Road Trippin'
This is a continuation from Ginger’s blog (That’s Ms. Hill to You) of the same title published on 4/11. She got me started on this subject and as soon as I started commenting I realized I needed to just do my own blog on it.
“What is it about the road trip that gets me?” asks Ms. Hill. What a great question! And there are probably as many different answers out there as there are roadies! That’s the thing about road trips to those of us who are true roadies at heart – it’s very personal. For Ginger it’s the seeing of new things that inspires her and calls her to those never-ending dotted lines. You know, it just occurred to me that this would be a really fun psychological study of people. Becaue when I think about it, it doesn’t surprie me a bit that it’s that visual stimulation that tugs on Ginger to get out there and roll down the highway – Ginger is an artist and a very visual person, so it makes perfect sense to me that the draw for her is a visual one.
She also talks about the need to get out of her head and just "get out of here,” and that, I suspect is a universal restlesness in all roadies. Really – to the point where it becomes dificult to resist the urge to just say fuck it, pack the bags, quit the job and go. I lived this life for about 3 years. I was hooked up with a partner at the time who was the most restless of souls who have roamed this planet (which may have been associated with his unstable mental health). He could not stay anywhere for more then 6 months – literally we moved every 6 months and he kept thinking that the next place we landed was going to be the promised land, but what I realize now (hind site is always 20/20) is that no one place could ever offer him tranquility, because it was the times in between, the times on the road, that he was happiest. We crossed the country a couple of times and lived on the road in a variety of styles -- true roadies in an old RV, we lived in a tent twice (once by choice and once because we were homeless and had no money) we stayed in motels when we had money and in the car when we didn’t. Okay sorry, I won’t go on about those years – to coin a phrase: they were the best of times, they were the worst of times. But that’s how life is on the road – always the roller coaster – thrills and spills (of course this might also have be somewhat attributable to his mental health).
Okay sorry, back to where I was going with this - - - For me, I think the attraction is a feeling of groundedness that comes with being on the road. (Isn't that funny -- I feel more grounded when I'm mobile?!) It puts me in touch with the time and space I am in. I feel very present when I am on a road trip. It’s a state of mind all it’s own. (You must understand that a “road trip” is not tooting around town doing errands, it’s getting out there on the big road and covering some territory.) It’s not that my mind doesn’t wander when I’m road tripping, sure it does, but it’s like the energy around me is very crisp and my nerves are keenly attuned (okay, so maybe some of that is the amount of coffee I drink on the road – but whatever it is, it’s all part of the experience). And the other thing for me (maybe related) is the sense of being in my own little pod of space (the interior of my car) which is traveling along transporting me and keeping me somehow safe from all the stuff “out there.” Which leads me back to my theory of road trip attraction fitting with a psychological profile – I am definitely an introvert and don’t feel comfortable dealing with humans – my little “space pod” is like a safe and secluded nest to me on the road. I find my self feeling at loose ends with myself quite frequently in my everyday life – like I’m not quite fitting in to this place; but when I’m on the road, that sensation of being present erases all that insecurity and anxiety.
It’s true. I love being on the road. Thank you, Ms Hill, for reminding me how much.
“What is it about the road trip that gets me?” asks Ms. Hill. What a great question! And there are probably as many different answers out there as there are roadies! That’s the thing about road trips to those of us who are true roadies at heart – it’s very personal. For Ginger it’s the seeing of new things that inspires her and calls her to those never-ending dotted lines. You know, it just occurred to me that this would be a really fun psychological study of people. Becaue when I think about it, it doesn’t surprie me a bit that it’s that visual stimulation that tugs on Ginger to get out there and roll down the highway – Ginger is an artist and a very visual person, so it makes perfect sense to me that the draw for her is a visual one.
She also talks about the need to get out of her head and just "get out of here,” and that, I suspect is a universal restlesness in all roadies. Really – to the point where it becomes dificult to resist the urge to just say fuck it, pack the bags, quit the job and go. I lived this life for about 3 years. I was hooked up with a partner at the time who was the most restless of souls who have roamed this planet (which may have been associated with his unstable mental health). He could not stay anywhere for more then 6 months – literally we moved every 6 months and he kept thinking that the next place we landed was going to be the promised land, but what I realize now (hind site is always 20/20) is that no one place could ever offer him tranquility, because it was the times in between, the times on the road, that he was happiest. We crossed the country a couple of times and lived on the road in a variety of styles -- true roadies in an old RV, we lived in a tent twice (once by choice and once because we were homeless and had no money) we stayed in motels when we had money and in the car when we didn’t. Okay sorry, I won’t go on about those years – to coin a phrase: they were the best of times, they were the worst of times. But that’s how life is on the road – always the roller coaster – thrills and spills (of course this might also have be somewhat attributable to his mental health).
Okay sorry, back to where I was going with this - - - For me, I think the attraction is a feeling of groundedness that comes with being on the road. (Isn't that funny -- I feel more grounded when I'm mobile?!) It puts me in touch with the time and space I am in. I feel very present when I am on a road trip. It’s a state of mind all it’s own. (You must understand that a “road trip” is not tooting around town doing errands, it’s getting out there on the big road and covering some territory.) It’s not that my mind doesn’t wander when I’m road tripping, sure it does, but it’s like the energy around me is very crisp and my nerves are keenly attuned (okay, so maybe some of that is the amount of coffee I drink on the road – but whatever it is, it’s all part of the experience). And the other thing for me (maybe related) is the sense of being in my own little pod of space (the interior of my car) which is traveling along transporting me and keeping me somehow safe from all the stuff “out there.” Which leads me back to my theory of road trip attraction fitting with a psychological profile – I am definitely an introvert and don’t feel comfortable dealing with humans – my little “space pod” is like a safe and secluded nest to me on the road. I find my self feeling at loose ends with myself quite frequently in my everyday life – like I’m not quite fitting in to this place; but when I’m on the road, that sensation of being present erases all that insecurity and anxiety.
It’s true. I love being on the road. Thank you, Ms Hill, for reminding me how much.
posted by 10-8-ious | 7:47 PM
4 Comments:
Road trips are the best! I love them. It is truly the best time for some good soul searching. In fact, I forgot how much I love road trips until I watched a recent movie which I have recommended to everyone! I expected a silly romantic comedy, and I will admit that this movie started a little "differently" but in the end, it was fantastic. Far and away much better than I expected and it honestly made me want to get in the car and drive. I guess I should tell you what the name of the movie is . . . Elizabethtown, directed by Cameron Crowe.
Pammy, when I was single I would go to South Haven every Valentines Day weekend by my self--whether I was dating or not. Its not very far and its so quite in the winter. If you can't afford a long trip--take a short trip--by yourself. Even now, I take off by myself and go see my girls. I love being in the car with the music turned up and the windows rolled down! Its amazing how rejuvinated you feel after getting away! I should probably do a road trip blog--I feel one erupting.
The convenient thing about being unemployed is that you can go where ever/do whatever you want, the inconvenient thing is that there isn't much money to do it with.
I look at it as the cost of good mental health...and I'm willing to live on Ramen noodles and not much else if it means I can take some time away. Of course I've got a job interview tomorrow, so it all may be a moot point ;-)
And Dale, I love your insight into my call to the road, I think you've got it right, I also identify with your feeling very "present". On the road there is only the moment; this stretch of road, this piece of sky, and you - I love it.
I'm going to go back over to my blog and post a little ditty that I wrote when I got back from the trip...
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