Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I will consider these options. I'm sure there's a way to make it work! The internet connection is a private, home service that is password protected. ...

Are you saying to go offline then export the key (which I have on paper but will do digitally too). Then upgrade the Mac OS first so I can download the new version of Electrum. And when that is done I should be able to import the key and the wallet should work?

My wallet says default wallet, imported.
When I tried to send coins it told me I needed to upgrade.  I don't understand why your older version would work and mine won't.  Also, since that attempt to send which I canceled, at the bottom left where it used to say the balance it now says synchronizing... and it doesn't seem to synchronize. 

Help please. I have 3.1.3 version of Electrum. It won't allow me to send Bitcoin unless I upgrade to version 4.something.  I have my wallet and my password, but sadly, can't find the seed words and that space is grayed out in the wallet menu. I have backed up the wallet by the copy menu item and saved it to a fash drive. But that is the only way I know to back it up.  The problem is that my Mac OS needs to be upgraded because the new version of Electrum won't run on my el Capitan Mac OS. Beofre I begin upgrading and risk incompatibility I'd like advice on the best way to do this.  My prefered solution would be to upgrade to a version of Electrum that will run on El Capitan and allow me to send coins. I want to do that before upgrading my Mac OS. Any suggestions? Thanks!!