On the economics of travel
My urge to travel during the holiday period has diminished greatly. The same social obligation remains, but a combination of weather forecasts and modes of transportation mean that I’m going for FaceTime, instead of face time.
Back in the ’70s, I loved the idea of going from “here to there” by rail. Call me rebellious, or frugal, but the 32 hours in coach was almost SuperComfort. That cost more, and the inter seat spacing of the “modern” cars wasn’t as good as the coach seating from the ’50s. The entertainment (guitars fuelled by beer) was free for the listen.
Quoting prices is pointless, but we can compare the time required, four decades ago, to now. Disappointing. The trains don’t run as often, nor as fast. A full five hours longer… Every third day. Try to schedule around that.
Facing a day in the car, with freezing rain to subtract friction from the equation; again, off the table. This year, we’ll celebrate a green Xmas safely. At home, with a full fridge and our choice of cable channels.
My faith in online shopping continues. Two out of three packages already received, earlier than advertised. Still two days grace for the third. I did decide to make one purchase locally, what with already being out to get ground coffee beans, but this year proves the point that you don’t need to live in a large city to live comfortably. I’ll “supersize” the rural mailbox and get my communications infrastructure in at the earliest possible moment (once the move is made).
