Today I had two school visits and then had to drive 2 hours south to a college fair at the NY Military Academy. When I first left the Albany area, I was hungry and had to go to the bathroom, but I figured I'd drive a bit and then stop for a while. So I drove about 30 minutes, but little did I know that as soon as you leave the metro area, civilization in upstate New York stops. Exits are about 12 miles in between and foolish me, I missed a couple exits. Finally, I figured I'd go to Big Boys, some burger place that I think I've heard of, so I typed it in the GPS and headed on my way. For some reason, the GPS brought me to the middle of no where, a sadly frequent occurrence, and I had to get back on the highway for another 24 miles. I found a KFC on the GPS, but it was 12 miles up the highway and then like 5 miles back to the restaurant. That wasn't going to cut it either. So I drove and drove and crossed my legs, and finally found a McDonalds. I wasn't in the mood for MickyDs but the golden arches saved the day.
From all of this I've learned that I need to live close(r) to a McDonalds. Well, not McDonalds per say, but the concept that comes along with it. I just don't want to live in a place where highway exits are 12 miles apart, where the only restaurant options are Jim Bob's BBQ and the Ho-Jo Hotel. I passed A LOT of Howard Johnson's on my way here today. On the flip side, I don't want to live in a city where the exits are 1/4 mile apart either. If the next exit is 12 miles down the road, what happens when people break down or run out of gas? Do they have to walk? There isn't even highway street lights. That just screams hitch hiker murdered all over it, perhaps by a serial killer or a giant moose. No way, Jose! I just don't see why people want to live there.
Being in Albany a few days this weekend was pretty much the longest time I have been downtown in a city. Let me tell you, three days was long enough! I don't understand why someone would want to live where they can hear their neighbor's bass bumping at 3am and 8am on a Saturday morning. Why would you not want a drive way to park in? Street parking sucks. First, parallel parking is tough in general, but also, people hit your car, scratch it, and dent it. Never mind stealing it. And you have to worry about moving your car on street cleaning days and for snow removal and emergency no parking zones. And hydrants and driveways and just finding a spot in walking distance. Nothing in me wants to carry $100 of groceries for my family for 3 blocks because that's where the nearest parking spot was. And if you don't check your car daily, you just might get towed, never mind a hefty ticket. Now, I am not saying my car was towed (Thank God! I don't think U- would pay for my folly)....but getting to the impound lot isn't fun. Believe me.
Wishing you peace and parking spots,
-J
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