Spontaneity (And How It's Hard to Find Sometimes)

I need a road trip. Travelling is probably one of my favorite ways to pass the time, and I tend to get to do quite a bit of it. Whether it's going to see my family, or just going somewhere to be with someone, it's one of those things I get a little thrill out of every time. I like stepping into the car and closing the door and knowing that I'm headed somewhere, and I'm not rushed to get there.

I like travelling a lot. Almost as much as I like Dunkin' Donuts. However, I don't like...tourism. One of the things that I can't stand when travelling is having a set itinerary. "At 7:45, breakfast at Dunkin' Donuts. 8am, leave Dunkin' Donuts. 8:30am, Arrive at Titanic Museum." Gag me.

I don't mind seeing the sites that everybody absolutely must see. Don't get me wrong. I love the view from the "Top of the Rock" at Rockefeller Plaza, and there's something undeniably cool about the Gateway Arch. But I like walking down the sidestreets, places that you really only see locals. I like jumping on the subway when the rest of the group goes shopping on 5th Avenue so that I can hang out outside the Blue Note Jazz club and push my ear up to the window with some drunken homeless guy. (That, by the way, is a true story.) I feel like you miss out on what makes an awesome place so awesome when you only experience the same stuff you can see on just about every movie that takes place any given city.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with a bit of that. I pretty much "Squee" every time I see a picture of the Majestic Theatre in New York, and I get a sense of wonder when I think about the Grand Canyon. (Although aside from the Grand Canyon...there's not really all that much to see at the Grand Canyon.)

That being said, I need to plan a road trip. I'm thinking about Branson, Missouri. I lived there for a couple years recently, and I have a lot of good friends still there. It's been a while, though, and I feel the urge to get back into my car and take off for it. It's one of those rare places that I actually felt at home. :) But you can be certain you won't see me in the house of the Baldknobbers' Theatre or careening down a slide at White Water (although, if it can be managed, you might find me at Silver Dollar City for an hour or two...).

The point is, Peticus needs a touch of spontaneity here. So, expect to hear about me travelling somewhere at some point in the next month or two. :D