Lessons on The Road

Our family went on a road trip for Vacation A few weeks ago. Over a two week period we drove 4029 Miles (69.5 hours driving time), Going through Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, and Wyoming. (My Daughter played the license plate game. I think she ended with all but two of the 48 contiguous states collected, and she got two Canadian plates as a bonus).

It was too much time in the car, but it was great fun. We got to see a lot of country. And had a few eye opening experiences along the way.

First, I was reminded that I am lost without mountains. I have a poor sense of direction to begin with. But I am completely, hopelessly lost when I don't have the Mountains on the horizon to help me keep track of North.

The second observation: There is a LOT of open space in this country.  Miles upon miles of our drive were in areas where there were no people to be seen.There was plenty of Farm land, but there was also plenty of forest, and plenty of sage brush.

Third: I found it a bit disconcerting in those wide open spaces in the Midwest, that the horizon always had a bit of a grey-brown color to it. We really only see that for a few days in the winter in Cache Valley, during the inversions. I have also seen that color of air when driving to San Francisco. So I associate it it pollution. Is that really what it is? Is that a midwest thing? Or is it like that everywhere, and I don't normally see it (the mountains block the low horizon)?

Fourth: We grow A LOT of corn in the US! Most of the fields I saw along the way were growing Corn. Miles and miles and MILES of corn. Especially Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa. I think close to half of it become bio-fuels, and I assume some becomes feed for livestock (around here, most of the cattle eat grass, alfalfa and such, which seems more efficient to me, but I am  definitely no ag-scientist). What about the rest? Corn Syrup? I guess some is used in plastics and a few other industries. Farmers wouldn't grow it unless it was profitable (Unless of course the government is interfering with the natural economics in the form of subsidies? That wouldn't have anything to do with the seeming lower quality and higher price of other fresh vegetables in the past several years, would it? Must be my tinfoil hat talking).

Finally: This trip reminded me just how widely varied the United State is. And the people in it.

Do you know there are people who actually choose to live on Farms in the middle of nowhere? Where it is several hours drive to the nearest grocery store? Where if you discover you are out of an ingredient you need after you have already got your meal half prepared, you are just going to have to do without?

Do you know there are people who choose to live in a home in the middle of a Jungle? A thick forest full of massive hardwoods, and fast growing vines, and trees with 6 inch long thorns laced with toxic stuff? And the ground is covered with deer ticks and all manner of other critters that want to eat you?

And at night time you have to raise your voice to be heard over the frogs and bugs?

And some people even like all those weird critters.

Do you know there are people who choose to live in areas where their house has to be on stilts because the rive floods almost every year, leaving their entire yard under a foot or two of water?

Do you know there are people who live next to slow moving rivers with water that is perpetually brown in color, due to the sediment and organic matter up stream ? Not only do they live By it, they also swim IN it!

Do you know there are people who choose to live in big, crowded, smelly cities where you can't hardly walk without brushing up against some stranger, where you are constantly waiting in line, or driving 5 miles an hour on a freeway. Where nearly every inch of ground you walk on is either concrete or asphalt?

These places all have their benefits and charms as well (else nobody would choose to live there). But their is a certain stoic aspect to it as well. There are some things you just... get used to. For you they aren't such big deal. The price you pay for the benefits.

And all that variety reminded me why we are really better off in the United States with a weak Federal government, and with more power - and responsibility -being with the individual states. Every state is different. They have different geographies, different climates, different lifestyles, different cultures... They need to be able to control their own destinies. In a strictly popular vote New York City alone overrides the votes of Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, and North and South Dakota combined.

There's enough space, and enough variety for everyone in the US, I think. We just need to respect each others' boundaries. "Good fences make good neighbors" as they say.