. I raised my left wrist, and transitioned to a facepalm from the raised arm position. Out of reflex or maybe a bit of habit, I went to check the smartwatch I haven't worn in almost three years, and the reaction pained me as I sighted the empty place on my wrist.

Yes, they sell watches here, but I am not asking my people to spend $50+ on a watch that barely tells the time and requires batteries that aren't sold or offered to us.

That's right: the watches are not wind-up watches, nor are they like my old Amazfit GTR2e -- rechargeable, but instead, they require a CR2025 battery. That battery requirement makes the watches useless once the cell dies, barring very specific circumstances that the vast majority of us here will not meet. We generate waste in the form of watches whose batteries could have been swapped if someone used some foresight to make that specific size button cell available.

Consider: we already do not have options to earn money in most prison facilities, despite being the support staff that make much of the prison function.

Wouldn't it be right action to locate more affordable watches, or to train a resident or two at each facility in watch battery replacement and give them a job that runs once or twice a week -- five minute battery swaps, $3? Or, offer wind-up watches as a more costly option?

Maybe I'm overthinking this, but I have plenty of time to do so. :)