The road warrior

Thanks to Helen Casey for inspiring this blog entry and dignifying it with that martial title, which makes me sound lots braver than I am. Traveling alone is an adventure, no question about it. I have a good role model, Jean Ann Walsh, a college roomie, who travels the world alone without batting an eyelash. So I try to follow her example, and along the way I've developed a few rules for myself:

1. Try to be fearless, or at least as fearless as you can manage. My mother used to say of western Oregon's overly rainy winters, "If you don't go and do things in the rain, you won't go and do much." Same thing for traveling. Try stuff. They say the best way to ward off senility is to stretch your comfort zone. At the same time,

2. Have a brain. Don't go walking on the most isolated beach you can find with an expensive camera around your neck when you notice that the only other occupant of the beach is a guy in a hoodie staring at you. I felt awful about stereotyping the poor guy, who was probably only going fishing, but still. People say cruises and tours are good ways for the single person to travel safely.

3. Carry a book. You won't feel foolish eating alone or sitting in an audience, because you're not alone; your old friend Jane Austen, or whoever, is with you. A camera works, too, or you can play with your phone. Actually, a camera works the opposite way as well; it may start a conversation.

4. The GPS is essential for a driving trip. Don't second-guess it. Set your destination ahead of time, not when you're already lost. Make sure it's secure on the seat or its mount. If there's something more nervous-making than having the GPS stop talking to you because you knocked it sideways in six-lane traffic (each way) in the middle of Houston, I'm not sure what it is.

5. People are nice to old ladies, especially if they seem confused. Don't hesitate to look a little pathetic.

6. Be willing to spend money. My kids had to teach me this one, miser that I used to be. But if the prospect of driving five hours alone in strange territory makes you nervous, why not drive halfway and treat yourself to a decent hotel and dinner before continuing? That's how I had one of the best meals of the trip.

I'm sure that's not all there is to know about travel and the single oldster. I'm new to this, and would love to hear others' advice, experience, mistakes, etc.