I visited Kara last weekend in Muskegon. I've known her for a few years, and I'd like to think we're pretty good friends, but it's always amazing to me how much you learn about a person when you see them operate in their environment.
Think about all of the friends you've had, the people you've dated, or otherwise had some kind of relationship with beyond casual acquaintance. You certainly understand them more as time moves forward, but you don't always have context. You learn a lot about a person when you see where they lived, who their parents are and the cultural nuances of their native stomping ground.
I got a little of that with Catherine the weekend before up at Mackinac too. While she isn't "from" there exactly, the place has a lot to do with who she is, and her mom lives there in the summer.
Anyway, I had a good time up there, and aside from all of the driving, it was nice to relax again and let someone else decide what to do. I also got to see Michigan's Adventure for the first time in five years, and there is a trip report forthcoming.
But about driving... Between the last two weekends, I realized that I've spent about 20 total hours driving in Michigan. While the higher speed limit is nice, what the hell is wrong with people up there that they ride the left lane? Left lane is for passing, right is for driving. Do they not teach that in drivers education there? If you aren't passing someone, get the hell over! Besides, you're twice as likely to get a speeding ticket driving in the left lane.
Y'know, *I* was taught the left lane was for passing, but I remember Ian asking me on our first trip to Holiday World why I was constantly changing lanes to pass instead of just travelling in the much faster left lane. I explained the rule and he said that he'd never heard of it before.
I might mention his driver's training instructors were current cops.
So either that rule has been abolished, or it's not being taught anymore.
Besides, it never applied to those driving a van, or women in SUV's.
Isn't it PA that actually has signs indicating that's the law?
Another one that bothers me, in particular at my highway exit, is that you have to turn into the lane closest to you. In other words, if you turn left, turn into the left most lane. Turning right, the curb lane. I remember that being listed in the study guide for the Ohio test.
It may be the law in PA, not for sure. I know in VA, WV, and I think the Carolinas it isn't. Faster Vehicles are to be in the left lanes, slow vehicles and in some areas 18wheelers are to be in the right. Mich. must be like WV.
You can drive in the left lane all you want, you'd just better be going faster than the right lane, but not (too far) over the speed limits. But, then, when it is 70-75 mph here, I don't speed too bad.
I remember seeing signs in PA that specifically stated the left lane was for passing only. That was a few years ago, but I assume it is still the case.
Turning into the correct lane is especially a problem up here in Westlake. I don't know how many near misses I have seen at the two major intersections I encounter during my short commute to work. When I went to driver's ed it was explained, to the point of being excessive, that when turning left, you always turn into the leftmost lane. Unfortunately most people choose not to follow that rule.
It's illegal to drive in the passing lane in Illinois for more than 2 miles. I can't see how anyone could get caught unless a cop was on your ass for that long, but at least the state recognizes the importance of it.
As for knowing the difference when I started driving... I had a similar experience as CPLady & Ian did. Dad & I were driving down the interstate and I was just cruising out in the left hand side. He explained to me the difference and I've been flipping fingers to others ever since.
Before the driving stuff got started, I was going to say that experiencing someone in their/different environment could/should be applied to young couples marrying. As it has been discussed before around here, you really get to know someone after you move in together.
I know the turning into the lane closest to you is still a law in MI as one of my friends got a ticket for turning into the left lane instead of the right when making a right hand turn.
And yes, I also agree with Neuski that couples really should live together before marrying, which is why I didn't blink when Ian and Donna wanted to share an apartment for school in A2. They've been talking marriage after school, and I'm happy they are getting a taste of 24/7 with each other.