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For the Travelers: Uneasy Feelings?

FleshEater

FleshEater

Ordinary Average Guy
Joined
May 21, 2020
Member Number
832
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3,639
Loc
Pennsylvania
So, most here know we travel west yearly. It’s about 2,200-2,600 miles driving one way. The wife and I this year both had weird feelings. She’s dealing with the fear of other travelers, and I just had a feeling like I wouldn’t be able to complete my project…kind of like a bye, bye cruel world feeling.

I felt uneasy my first time driving out west as I was also towing, and prior to that had never traveled west of Ohio. So that seemed rational.

But last year we experienced more close calls than ever before. 3 to be exact. Nothing happened, but they were close. Perhaps that’s feeding this worrisome feeling?

Just this week I had a close call driving to Pittsburgh for work in the Tracker. A giant white van dipped into my lane suddenly for no reason. Made my heart sink and then brought back those feelings.

So is this just old age, stress, and anxiety messing with us? A huge part of it to me is people. They seem overly unaware and generally just do not care about anyone else anymore.

TL/DR: Anyone else get weird fears/anxiety before long distance driving?
 
Had an issue on I10 W/B where 2 cars worked in concert trying to get the truck and flatbed trailer to rearend him, pulled out in front of me after being waved ahead by the other car, While traveling (not driving) from southern Florida to Norcal.

So look out for those schemes.

I have premonitions like the one I had 1 day before the 2018 November camp fire we had Paradise California.
 
I drive to work at 4am. A couple weeks ago I'm doing my normal 70 mph on 280 in Daily City, I see red and blue lights way back behind me so I slow down slightly and move over to the right lane. Then all of a sudden a car passes me on the left inches away going 100+ mph, no lights on. I guess I cut in front of him as he was being pursued.
Every day I get home from work alive is a good day.
 
I have seen more and more stupid drivers lately. Every time I see an idiot cause a close call I tell myself to buy a dash cam. Haven’t been able to decide on one yet.
 
Not travel stress. I do try to hit the road before traffic (7:00am) I don’t love rush hour traffic.

Otherwise I like to get out of town and sightsee. Or go wheeling.
 
In and of itself, I haven't seen anything beyond the normal idiots on 'mountain' roads who drive slow as fuck or drive all over the road beyond their abilities. I've had a few near misses coming at me with motorcycles and cars. OTOH, I drive 'aggressive' defensive... while I drive fairly fast, my head/eyes are on a swivel, I am usually far right of my lane and almost NEVER cross the lines.
 
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So this is like a peaceful uneasy feeling, I think from past fucked up memory there is a song.

I won't post it, until I find it_/
 
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Takotruckin said:
I have seen more and more stupid drivers lately. Every time I see an idiot cause a close call I tell myself to buy a dash cam. Haven’t been able to decide on one yet.
Click to expand...

Same. Everyone appears to be a fucking retard now.

Like someone else mentioned, I’m an aggressive/defensive driver as well. My wife was like, “We’ll just stay in the right lane the whole time.” What?! :laughing:
 
FleshEater said:
So, most here know we travel west yearly. It’s about 2,200-2,600 miles driving one way. The wife and I this year both had weird feelings. She’s dealing with the fear of other travelers, and I just had a feeling like I wouldn’t be able to complete my project…kind of like a bye, bye cruel world feeling.

I felt uneasy my first time driving out west as I was also towing, and prior to that had never traveled west of Ohio. So that seemed rational.

But last year we experienced more close calls than ever before. 3 to be exact. Nothing happened, but they were close. Perhaps that’s feeding this worrisome feeling?

Just this week I had a close call driving to Pittsburgh for work in the Tracker. A giant white van dipped into my lane suddenly for no reason. Made my heart sink and then brought back those feelings.

So is this just old age, stress, and anxiety messing with us? A huge part of it to me is people. They seem overly unaware and generally just do not care about anyone else anymore.

TL/DR: Anyone else get weird fears/anxiety before long distance driving?
Click to expand...
It’s not traveling that is my issue, it’s crowds, and traveling in tourist season guarantees crowds.

