Planned Spontaneity

When I was younger, I always thought of myself as a sponatneous person. I wasn't, but that's how I perceived myself. In reality, I like to plan things. Not as much as one of my sisters or my daughter, but I have to admit that I am a planner. When I reflect on the origins of things, I suspect that I developed this need for planning from my father. Although he has mellowed with age, family vacations growing up were very much on a schedule. I recall that on long trips, we'd stop at a McDonalds to pick up lunch and then be off. I was not allowed to special order a hamburger because it would take too long. (Special orders were more of a hassle back then and I wasn't a vegetarian yet.) Subsequently, I survived on apple pies and french fries. I found myself planning vacations like this and I'm sure I was stress-inducing to my own family.

When I was in college, before gps was even an idea, I would sometimes travel off-map. I knew that I needed to end up at point B and I would just drive in the general direction of where I was going. I'd see some interesting things along the way. By no means was my travel the shortest route but I enjoyed the journey. I was inspired by Blue Highways by William Least Heat Moon. In the late 1970s he lost his

job as a teacher and separated from his wife. He proceeded to travel around the perimeter of the U.S., traveling 13,000 miles, all on back roads. I think I need to read this book again.

I recall one summer vacation with particular fondness. Our kids were roughly 3 & 5, it was August, and I was the proud owner of my grandparents 1974 Chevy van with the pop up camper and shag carpeting on the walls. We decided to drive around Lake Michigan. We drove until we were tired, stopped when we felt a good vibe and had a wonderful time. I think the favorite stop was a playground called Kids Kingdom. It was a huge playground fashioned to be a castle and the kids ran around and played for a long time. We had been going to Renaissance Festivals prior to this so I'm sure imaginations were vivid as they played.

The title of this blog is a phrase I use to describe my approach. As I planned trips, I had a general idea of an itinerary or region but I would set certain times to allow venturing on a whim. Some have said that planned spontaneity is an oxymoron but I think it makes perfect sense. I am currently in Madison. I was on my computer Saturday morning and I was reminded that there was an event in Madison Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. Within 45 minutes I was packed and heading out the door. I didn't give much thought to anything like laundry, watering plants, or if I packed the correct color tights; I just hopped in the car and took off. I went to the talk and a two hour discussion after and also got in a little bike ride. Since I was in the neighborhood, I stopped at the Willy St. Coop. I think that because I hadn't been planning any of this I appreciate the times more fully; they seem like bonus time. Some weeks I know well in advance what I will be writing about. This week, I didn't have an idea until I got up at 3 this morning and I sat down to write. So, maybe the quality could have been better or more clever. But hey, I enjoyed my spontaneity.