Try an Alternative Solution, Just for Once

When you're reading this I am on my way. I have timed the appearance of this post to coincide with my 12-hour car trip to Slovenia, a small country in the Southeastern part of Europe. My spouse went there by plane two days ago. And given my track record of driving in foreign countries you can probably find me in a roadside ditch right now, with two flat tires, waiting for someone to help me out.

The trip from The Netherlands to Slovenia is 1200 kilometers. Naturally, I should have gone by plane. These days flying is only a little more expensive than driving.

So why bother traveling by car?

Because alternative solutions can be more fun.

Sometimes you have to allow yourself to do things differently. Use LLBLGen instead of NHibernate. Use Python instead of VB.NET. Use another design pattern. Another browser. Another Thai restaurant. Another job. Another girl-/boyfriend.

Just for once. Just for fun.

This has two important effects: 1) You will better appreciate what you already have when you verify, just occasionally, that the other options are still inferior. 2) Allowing yourself to be immersed in new experiences makes life so much more interesting.

That's why I'm driving all the way from The Netherlands to Slovenia. The route takes me through Germany and Austria, over mountains and into places I've never been before. I'm sure I'm having a lot of fun right now, with stacks of Italian dance CD's playing repeatedly, and teasing my partner with an SMS every hour on my whereabouts and the timing of my approach. I might even have picked up a good-looking hiker. You never know.

And after someone has helped me out of the ditch that I will probably have tumbled in, I'm also quite sure I will make a vow to take the plane again next time.

p.s. I have scheduled another few post to appear every few days, but I will not be replying to any comments or email until Monday. I'm too busy avoiding collisions with Slovenians.