This week I discovered a couple of things and one of which I will be talking about in this post, I’ll save the other for another time. In some ways the military life is very much like that of the civilian life, at least when it comes to traffic and getting somewhere on time. As the holidays approach things only seem to go a bit faster. Have you noticed this? If you haven’t finished that Christmas shopping you better get on to it because even though there are only 7 days left, it’ll jump to two some how. I’m not sure how it is done but I swear time will go that fast.
Driving is such a pain sometimes, probably why it took me so long to finally get my license. For those wondering, I was 26 and I only got that because I almost gave birth at home because my ride was gone and hubby was in Iraq at the time. Lets not get into that subject though. But I hate traffic and I will pass on it as much as I can, I’m not one of those drivers that’ll swerve in front of three people because they know they can make it, I’m that safe one. As my husband says, “The type I hate.” But I am, and I’m extra careful if my kids are in the car, by the time I’m done driving I have to rest because my nerves are shot. This is probably the reason I never, ever drive off base. Heck, these days if you live on a military base there really is no need to drive off base unless you REALLY want to do it.
I’ve learned that if you want to go anywhere on base first thing in the morning, don’t try driving by a school when the kids are about to start. Between 8-8:35 a.m. you will have to wait somewhere between 10-15 minutes in traffic as each car must drop off their little one. In the military there are many that can’t go through this traffic as they are due to be at work which only means hearing cars honk as the marines get a little angry and the parents cursing as they don’t want their little one to be late. The other time is when the kids get out of school, between 3-3:30 and this is a much longer wait depending which way you are going.
No way does anyone want to drive through traffic or have to wait in it, just like in the civilian world. Would you be willing to drive through LA traffic around lunch time, or some other busy highway? I didn’t think so, and if you can you’d rather stay put until there is very little traffic.
One thing I didn’t know was the traffic is actually worse leaving the base around 5 p.m. For some reason it never dawned on me that so many people actually live off base. I had to be somewhere by 5:30 p.m. and left around 5 which I thought would give me ample time to get to where I needed to be. It should’ve taken me about 10 minutes, I got there around 5:40 p.m. Traffic was brutal getting off base, you have the entire base leaving at the same time plus the off base traffic from people getting off work there. The lesson I learned, NEVER leave during a rush hour and expect to make it on time. Instead leave 30-45 minutes before rush hour, this way if you happen to drive into traffic it is only the beginning.
For more blogs on traffic, click below:
Coping with Holiday Travel Stress
Road Rage Can Get Even the Most Calm of People