Anyone else feeling intense wanderlust?

"Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori)
03/28/2020 at 15:24 • Filed to: None

Ordinarily I’m 100% OK with NOT going outside. Not leaving the house. Not seeing another human being.

Actually this is, generally, my preferred daily routine. I self-isolate most days because I’ve got shit to do at home. Video games to play. Cars to work on. Projects to finish. Cleaning to do.

But n ow I’m supposed to do that. I am supposed to stay at home and work on my stuff.

And all I can think of is how I wan to go on a road trip.

Go camping.

Visit another ci ty.

Set out on an adventure.

Because I shouldn’t.

And it is driving me a little batty.

Anyone else in the batty boat with me?

DISCUSSION (28)

smobgirl > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/28/2020 at 15:33

I’m “essential” and still working but not flying. So I’m driving 30 hours through Texas over the next 3 days. I have one campsite booked because it seems safer than a hotel but the second night will probably be a hotel because I’ll get in too late for state park gate hours. I’m packing food (though might supplement with a drive through). I’m not doing interior inspections anymore and thus not meeting anyone at the properties so it’s a good excuse to walk around outside taking photos for a few hours at a time.

Things feel normal right now while I’m driving - then I get home and it feels twice as bad.

Ash78, voting early and often > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/28/2020 at 15:35

There are definitely still places you CAN go (as long as local statutes allow..). Wide open outdoor spaces are a good one. Being alone inside your car is about as safe as it gets in the current situation. I feel horrible for carless people in large cities right now, that has to feel intensely claustrophobic.

My biggest concern with road trips, though, is bathroom breaks (not much stuff is open, and whatever is open is probably overrun) — so all of our trips have been “zero pee break” distances. Maybe an hour radius.

We’ve done a couple of state parks in the past 2 weeks, but that’s about it. Even then, some of the crowds were a little too close for comfort.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/28/2020 at 15:38

batty is my normal state of being...

also now that everyones staying inside i find myself having to do 37 shopping trips a day as im still working and so the whole neighbourhood asks me to pick them up bits and bobs

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/28/2020 at 15:40

Kinja'd!!!

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > smobgirl
03/28/2020 at 15:41

Have you called to make sure the state parks you want to use are still open? Might wanna...

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/28/2020 at 15:44

I desperately want to just jump in my car and drive. Or buy a ruckus, pack a backpack and ride as far as I can

SiennaMan > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
03/28/2020 at 15:47

This is what I really feel like doing right now, getting a van, some camping equipment and trying to find a part of the country where I’ll be so faraway from civilization that I won’t even get update sadly, I don’t think there are any parts of the lower that are that remote, the borders into Canada are closed and besides all that, I have responsibility here to attend to.to.

I think I've wanted to get away from it all for a few years now, this situation just intensifies those feelings..

UserNotFound > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/28/2020 at 16:00

I have a 4.5 year old and my wife works 24 hour shifts at the fire station, so, yes.

LastFirstMI is my name > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/28/2020 at 16:07

My baseline is social distancing with wanderlust... so yeah. I’m ready to grab a tent and a week’s worth of canned chili and just go. The chili will make sure everyone stays at least 6 feet away.

for Michigan > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/28/2020 at 16:18

I was supposed to go to Seattle in May.

Haven’t figured out what I'm going to do instead yet, but if the predictive models of COVID-19 prove true, probably nothing. Perhaps next year...

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/28/2020 at 16:32

I’m feeling it hard! I was already about ready to hit the road or go insane, then this virus hit. I’ve gotta get out and do SOMETHING RIGHT NOW but there is nowhere to go. I’ve never looked through my Google Photos more than right now, since the next best thing besides taking long walks is looking over what you have already done. Pictured: some places I’ve wandered.

Kinja'd!!!

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/28/2020 at 16:33

When someone tells me I can’t do a thing I pretty much want to do it. So yeah I’d love to do a road trip about now.

smobgirl > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
03/28/2020 at 16:40

Open and booked solid. Just restricted gate hours and you must have prepaid a reservation to get in.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/28/2020 at 17:07

I’m missing driving around for my side gig doing computer repair/tutoring, but also missing the kids at the schools as a sub ....

SmugAardvark > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/28/2020 at 18:45

Yes and no.

I’m still working these days, so my every day routine isn’t hugely different than normal. However, my partner has been working from home the last few weeks. I don’t know if it is a symptom of being stuck indoors, but she seems to have completely stopped cleaning up after herself. I’m talking, leaving plates and glasses un- rinsed in/around the sink, when the dishwasher is literally less than 3 feet away. We’ve also already had multiple arguments about how we’re running out of toilet paper (we have 12 rolls left for the two of us, and we rarely use more than one roll per week).

It’s a little frustrating, but I’m reminding myself that this is all wholly new to her, and I just have to let her adjust.

I did notice that during the first 7-10 of the shelter-in-place order, interstate 5 was empty for my commute. However, since then, I’ve noticed a gradual increase in road traffic (while thankfully an inverse amount of air traffic).

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > smobgirl
03/28/2020 at 18:48

Interesting. Good luck in your travels.

Dusty Ventures > smobgirl
03/28/2020 at 19:45

What you described is how I travel for fun lol

Rufant > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/28/2020 at 22:47

OT, you seem to buy all the cars I think about buying... How do you find the Volvo?

smobgirl > Dusty Ventures
03/28/2020 at 23:00

Dallas is a bit farther than I like to drive for work but fun is a different story! (Normally that would be a day trip and a $150 flight).

Also, not having to meet people at sites now means I don’t have to iron a shirt or make my hair nicer than “passable” so I’m alright with it.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Rufant
03/29/2020 at 01:30

Haha. I loved the Volvo. Power was a little lacking, but everything else about it was amazing. I miss that car. (It was my last cheap car challenge car )

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/29/2020 at 08:51

Yes and no....my advantage is that I don’t have to drive anywhere to see something new. I just have to jump the back fence and walk...

In Oz...most national reserves are either closed or for day use only. Caravan users are being treated with suspicion and can struggle to get supplies. Most state borders are also shut to non-essential travel...

We had planned to spend a chunk of our winter in northern Queensland...even though that is 12 weeks away...that ain't happening.

Rufant > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/29/2020 at 15:09

Oh I missed that one. Thanks for the link!

I'll check it out, cheers

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Rufant
03/29/2020 at 16:08

Haha I still haven't done the full write up. I should....

Rufant > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/29/2020 at 16:55

You should!

TSmith > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/30/2020 at 00:13

Entirely.

Stef Schrader > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/30/2020 at 03:59

Hard same. I know I can’t, but man...when this is over, I really hope I have a job and can go somewhere else.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Stef Schrader
03/30/2020 at 19:06

Are you thinking about leaving Austin? Or just wanting to travel in general?

Stef Schrader > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/31/2020 at 09:32

Travel in general, although everything I’ve interviewed for is out of town. I could use an office setting, to be honest. I love my current place and all of my friends here, but I’m so isolated a lot of the time. :(