I Can’t Be Lost! I Know Where I Am!

By Paula Farris

If you are as directionally challenged as I am you have probably done some of your best site seeing while driving around in circles.

I do okay in cities that have a prominent landmark--in San Diego the Pacific Ocean is always to the west, in Colorado Springs Pike’s Peak is always to the west, in Phoenix South Mountain is always to the south and is visible even at night because the communications antennas are lit up with red lights. But even in those cities I have retraced my steps (or tire tracks) for hours.

I have often told my children, "You aren’t lost if you know where you are. You may not have a clue how to get where you are going, but if you are familiar with the area where you are, you will be okay."

With the wonderful technology of Global Positioning Satellites getting lost may become a thing of the past, but if you drive an older vehicle like mine you may not yet be so blessed. Until we all have the benefit of a knowledgeable navigator giving turn by turn instructions here are a few tips to help you get to where you are headed.

• Always have an up to date map of the area where you are, preferably a map of the city and the surrounding area. If you can find a map that has landmarks noted on it, it will be even easier to follow. Make sure it is a recent map. Road construction in many cities changes almost constantly and last year’s map may get you even more lost.





• Ask for directions! Don’t be embarrassed about not knowing how to get where you are going. But make sure the person you ask knows how to get there too. Having someone tell you to go left at the big tree and take the right next to the house with blue shutters may not be very helpful. Street names are always the easier way to find your destination.





• When you ask for directions make sure you write them down. It is difficult enough to maneuver through traffic without having to try to remember an unfamiliar list of street names and turns.





• If you find it difficult to read your map or directions, find a place to pull off the road to orient yourself before you take a wrong turn.





• If you do take a wrong turn, either retrace your path or ask someone for new directions. If you are supposed to be heading toward the mountains or the city or the ocean and you find yourself getting further away, stop and figure out where you made the wrong turn. It is possible that the road leads away and then turns back in the direction you need to go, but if you aren’t sure that it does, reevaluate your position before you become really lost.





• If you are in the woods or some other unpopulated place, make sure you have the proper equipment with you before you head out on your trip. This is true whether you are hiking, camping, or just driving through the wilderness. At least pack plenty of water for each person, a compass, a whistle and proper clothing. It is too easy to get lost when all the trees, cacti or mountains look the same. Make sure you are prepared.





• If you do get lost in an unpopulated area stay where you are. Find some place nearby to shelter yourself from the weather, but don’t wander around trying to find your way back to where you belong. Blow your whistle as a signal to others in the area. Don’t try to start a signal fire, especially in areas with extreme fire danger warnings.





• If you are prone to getting lost don’t go very far from home alone, or invest in a GPS system. According to my calculations I could have paid for one by now with the money I would have saved from buying gas to drive around in circles!

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Paula @ StressFreeFamilyTravel.com