A lesson in determining the right way to get lost

On The Bright Side

By Kay Hafner

When was the last time you got lost--on purpose?

"Getting lost" is what I call my occasional urges to take a drive alone, to hear my thoughts and enjoy the scenery. There�s something freeing about hitting the road, picking a direction and seeing where I end up. Maybe it�s the pioneer spirit in me, calling me to explore and be more adventurous. Maybe it�s just the need to be free from the world of clocks, schedules and agendas.

There�s a children�s story about an old man who walks his dog according to the irregular timing of city street lights. Each time they get to a red light, they cross the road and change direction. That spirit of unpredictability in that story is what leads me in my random wanderings.

Earlier this year I took a personal development class that required us to make a "date" with ourselves once a week. One or two weeks I wandered leisurely through the antique shops of downtown Glens Falls. Once, I did some dabbling with a sketch book and oil pastels. My favorite weeks were when I just made sure the gas tank was full and headed out on the road.

On one of these occasions I went to Corinth, then wandered south along some major and minor routes. Another time I headed north to Warrensburg, and wandered around northwestern Warren County. Although I was raised In Queensbury and returned in 1992 after about 15 years away, many of the roads I traveled that day were new to me.

I have to admit here that I don�t go out unprepared when I go out to get lost. In addition to such key supplies as a bottle of Diet Pepsi and some favorite music, I make sure have a map. After all, a random drive is a two-part journey; a return plan is essential if you don�t want to miss dinner.

Actually, I�m turning into a map junky. Anytime I�m new to an area, or just visiting for a while, I buy a map or two. Last month I was in Atlanta, GA for a wedding and bought two maps to assure myself I could get around. It was useful to have because I ended up in a left turn lane and was able to navigate my way along an alternate route to get where I was going. I saw some new and different sights--unique southern houses and bucolic scenes of fields covered in ever-present kudzu--that I wouldn�t have seen otherwise. Of course, the railroad tracks that run through the town of Acworth, are not what most people would call scenic.

This propensity for wandering aimlessly isn�t a recent invention.

When I was in Milwaukee, WI, for the summer in 1985, I spent my first couple weeks getting familiar with the lay of the land. I took many meandering drives. I learned the location of major landmarks--like the delivery entrance to the Miller Brewing Company--and found some parts of town that people warned not to go to.

Also, when my husband and I lived in New Hampshire, one of the first things we did was buy an in-depth state atlas that showed every highway, byway and dirt road. It was fascinating to just drive and not know what we were going to find along the way. Once we found an ice cream shop that other people had said was legendary but which we had never figured out how to get to.

You may not be comfortable with such unpredictable adventuring. There�s no definite destination and no quantifiable goal. Granted, you wouldn�t want to live my whole life this way, without knowing where you�re going or how to get there. But for an hour or two, it�s a delightful way to inject your life with spontaneity and surprise.

So, what are you waiting for? Go get lost.

Kay Hafner was last seen wandering around the streets of Queensbury, where she lives, but might be coming to a town near you soon. She frequently finds her way home and can be reached via email at [email protected].

copyright � Kay Hafner 1999