'Tis the season for travel! Even if you yourself don't have any faraway plans, it's most likely that you know a couple of people who do. And though there are a lot of different ways to get places, the classic road trip can be a really special one because it's the perfect time to grow closer to and more understanding of whatever or whoever you choose to spend all those miles traveling with.
For example, music- there's nothing like a long car ride to really dig into some music. If you're like me, there are only so many things you can do in a moving vehicle, even if you're just a passenger. Time on the road is perfect for listening a little closer to those songs you like the sound of but never quite caught all the words to, for listening through an album in its entirety and in the order intended by the artist, or to get through that ever-growing list of songs and artists you've been meaning to test out. It's easy to passively enjoy a song, but spending time just sitting and listening can be much more meaningful. And though this is possible through headphones on public transportation like buses and planes as well, plugging into the speakers of a car and (if you're in a carpool) sharing that listening experience with friends is so different. (It also gives the opportunity to do a little carpool karaoke of your own, and who doesn't love that?)
Spending all that concentrated time with others in a car is a great way to get closer with them, too. The number of long conversations I've had about life and situations both good and bad while traveling with my mom is too high to count, and I wouldn't trade any of them for the world. The thing about riding in a car is that it's like a little bubble. Though others are able to see through the windows of their own vehicles into yours, they're probably stuck in their own little worlds, too. Plus, there isn't anybody outside to overhear or accidentally walk in on your conversations. It makes cars have a strange sense of privacy, and with so many miles and traffic jams to get through on your way, there's much less of a rush to just get through a discussion.
Yes, car naps can be attractive (and also very necessary- don't get me wrong). But if you take advantage of that time in the right way with the right people, it can turn from a dreaded hours-long journey to something pretty valuable.
