Zen and the art of road-tripping

Driving long distances makes you focus on the moment. Like meditation, a great movie or addictive crossword puzzles, all else in the world fades into the background. Already I've entered the moment of this trip and started to enjoy the here and now. Although driving may not be everyone's cup of tea, here are the principles that I've adopted to make it work:

Set Milestones: It's a daunting task to drive 700 miles in a single day. It can't be done in one swoop, especially if you're alone. So like a complicated Excel problem, break it into manageable pieces. I segment my drive into 100-250 mile pieces and focus on just getting there next. Then I take a break. Whether 5 minutes to fill up on gas or a longer sit-down meal, the pieces help me focus on realistic goals. When I left on Tuesday, El Paso was over 750 miles from work. It's a whole lot easier to focus on making it to Buc'ees, which was only 120 miles, then San Antonio, then Fort Stockton, then finally El Paso.

Avoid Congestion: A lot of people react negatively to driving because they think of their commutes. Commuting is not at all like long distance driving. When you're competing with thousands of other people all moving in the same direction (and all usually in a rush), it's a dog-eat-dog world. The open road is different. Besides the ubiquitous 18-wheelers, it's usually pretty empty. When driving, I avoid rush-hours near major cities, since that can absolutely ruin the experience.

Listen to Great, Diverse Music: Music (and singing along) make driving much more enjoyable. You can't just find your favorite band and hit play though (even if it's Moby). You need diverse music to exercise different parts of your brain. I've inserted a few of my playlists on the following link and you can see there's pop, rock, rap, country and everything in between (Playlists). Also, Ive been helped by many others here, so thank you to Margaret and others who contributed music.

Bring Refreshments: Find what you like and bring it. I like Dr. Pepper with Imperial Cane Sugar (Thanks Kamran!) and home-baked oatmeal cherry cookies (Thanks Susan!). Also, I've found that snacking on sunflower seeds helps occupy the mouth without being excessive in calories.

Of course, there are other things. Good company, a pillow for naps, GPS and a mix of "additives" (caffeine, sugar, water, vitamins) all help. But the essentials are above. You don't need a BMW to make it enjoyable. Focus on the moment and all will be well. For those who don't know, two of the best books I've ever read are about travel across the US (by motorcycle and boat, respectively)...they are "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" and "Lila" by Robert Pirsig. (http://www.amazon.com/Zen-Art-Motorcycle-Maintenance-Inquiry/dp/0553277472) The first is also the inspiration for this entry.

Poker update: I've been driving, not playing so far, so no change

Miles driven: 1,190

Quote of the day: "To live for some future goal is shallow. It's the sides of the mountain that sustain life, not the top.” - Robert Pirsig

This is my dashboard while driving through New Mexico, which was beautiful. For the full video, go to attachments area below.