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The chaotic way my planning goes, I wouldn't have any time left to do anything I've already planned to do.
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When our daughter was small, we went to Disney so many times (Season Pass holders, and 198 mile drive),
that she would roll her eyes and say "Not Disney AGAIN!"... We stopped getting Season Passes after that, and now as a teenager she says "Why would you listen to a CLEARLY STUPID 6 year old???" LOL.
It depends. We have a Dog now.
But I was always up for that stuff. Leave work early drive to the keys with some friends. Did not do that stuff EVERY week, but when things came up, loved to jump on it.
Now, I am old. Tired. Like sleeping in my own bed. Hate planes and traveling. I have about 8 states in this country I have not been through. Been to Europe (many countries), Russia, Norway, Australia, Puerto Rico, Bahamas, Jamaica, Canada, and Mexico.
There are only a few places left on my list. But as others have said. No matter where you go, there you are!
Nowadays, I am almost happy with Ordering food for a specific country, and eating it while watching YouTube videos  )))
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We've done stuff like that. My kids are older so they are mostly easier (we can leave them at home for the weekend and they won't die).
Last year the wife and I set out at the beginning of June with no real destination in mind. We drove north from Atlanta, GA and at first thought we would go to the Smoky Mountains on the Tennessee side but as we got closer decided "nah" and chose to go to Washington DC via an interstate road that took us up the entire northwest border of Virginia.
Right before Christmas, the 23rd I think, we decided that we would go to the beach and found a Condo for several days at New Smyrna Beach. We were able to take the youngest, 15 on that trip.
You're not crazy.
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Phew,
For a second there, I thought that was ONE Trip!
Left the kids in June, and on Christmas, still deciding where to go next...
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I can see the confusion, the Mrs. probably would have liked that trip.
Glad to see you weren't confused about
"the youngest, 15 on that trip." considering I left out the second comma. I only have 3 kids not 16+.
"the youngest, 15, on that trip."
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I always go with the flow.
The caveat is that, unlike in the ever so distant past, the flow isn't rainwater cascading down a mountain side but simply from one drain pipe to another.
That's just how life works. When it works at all.
| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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I once went to Bullhead City Arizona on a whim. 2 days drive there, 1 day visit, and 2 days back. So no, I do not think you are crazy.
But now with a wife and child I find I cannot be quite so spontaneous.
Within you lies the power for good - Use it!
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30. Married. No kids. Dog.
If we knew the dog would be welcome where we were going, 5 hours for a weekend trip isn't unthinkable for us. Otherwise getting a sitter for the weekend pretty much shuts things down.
No dog? Short notice makes it (more) difficult (but not impossible) to find accommodations, at least for reasonable rates.
If the five hour drive were the only variable in the decision? Sure, why not? Better than sitting around at home like we do every other weekend. Unfortunately nothing in life is ever so simple...
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I never want to go north of here, I'd only end up in Luton.
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Just keep going. You'll be OK once you get past the Watford Gap. Mind you, you probably won't understand any of the local lingos.
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I may not last forever but the mess I leave behind certainly will.
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snorkie wrote: Does anybody else find this to be true?
Yes.
You're crazy 
Bastard Programmer from Hell 
If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]
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I don't often leave on a unplanned trip on only a few hours notice, but that's just because I would have already made plans a day or two ahead. I am always planning somewhere to go. I don't need accommodations, because I usually go camping, so dogs are just fine. I live in the western USA, so there is plenty of public land where camping is free.
We keep my SUV loaded for camping most of the time, so just need to grab some clothing and food and we're gone.
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Before marriage and kids this was standard practice, to the point where I once decided to go to New Zealand (from Sydney) on a Thursday, quit the job on Friday, flew out with a one way ticket on Saturday, return 4 months later.
Now I need to book a holiday 4-6 months in advance so deployments are handled while I'm around.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity
RAH
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Back when I was younger and foolisher, my wife and I and/or kids (before we had kids and after) would sometimes pack up the car for a weekend and start heading down the street before deciding where we were going.
Those were fun times. Lots of good memories.
I'm retired. There's a nap for that...
- Harvey
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Many moons ago when I was in college I came back from work and my friend said lets go to Melbourne and within an hour we were on our way from Sydney to Melbourne driving 900km....
Zen and the art of software maintenance : rm -rf *
Maths is like love : a simple idea but it can get complicated.
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Did you ever get there? 
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Yes took us just over 9 hours and one time we almost run out of fuel...
Zen and the art of software maintenance : rm -rf *
Maths is like love : a simple idea but it can get complicated.
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My schedule is as flexible as my wife allows it to be.
If you have an important point to make, don't try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time - a tremendous whack.
--Winston Churchill
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I am so flexible that I am called "free electron" sometimes.
I don't like planning as it can make you blind for the numerous opportunities of the moment.
My lifestyle is so anarchic, that one day I can sleep between 8am and 4pm, and the following day 10pm to 6am.
I go to sleep when I'm sleepy, wake up when I'm awake, go to work when I'm bored being home, go back home when I'm bored working. My biological clock has no respect for sunlight.
I like this lifestyle.
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Having kids and an ex - spontaneity to that level could lead to an Amber Alert....
That being said, when something interesting comes up I generally try to make it work. Took off with the kids last Friday for a last-minute spring ski weekend. You only get about a week of skiing in above-freezing weather, so you take it - especially when you luck into a discounted hillside condo rental. Took about four hours to get it all put together, packed up, and on the road.
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My schedule is flexible as wind when it comes to travelling. I have many times decided on a busy Friday afternoon for weekend trips with friends, which usually was trekking!  Just one phone call and I am there! Travel freak 
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The older you get the more obligations you develop. Also, I agree with the post that it is a personality thing. Some people can just "wing it". Others are horrified by the thought.
So, enjoy it while you can now, because as you get older, the obligations catch up to you like the wake of a boat.
Finally, the downside of being "footloose and fancy free" is the Indiana Jones quote, "it's not the years... It's the miles ". I am living proof of that one. 
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I think this sounds super-cool and fun. "Crazy" to me is taking your life savings and betting it on the Super Bowl, or quitting your stable job to pursue an acting career right after your baby is born. Taking a spontaneous road trip just sounds like a blast. I agree that most people find this kind of approach too risky, and that's a shame. This approach to life always reminds me of the line in the poem "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by TS Eliot where he says, "I have measured out my life with coffee spoons". I say keep doing what you're doing and ignore the naysayers.
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The wife and I used to do that before the trouble. Many a Friday evening we'd be wondering what to do, then I'd say, "Vegas", she'd say "OK", and off we'd go. Now Vegas is a little farther and it's no longer a straight shot on a super-highway.![Jig | [Dance]](https://codeproject.freetls.fastly.net/script/Forums/Images/jig.gif)