It’s always been amazing to me how people seem to value not expending energy over not wasting time.
Whenever I’ve driven into a place where there are drive-up windows, I notice that most of the time, there is a line of cars in the drive-up line, yet others opt to queue up behind them rather than get out and walk inside, where there is seldom a wait, and never one as long as there is outside in their vehicle. This is only understandable in inclement weather or with physical limitations, which most of the time, isn’t the case.
This tells me that people would far rather not bother making the effort it takes to walk inside in favor of wasting the much extra to sit in their car to be served.
Have you ever noticed how a driver will sit in a store parking lot for several minutes to wait for the parking place it appears that another vehicle will soon be vacating? It holds all the cars up behind him but by golly, he is going to get that closer spot to avoid having to walk the extra-sometimes only three or four car width by parking at a spot a bit farther back.
In the time it took that driver to wait for that coveted space, he could have parked farther away and been in the store shopping before the closer spot is vacated. I drive around them, park in another row in an emptier section farther away and see them still sitting in their car waiting for that closer spot, as I wonder if they notice or even think about the time they are wasting and that they could be in the store by now.
And what in the heck are people doing when they get into their cars and sit there fiddling with things in the seat? Why does it take so long to get going once someone gets into the car? They get in and fool around, adjusting things, situating their bags, putting on make-up and I don’t know what all else but I’ve really wondered. When I get into my car, once my treasures are put into it, I take off as soon as possible so as not to keep someone waiting. If necessary, I can always pull over into the outer reaches of the lot and do whatever else needs doing so as not to hold up the line.
I think Americans are spoiled. I recall in Europe and other countries foreign to us, when, on foot, you ask someone directions. They say, “Oh, it’s very close. It’s just down the street.”
Sometimes they even escort you there, but in either case, you soon find out that their evaluation of ‘a short distance’ is very different than what we have gotten used to here. Your destination is at least three or four blocks away.
Life and time are precious. Why waste any of it, especially in favor of laziness? I’m not one of those people who are in a hurry all the time, and I don’t drive that way either, in case that’s what you are thinking. I’m just one who is curious about thought patterns of others and why they would be willing to waste so much time. Besides, we can all use a little more exercise.
