Get Out!
Last October, when it was warm and sunny outside, I told my brother and his wife that I was planning to drive over for a winter visit. They live in Kent, Washington, which is 675 miles from Bozeman, where I live. But they’re all interstate highway miles. Easy peasy. And I love road trips!
Several days later, it snowed. And that afternoon my AWD Nissan slid through an intersection after I tried to stop when the light turned red. The street was a glare of ice. My slow-motion slide through the intersection was like a bad dream. My heart pounded as I careened (at 10 miles an hour) around vehicles, concrete meridians, and pedestrians. Thankfully, I missed hitting everything and everyone. But, by the time I was half a block west of 19th and had steered my Nissan into a snowbank to stop it, I was panting and cursing. Suddenly, my drive to Kent didn’t seem like a good idea.
There are 3 mountain passes between Bozeman and Kent: Pipestone Pass, Lookout Pass, and Snoqualmie Pass. I’ve driven them all, many times, and have never before thought about cancelling a road trip just because it was winter. I’ve always gone where I wanted to go, no matter the weather.
My reluctance for winter travel was something new — an unfamiliar feeling of vulnerability that included local driving. For a while, I seriously considered staying inside my condo until April. I could order groceries from Instacart and emergency supplies from Amazon. I could stay in touch with friends via phone calls and Zoom. I could be safe at home.
Although I’ve since scrapped the idea of staying inside until April, I now understand that navigating the winter months can be much more dangerous than sliding through an intersection. The actual danger is isolation. When it’s cold and icy outside, leaving home can feel unsafe, especially when walkways and roads are slippery. And so, we often stay in when we should get out.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC.gov), isolation is hazardous to your health. They site a risk of premature death that rivals smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity. Also, a 50% increased risk of dementia, a 29% increased risk of heart disease, and a 32% increased risk of stroke. And one study showed that “loneliness was associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide.” Those statistics show that staying inside all winter is a very bad idea. So, how can we get out safely?
City buses. If you live near a bus stop, the zero fare transit system may be an option. Of course, you’ll need an ice-free walkway to get to the bus stop. You can download the bus app to your phone, which will show you when the bus is scheduled to arrive at your stop. The app will show you if a bus is running late so you won’t have to stand out in the cold any longer than necessary. A dispatcher at headquarters can help you with schedules.
Ride share companies: Uber, Lyft, taxis. Yes, you will have to download an app and get used to how it works. Consider it exercise for your brain. You’ll also have to enter credit card information online. But, once you get used to the way it all works, this can be a very liberating way to travel. A driver shows up at your door and off you go. The app will tell you when, exactly, your ride will arrive and allow you to schedule a return trip.
Family, friends, neighbors. People like to help! You might be surprised at how happy they’ll be to give you a ride. Ask someone who’s going to the same event, such as an OLLI class, or who likes to shop at your grocery store. Treat your daughter to lunch after she drives you to do a few errands. Invite a neighbor in for coffee and homemade ginger cake after he gives you a ride. Not only will these people feel good about helping, but you’ll enjoy one-on-one time with them.
Make a resolution to find and nurture at least one new friendship during 2023. Resolve to connect with existing friends more often. Sign up for classes and events. Use whatever transportation you’re most comfortable with or invite people to your place.
Although I decided not to drive over 3 mountain passes this winter, I’ve found a middle ground between that and hiding out until spring. Because isolation now seems more dangerous than icy roads, I have chosen to get out!
A version of this article was published in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, January 2023.
