I totally get where you’re coming from about keeping it simple. I used to be all about the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach—just a basic alarm and my neighbor’s number on the fridge. But after one too many close calls (once came home to a minor flood in the basement because the alarm tripped and nobody noticed), I caved and got a WiFi alert system. Not cheap, but honestly, it’s saved me a couple times now.
That said, I still leave a checklist for whoever’s watching the house, just in case tech fails or the power goes out. I guess for me it’s about layering—old-school backup with a bit of tech sprinkled in. But yeah, if you’ve got a reliable neighbor and a solid plan, that’s half the battle. Sometimes the simplest setup is the least stressful, especially if you’re not into fiddling with apps and notifications every time you leave town.