Human clock
Commuters tend to be creatures of habit, and I am no exception. My return journey timing is a bit more variable, but I tend to leave for work at about the same time everyday. The same is true of many other people I pass along the way, so they become a kind of fuzzy human clock.
You know where you normally tend to pass other commuters travelling on your route in the opposite direction, so if you see them earlier along your route, it’s a pretty safe bet that you’re a bit late. Similarly, if you see them when you’re nearer to your destination, you might be a bit earlier than usual. I recently realised that I was subconsciously using these kinds of encounters to roughly gauge my timekeeping, and found it quite funny that — inconstant creatures though we are — much of our behaviour is predictable enough to set your watch by. Things do fall apart a bit if your ‘reference person’ happens to be running early or late too, though, but I have a watch to check.
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Makes you think that you should either swap jobs or houses with these fellow commuters!
I love reading your blog , keep it up.
Marie-Laure
by Marie-Laure @ 17/05/2007 11:02 am • Permalink •
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I've been noticing the same behaviour in myself lately. Two particular indicators I rely on: a woman I see walking to work or wherever she goes daily, almost always in the same block when I drive past; and, when the news headlines come on the radio (because they are a bit fuzzy themselves at 8:30, depending on the current talk etc.) -- when I hear them, I expect to be around about a particular intersection.
I think the main significance of these two events is that the first happens close to home, so it means I've left on time. And the second happens around the major potential traffic hold-up spot: if I'm in the right place by then, only really unusual events will affect me after that.
What I really like about this is that it means I'm not nervously watching the clock every second. If these two events time right, I make it to work on time. If not, it's either my own fault because I left late, or it's a hold-up beyond my control and there's no point getting stressed about it. Overall, it makes the journey easier.
by Steve Murphy @ 19/05/2007 1:10 am • Permalink •
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I even always wake up 5 minutes before alarm (I always get up at different time... 7 am or 10 am it's doesn't metter)
by Tisha @ 23/05/2007 4:33 pm • Permalink •
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