This last weekend I took the opportunity for some time off and a mini road trip right here in Kansas. Now, this was 2 days in some rural areas of the state and nothing compared to my 2020 migration from California when I bought my house (towing a trailer with 2 dogs in the truck) or my Summer 2021 trip to Philly/DC/Virginia for two weeks.
But as I drove, I had a lot of time to think and you might be surprised to hear that I listened to zero podcasts, no radio and just 4 or 5 songs during those 2 days.
Music?
I love a good playlist, whether its one that I’ve cultivated over many years or borrowed from Spotify, it’s great to sing along to favorite songs as the miles pass. I even have a playlist of songs from my friend Mike because hearing his influence across a variety of genres and artists brings me so much joy.
The only caveat, one learned from experience, is to never listen to the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack because it leads to speeding. Just hit play and tell me you don’t start moving faster?
Lately at home I’ve been putting my music app on shuffle and rediscovering old favorites as I do the dishes, iron fabric, or sew. It has begun to take over some YouTube/Netflix time because there’s only so many true crime dramas you can watch before tipping over into paranoia.
But I didn’t listen to music on this road trip, despite buying several CDs at antique shops (wow, that makes me feel old), like the best of Johnny Cash and the soundtrack to Pocahontas. I used to love music while I drove and one notable reason is that singing along really helps when I’m driving late at night or am feeling tired, neither of those were the case last weekend.
One time, years ago, I was taking a day up at South Lake Tahoe when I took some pain pills for a headache. It was only driving home that I realized I had taken some nighttime pain meds which were putting me to sleep. I rolled down the windows, blared music and sang the whole way home. Then passed out for a nap.
Podcasts
What about listening to a good podcast? There are several which have put out regular episodes and I’ve downloaded them and…. just don’t listen. For one, I find it difficult to listen to something non-fictional when I can’t take notes. Even for pure entertainment, if there’s an interesting quote or turn of phrase, I want to note the time and go back to it, even when I’m driving.
But the best podcasts, in my opinion, are ones that require some deep thinking, introducing new ideas, perspectives, ways of thinking. And while they feel like something that can easily be done in the car, for the past few years I have reached for them less and less.
I can remember a vacation to Mexico where I was going to be driving from Cancun to a lake very near Belize and I was ready. I listened to 3 audio books and the entire Scene on Radio “Seeing White” podcast series. It was great!
Now, I will barely get 20 minutes into a well written, recorded and produced podcast and just… stop.
Over the past few years listening to more audio input feels a little like tipping trash into an already full bin. There’s just not enough mental space to take in more information.
In fact, when I was on my scouting road trip (4,000 solo miles in June 2020), most of the time I didn’t have anything playing in the car as I drove from California to Iowa and back.
What do I do in the car?
The answer to “so what do you do for all those hours in the car?” is quite simple.
I use the time to think.
There are a few larger projects coming up on the horizon for me and I’ve used the time on long, lonely country roads thinking about my plans and execution. I think about projects I want to complete at home and how to prioritize them.
Sometimes I’ll see a beautiful, old home nestled back in the trees and I’ll think about owning a property like that some day. I run through ideas in my head about my writing projects and blog posts.
Now, critically this time and space is available for thinking when I am not in a downtown area, in the midst of rush hour traffic, or navigating a tricky bit of road with construction. I can do this thinking when I’m out on the rural routes with very little company except for some cows.
Oh, and on this trip I also say ostriches and camels which was very exciting!
When I spend my time in deep thought, the miles fly by faster than usual. If the price of gas were not so high I would do it with more regularity.
As an introvert, I have plenty of time where I prefer to be alone, mostly for the benefit of quiet. Right now, for example, I am sitting by the fireplace listening to the pops and feeling the heat while my dachshund, Wilson, burrows in a mess of blankets making a nest on the floor. Years ago I would have insisted that the coffee shop was the best place for me to write, when it was really just a great distraction and chance for fancy coffee and people watching.
While I know it’s not always feasible to have a quiet car ride, especially when you have passengers, I highly recommend it. And if you’re feeling like your brain or adrenal system is overloaded and can’t take any more stimulus, I suggest turning down the volume on anything you can.