Happy New Year and Welcome to Life in the Right Lane?

Today begins a new year with a new blog. This blog replaces the Wanderlusting Blog I have written over the last few years. As we start a new year, I hope you continue following along as Marlene and I take on another year.

 

Early in our RV life, I discovered the wonders of right lane driving. I was pulling a small, lightweight tent camper with an equally small and lightweight Jeep Liberty. After 30 years of negotiating traffic on Houston Expressways, I acquired several highway skills, and none were helpful when towing our camper. I had learned to sweep in and out of the left two lanes depending on which one was moving faster. I learned to get close enough to a slower car to slip around with a minimum of the left lane needed. These and other skills allowed me to get through my 30 years without an accident and avoid being late for appointments. However, there were a few close calls. But these skills were useless when dragging our camper behind our underpowered tow vehicle. By necessity, I would slip into the right lane and settle in at 65 mph with all the large trucks, grandpas, and grannies. Over the last 10 years, I have come to enjoy my place in the right lane, and it has proven to be a worthy instructor in life behind the wheel and in my easy chair.

 

The right lane offers a relaxed and steady pace of living. Instead of always trying to "get ahead, life in the right lane provides many gifts to the attentive mind and heart. Unfortunately, it has taken me a lifetime to unwrap them.

 

First, it reminds me that I do not have to live a stress-filled life competing to get ahead of everyone else. As a wall plaque in Koko reminds me each morning, "Life's a journey, not a race." Getting ahead is not the best strategy for living the good life. Unfortunately, I spent a good portion of my life believing that more and faster is better, adult thinking for childish greed. It is a foolish, self-centered life that relies on the idea that "Winning is not just everything; it is the only thing."

 

However, everyone can get to where they are going in the right lane with minimal risk and stress. The left lane(s) allow the fools to play their games while I enjoy my drive at my own non-competitive pace. I have time to breathe, reflect, and enjoy the present moment without the constant pressure to keep up with or pass others.

 

My right lane driving also offers the gift of open lanes to my left if they will take them. By sticking to the right lane, I will avoid being "that person" in an RV that camps out in the middle or left lane, going 65 mph. Those behind me do not have to fight to get around me. They do not have to ride their brakes on my bumper, looking for an opening to pass on my right. I take comfort in knowing I am reducing the stress on those around me. Unfortunately, some will pull behind me in the right lane and tailgate anyway. But then, I do not unwrap every gift I am presented with. At least I can wish them well as they race by me on the left.

 

Life in the right lane opens an even more excellent gift: an openness to the world around us. We can watch the wind in the trees or sweep through the grass. We can connect with the clouds and notice the birds sitting on the power lines. The world becomes more than a ribbon of lined asphalt through our windshield. We become part of the landscape as we entertain the world beyond and the world with our thoughts and feelings. Living in the right lane offers the chance to connect and enjoy the journey without waiting for the arrival to relax and experience the joy of a day's travel.

 

The right lane also gives me time to process and sort out life's challenges and opportunities on the road and at the end of the journey. The slower pace gives us time to think through situations, whether it's a decision about a career change, a relationship issue, or a personal goal. This leads to thoughtful and deliberate choices. Quick decisions made in haste can often lead to regrets and unintended consequences. The gift of time offered by the right lane can avoid some of that haste.

 

Life in the right lane allows us to savor our life's journey, even when we're not on the road. Slowing down lets us appreciate the small joys, whether it's a quiet morning with a cup of coffee, a walk in the park, or a relaxed conversation with a friend. It's about less hurry and more living!

 

Here are a few things I have learned about living in the right lane while sitting in my easy chair.

 

Living in the right lane means living by a set of realistic, short-term goals. I rarely look at the miles to our destination. Instead, I focus on the miles to the next turn. Each little challenge becomes more easily achievable, and I can celebrate checking off that little step.

 

Next, allow yourself breaks for relaxation without guilt. RV driving manuals suggest stopping and getting your feet on the ground every two to three hours. Take a break from pursuing your destinations in life. Make time for hobbies, reading, or simple loafing. Remember, it is not a race!

 

Finally, be grateful. Take time to reflect on the sights you have seen and the experiences that have happened because you have slowed down. Then, share your gratitude with those around you. Keep a journal and record your appreciation for those days when the road was unpleasant. Looking back will give you a lift.

 

Please join us in the right lane this year. Travel well!

Bob