On the Road Again...

Beginning tomorrow and for the next ten or so weeks, many of my friends (and I) will be traveling around the country and to other countries, be it for good, for a few years, or for just a few days or weeks.

With that in mind, I have decided to compile a post dedicated to Travel Safety in this Possibly-Apocalyptic Era. I hope that everyone on the move will remember what it's like to drive in Las Vegas during rain (or, that one time, snow): nobody knows how to act, so everybody freaks out.


IF YOU ARE DRIVING:
Lucky for us, there is, on the internet, a National Road Safety Foundation offering study materials. I choose to share with you their Quick Safety Tips for traveling Into the Elements. Many of these Tips are irrelevant because it's not January. But we all remember that one time we went to Yellowstone and decided to take the exciting route home, only to hit a blizzard on a mountaintop and a sign that said something like, "You may absolutely not go any further unless you have chains on your tires."

Other Tips fall under the domain of common sense: do not attempt to drive down from Windy Ridge to Portland with a cigarette in your left hand, your cell phone in your right, a cool, refreshing beverage between your knees and one pinkie finger on the wheel. The mountain will win.

Also common sense is the need to get trip-checked: make sure your oil is changed, tires are well-inflated, windshield wipers are functional, not dry-rotted. Make sure you bring along your car charger. Yes, yes, yes, we all also remember the days before cell phones, and how scary movies changed forever until writers discovered the trick of adding the "Damn! No signal!" line prior to the Teenagers' arrival at Scary Lake. I say hey! We have the technology, we may as well use it in emergency situations, until the grid goes down and we can't anymore.

If you want to read all of the "Into the Elements" page, you can find it here.

Personally, I also carry a basic car safety kit including jumper cables, tire-changing-implements, gloves, a safety light and flares, along with a fire blanket (and like 5 spare blankets) and at least 1 gallon of water just for me.

IF YOU ARE FLYING:
Remember that most crashes happen during takeoff and touchdown. For this reason, it is best to get a nonstop flight. That being said, if you're flying nonstop to someplace REALLY far away east-west-wise, avoid blood clots by doing some exercises (Susan Lundman recommends these) and possibly, depending on your age and health, wearing compression socks. Finally, vote for respect and integrity, and PAY ATTENTION to the safety-card debriefing (for once). Oh, and don't sit in an exit row if you are not planning on actually lifting that door open!!! More tips can be found here.

ONCE YOU GET WHERE YOU'RE GOING:
Off the top of my head...carry your wallet in your front pocket or your purse over your shoulder. Sit on the aisle in the bus. Walk confidently with your head up and be aware of your surroundings. Don't buy perfume from guys at gas stations. Swarms of adorable children begging for candy may also be skilled pickpockets.

In short, don't let paranoia ruin your trip, but help ensure your trip will be a good one by using your noggin.
Then of course there is my favorite advice of all time: the map is not the territory!

As a sendoff for my friends, I offer the Wayfarer's Prayer, which comes to us from the Jewish tradition and Wikipedia:


"May it be Your will, LORD, our God and the God of our ancestors, that You lead us toward peace, guide our footsteps toward peace, and make us reach our desired destination for life, gladness, and peace. May You rescue us from the hand of every foe, ambush along the way, and from all manner of punishments that assemble to come to earth. May You send blessing in our handiwork, and grant us grace, kindness, and mercy in Your eyes and in the eyes of all who see us. May You hear the sound of our humble request because You are God Who hears prayer requests. Blessed are You, Adonai, Who hears prayer."


And from one of my own traditions, of course: