In 2014, I decided on a whim to move to Texas. I saw a new experience waiting to be had, so I took it. I picked up everything, without a set job waiting for me or a clue of what the future might hold. But you know what I did have? A whole lot of hope and a burning need for something new.
26 hours of cross country road tripping gives you plenty of time to reflect. On your life, on American culture, on really anything you’d like because your trapped in a small space so what else is there to do? Roadtripping from Connecticut to Texas taught me things I’d never expected. Here’s what I learned:
1) People are mostly ecstatic about other people's life-changing decisions.
Other than it just feeling right, I didn't really understand why I was moving to Texas. As a northeasterner, I felt slightly terrified and nervous (?) to tell people about the big leap. The conversation often went as follows:
Me: "I'm moving to Texas."
Person: "What? Why?"
Me: "I think the question is why not?"
But the end responses were overwhelmingly supportive, be it older people who wish they had done the same or young people who were too afraid to do it. I've never felt so empowered and confident that I was making the right decision to go with my gut.
2) Pennsylvania has the strangest town names. My personal favorite- Shartlesville
'nuff said.
3) Alcohol is cheaper than water in Athens, Ohio.
Safe to say I made the waiter slightly uncomfortable by my sense of doubt after he told me that a pitcher of beer was five dolla dolla bills. I figured it was one of those ploys where the "pitcher" turned out to be a mini-syrup pourer or whatnot, but oh, was I wrong. You go Lucky's Sports Bar.
4) The Amish are thriving in the midwest.
When a man at the gas station comes begging if you know where the nearest liquor store is in a 30-mile radius- you know you're in Dry Country. In Ohio we drove past a horse and buggy- then again in Kentucky little Amish boys were selling vegetables from a covered wagon.
5) Kentucky is a terrible place to play the license plate game.
To be honest, so was Ohio and Tennessee and Arkansas.
6) Contrary to popular belief, most people have decent driving etiquette.
Over the span of driving 26 hours, I really would have expected to fill the car with road rage a time or two, but most of my frustration could be blamed on traffic, where everyone else is frustrated too. People generally knew when to get into the right lane after passing and didn't feel the need to abuse their braking ability. This made me happy. Richard driving under the speed limit on the other hand....
7) Potholes are only a real issue in New England.
My trust in the roads has been tainted by gapping craters in the ground that, more often than not, COME OUT OF NOWHERE. This always causes temporary heart convulsions as your tire crashes through the hole and a silent plea to the gods that it didn't pop. My skepticism grew throughout the drive as I waited for what is normally a daily occurrence to wreak mental havoc. But the potholes never came...this is reason enough to never return to the North.
8) Fuel pumps now have a safety feature...Thank God.
A little pit stop confusion led to a gas nozzle on the ground and a laughing gas station attendant. Long story short, I still blame Rich (and Rich still blames me).
9) There are Hot Springs in Arkansas.
Turns out in a town called Hot Springs, how creative. The springs run under the town and spurt up in the form of fancy drinking fountains - that was far too hot to drink - but hey, it's the thought that counts. Oh, and tons of spas that I was far too poor to afford.
10) The speed limit is 75 mph driving into Texas.
Probably just to prove that everything is, in fact, bigger here. Bam.