I’d rather be home, than around people, when it’s possible to avoid it.

Hell, I’m getting shit from my sister about going to a pool party my dad is apparently throwing.
But I am always available for a meal or a drink, one on one (& not a mother-fucker calls). A crowd of people, in the heat…. I’m not stoked on that at all.
 
I used to always be on a deadline feeling rushed, travel at posted speed or faster. Go go go go go. Slowing down 5 mph has been a stress reliever for me. Stopping to sit down for a meal vs eating on the fly. It took a while to get to that mindset but it helps.

RE cross country travel/stress, I try to avoid big city driving with my RV or enclosed trailer. I don't want to get caught up in one of those stupid protests. :eek:
 
white-rhino said:
Slowing down 5 mph has been a stress reliever for me. Stopping to sit down for a meal vs eating on the fly. It took a while to get to that mindset but it helps.
Click to expand...
I don’t know wtf you’re talking about with this slowing down stuff, but pulling over and going in for a meal does make for a more relaxed trip.

If you’re so worked up about the drive that it isnt enjoyable then what is the point of doing it?
 
No fear. But constant annoyance. I go a couple thousand miles about 6 times a year now. It used to be the worst drivers and driving situations would be in California and Texas in that order. Then, during the Covid exodus all of those morons moved inland. They stormed the I-70 corridor through Colorado and made every mile of it unmanageable. Now with the addition of trucking companies kicking out the lowest IQ Steering wheel holders crossing the country I see crazy big truck crashes every time I go somewhere.

I assume the way I will die is going to be in a crash with some fucking moron on the interstate. People on their phone’s drifting around, running off the road. Not afraid, I’ll be going out furious.
 
Hate travel in general, I like to sleep in my own bed, with my own comforts, without annoying/sketchy/disgusting people around. The world is turning more to shit every day, the more of it I can avoid the better. Heck, I've taken to going to the store middle of the work day rather than when it's busy, it's so much more peaceful doing groceries when you aren't trying to dodge crotch gobblins and oblivious immigrants every step of the way.
 
If it’s open interstate or backroads zero fear

Jammed up in city traffic I have increasing anxiety as I get older. Probably cause that’s the #1 reason I left southern ca behind.

As far as traveling in general I’m good if I’m camping. Staying in hotels or being a guest at others house makes me awkward
 
Gbkeith said:
I don’t know wtf you’re talking about with this slowing down stuff, but pulling over and going in for a meal does make for a more relaxed trip.

If you’re so worked up about the drive that it isnt enjoyable then what is the point of doing it?
Click to expand...
Who said I was worked up? Certainly not me. What I did say was that I have found slowing down and not pushing my speed has been a reduction in stress. I am more relaxed and enjoy the drive more. It also reduces the amount of lane changes I do. When double towing, my setup was 73' long. My new MH and trailer will be 71' long. Going 5 under the limit I can sit in the right lane and let others go around me.

I drive thousands of miles per year for recreation. I NEVER said the drive is not enjoyable.

Edit, got me to thinking. Looking back at 2023 I drove about 12,000 miles for recreation.
 
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rockota said:
I'll say... I get it... 100%.
Click to expand...

It’s a catch 22, I guess. I WANT to see these places and wheel them, but can’t afford to fly and rent a capable rig for 2 weeks.

So I guess it’s suck it up, risk it, and just enjoy.

There is no enjoyment driving across the midwest. Period. It’s boring and sucks.
 
You're having more "close calls" because you're turning into a POS old man and your definition of close call is expanding to include anything you don't like or mildly annoys you. The shit that would've been "yeah I'll let that slide, I do that shit too, or wish I did" 10-20yr ago gets your panties in a knot now. And that probably goes for most people here.

Just today someone went 3-wide between me (in an exit only lane) and another car (in the right lane) in order to pass a Mexican road block. I didn't get my panties in a knot because I'm not a little bitch. But it takes conscious effort to think like that so I'm not surprised most don't.

So either accept that you're turning into an old cranky little bitch or put in the mental effort to not be.
 
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