I’m an unabashed driving enthusiast. Not only do I find the act of driving extremely calming. Contrary to conventional wisdom, it’s also a good use of my time. Proponents of public transport (of which there are many in Switzerland who extol its virtues with messianic zeal) often augment their environmental arguments against driving by claiming that it’s an inefficient time killer. Not so. In fact, it can be very inspiring. Why? Because driving a car unleashes the beneficial effects of parsimony.
An automobile is ultimately a very ascetic environment. It’s small, constricted and there’s not much you can do while driving it. The anteroom at the doctor’s is probably more exciting – there, at least you can read glossy gossip magazines, surf the internet or try to guess the conditions of the other people who are waiting. You can do none of that in a car. For contemplation, however, there’s no better time or place. First of all, it’s a safe place. Not because of airbags but because it’s virtually an intrusion-free zone. No phone chatter, no one tripping over your legs, no safety announcements, no smelly food. If you decide that listening to music inspires you, you can. If you want to wish your grandmother happy birthday on the highway, you can. If you just want to have some quiet time to think things over and watch the changing landscape, you can. That’s about it in terms of the options you have. And that’s the beauty of it. Not much to decide but you have a choice. You don’t have that in a crowded train during rush hour.
Last but not least, you may have a passenger by your side . In my opinion, it’s one of the best settings to have a meaningful conversation. Let me give you an example. Last night I drove up to the Engadin for the weekend. I picked up a friend on the way and we ended up having 2.5 hours of undisturbed quality talking time. On the winding roads leading to the Julier pass we covered as much ground as the territory itself. From the results of the latest national vote we randomly jumped to inflation risk, family planning, the housing market, plans for New Year’s, a thorough analysis of a friend’s character traits and finally to the latest episode of “The Bachelor”. There’s nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. You sit there, make your point and hash it out.
Somewhere near Bivio, my friend went on a rampage against Snapchat. He thinks it’s the most shallow and destructive business idea ever. More importantly, he considers it a worrying symptom of decaying trust and social cohesion. When suspicion towards your “friends” reaches such a degree, that you’re taking preventative measures against potentially being exposed and embarassed by them on the internet, something is fundamentally fishy. I thought that was a pretty smart observation. And it’s powerful proof that the intimacy of a car conversation is a tangible social experience that’s far superior to most other means of communication.
Try it: drive, reflect, enjoy. You will not be disappointed.