Just about on my way

[hrj]

I have this seriously obsessive-compulsive thing about travel: if I can't be on time, then I want to be early; and if I can't be early, then I want to be waaaay early. So I'm working backwards from an 11:30pm flight time in SF, adding a couple hours for check-in/security, adding time for BART to the airport (including all the worst possible connections), adding time for the local bus to get to BART (including all the worst possible connections), and then when it comes down to it, I'm sitting here all packed and ready to go with nothing else to do and find myself thinking, "You know, I could be sitting reading a book or doing accounts on my laptop in the airport as well as I could do it here at home." I know some folks hate airports with a passion and don't want to spend any more time there than necessary, but I've always rather liked hanging around at airports before/between flights. And there's nothing quite like that relief of being all checked in and at your gate. So I figure I'm going to wash the couple of outstanding dishes, dig up some sort of handwork project to do while listening to sessions, and just head out the door anyway. Heck, I could have gotten in a stint at the gym today after all. (I have this theory that I'm going to get in a good half-hour's brisk walk every morning before breakfast at the conference, but if the time-zone difference kills that idea, like it usually does, I'll probably get my usual mileage in just walking all over campus between sessions.)

Comments

[egoldberg.livejournal.com]

Glad to know there's a fellow member of the OCD travel club, other than my mom.

I remember dating a great guy who always showed up to the airport 15 minutes before the plane took off, and invariably had a nightmare each time. I wonder whether airplane travel really has to be stressful when thoughtfully prepared for.

[beanolc.livejournal.com]

We're in the same boat, here. I would SO much rather be early than just in time, and gods help the person who makes me late.

[albionwood.livejournal.com]

Have a great time! Would love to be there myself.

[mbumby.livejournal.com]

In Myers-Briggs terminology, I'm a pretty strong J, so I travel like that too. The only drawbacks I've found with arriving at an airport early are (1) if smoking is allowed it can be pretty uncomfortable, and (2) sometimes the gate changes a few times, and I'm usually pretty well laden (camera, books, etc.) so moving is a chore.

With you talking about K'zoo, I'm assuming Michigan, and I figure you're going to be close enough to my neck of the woods that I really should drive out and meet you -- dinner, coffee, ice cream, whatever ... But (1) I figure that you'll be hooking up with enough people you don't see often enough as it is, and (2) I'm crazy-busy, in the final stretch before the spouse's return. Then again, I know how I feel when someone makes assumptions for me and doesn't give me an option, so yeah -- taking my work-and-after week into account, if you'd like to try to hook up, please send me e-mail and we can exchange cell numbers or whatever.

[hrj.livejournal.com]

That would be #1, alas -- there's a whole crowd of people I only ever see at the conference, so my time is pretty well mapped out already. But thanks for thinking of it. (I just found out that one of my conference buddies was out in the Bay Area recently and I pouted at her for not tagging me for a lunch.)

[mbumby.livejournal.com]

I quite understand. Hope you have a grand time and that our weather treats you well.

[marykaykare.livejournal.com]

Hey, I had no idea we were sisters! That's how I feel about it too. Jordin is one of those people who thinks if he arrives before they close the airplane doors there's plenty of time. I have gradually forced him to do it my way. He can sleep on the plane.

MKK

We have that one in common

[dame-cordelia.livejournal.com]

I get nervous about 24 hours before the plane takes off and really like being at the airport in plenty of time. I don't relax until I am seated on the plane and it's pulling away from the gate.