Drive By Spying

I have developed a rather odd...hobby? Yes, we'll call it a hobby. I call it "Drive By Spying." The main point of this hobby is to watch people who are driving and make assessments about who they are and what they're doing, where they're going, etc.

It's fun because you don't have a lot to go off of to make an assessment. You can't see much of their clothes and you can't tell what they're listening to on the radio or whatever. Plus, you have to make your judgements fast since you don't have a long time to stare at them and pick up on anything interesting. But I have found that people offer a certain vulnerability when they are driving. They feel protected by their car and they don't think anyone is watching them. When people don't feel like someone is watching them or even judging them, they act like themselves. They show how tired, angry, upset, happy, etc. they are. It's really fascinating.

There are two different methods of spying. The first is to watch the subjects in the other cars while you drive. This has the benefit of being closer to the subjects and therefore able to detect subtleties that you may not notice far away. The downside to this method is that since you are so close to the subjects you're watching, they can sometimes notice you and look at you. This is uncomfortable. Spies don't like to be noticed by their subjects or worse, another spy. If you want to use this first method, you must be a master of looking away quickly or looking at someone without your head facing them. That way you just have to dart your eyes and not your whole head. The other downside to the first method is since you're driving and spying at the same time, it can be a bit dangerous. Take care not to run into anything or anyone.

The second method is where you sit on the side of a busy road and just watch the cars go by. This is my favorite method. You get a wider variety of subjects, not just the ones you happen to be stuck by. Also, there's not a whole lot of danger involved since you're not driving. The downside is when your subjects do look at you, they think you're really, really weird, just sitting there watching traffic. Try not to draw too much attention to yourself.

I don't know why I find this hobby of Drive By Spying so much fun. I guess I've always been intrigued by the lives of strangers. People are complex, each person with their own stories and experiences. Every person we see on any given day has something they are dealing with right now. It may be good or bad but it is more real and raw than anything we see on television because it is true.

So if you're up for it, go out there and start spying! And if not, beware when driving. Someone may be spying on you.

Love you.
Mean it.