ROADTRIP
COMPATIBILITY QUIZ
| The days are
getting longer, and the weather is turning warmer.
Spring break's just around the corner, and those
two little words keep creeping into conversation:
RoadTrip! Is there any better way to answer the
siren call of the two-lane blacktop than to invite
a couple of your best friends to join you on a Kerouac-style
adventure? You already hang with these people, so
you know you can get along during the long days
in the saddle -- or do you? |
Traveling with buddies
on daylong excursions to the beach, a park or the mall
will tell you something about their sense of humor and
other basic personality traits, but there is nothing
like an extended roadtrip to bring out previously unnoticed
character flaws. We all have some less than attractive
habits and tendencies, but they don't have to spell
disaster if you pack two essential items: awareness
and tolerance. The following quiz should get you thinking
about your own travel style, preferences and idiosyncrasies.
With the same input from your travel mates before you
hit the road, you'll be able to derail little problems
before they can spoil the fun.
For each of the following
statements, rate your response with 1 ("That's
me"), 2 ("That's not me, but I can live with
it") or 3 ("That's not me, and it would drive
me crazy enough to scrap the trip and go home").
The resulting scores will give you an idea of your preferences
and tolerance levels, and the questions will help frame
a pre-trip discussion with your travel mates. It's better,
for example, to hit the road armed with a pair of earplugs
or ready to rent separate rooms than to find out at
midnight in a roadside motel that your buddy snores
like a chainsaw.
___ I want to party, look for action,
go clubbing or hang out in bars every night.
___ I want to shop for refrigerator
magnets, logo T-shirts and other kitschy souvenirs
everywhere we go.
___ Stopping to meet my friend's
aunt is cool.
___ I just throw my bags and gear
in the car wherever they will fit.
___ I don't care about bedbugs
-- I will never spend more than $25 on a motel room.
___ I want a full, sit-down breakfast
every day.
___ I want to be on the road by
sunrise every day.
___ I want total darkness when
I go to sleep -- no TV or nightlight.
___ I need only one small backpack
for my gear.
___ I must log on to the Internet
at least once a day.
___ I snore.
Once you know your characteristics
and you've got a useful conversation going with your
prospective companions, consider the following five
issues and the ways they may affect your trip.
PURPOSE
OF THE TRIP
Is getting off the beaten
path and taking in natural wonders more important to
you than exploring urban areas? Do you prefer interstate
highways or two-lane back roads?
MONEY
ISSUES & BUDGETING
Do you have money to
eat out in restaurants every day, or would you prefer
to eat from a cooler? Would camping be a good alternative
to motels? Are you comfortable pooling funds, or would
you rather pay for your own expenses?
CONTROL
& SAFETY ISSUES
Do you care how the car
gets packed in the morning or who decides where to go
that day? Are you comfortable with the driving practices
of your traveling companions, especially with regard
to speeding, tailgating and talking on a cell phone
while driving?
LIFESTYLE
& HYGIENE
Would snoring keep you
awake at night? Are you bothered by certain types of
music or other in-car entertainment? Does foot odor
offend you? Do you have any food preferences or health
issues that would affect this trip?
PACE
OF THE TRIP
Does being on time matter
to you? Would you prefer to have a set itinerary or
would you rather just see what develops? How many hours
can you stand to be in the car? Would a mechanical breakdown
ruin your trip?
Roadtripping with buddies
is usually a 24-hour-a-day commitment, and even best
friends can get on each other's nerves after a while.
Consider taking frequent out-of-vehicle breaks, and
make an effort to include everyone in the decision-making
about what will happen each day. The pressures of road
travel can turn small, unintended slights into major
conflicts, even when you are traveling with people whose
habits you know well -- like roommates or a lover. Keep
talking and remember the value of "agreeing to
disagree." If you can find ways to lighten up and
laugh when the going gets tough, you will diffuse some
of the tension - and that's way better than driving
300 miles in a car full of bad feelings.
While choosing your roadtrip
destination is certainly important, never forget that
getting there should be at least half the fun. Compatible
companions can make the difference between a roadtrip
dream and a nightmare on wheels.
Mark
Sedenquist
2/12/06
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