As some previous posts established I drove to Manchester and back this week. Stupid really. About 5 hours each way.
To start with it was logistically stupid, the train took forever and I had to beetle back to London for a conference call on the Friday, getting all stressed out, if I'd been on the train I could have just chatted while sipping a refreshing leaf tea.
And it was obviously environmentally stupid which was made even more obvious to me as I listened to Shared Earth on Radio 4. About carbon offsetting. (So I've been to the Carbon Neutral company and assuaged some of my guilt, though it seems unsatisfactorily un-scientific.)
The problem is I can only really think when I'm driving. I've never found such a conducive environment for ideas, plans and sorting stuff in your head. It's probably some varient of continuous partial attention or a flow state or something, but enough of my brain is occupied with driving, not crashing etc that I dont get bored, but not so much that I can't think through other stuff. I'm not sure that'll happen on a train, I'll start reading or blogging, I won't be able to just think. That's the real benefit of cars; thinking time. And loud music.
I totally understand that. It happens to me when I walk. London on a saturday morning is a great place to do that. It's enviromentaly friendly and a bit of “in advance payment" if you are on your way to get some EBCB. Good entry.
Posted by: javier | July 16, 2006 at 01:24 AM
My favorite place for thinking is the shower - even less to worry about but one's thoughts.
Posted by: Johanna | July 17, 2006 at 05:56 AM
I tend to find that my creative capacity on the road depends, like in so many other circumstances, on what's going on around me.
I can remember sitting gridlocked on the M25 only able to think about the glass of wine awaiting me at home, incensed by a man in a Mondeo pointlessly weaving through the lanes trying to jump the queue.
On the other hand an empty motorway from Le Mans to Rouen at sunset was nothing short of inspirational.
Nevertheless, I’d have to agree with Javier on this one: I do my best thinking while walking.
Posted by: jack | July 18, 2006 at 09:27 AM