Travelling Efficiently, Connecting Flights and Pee

Well this last trip to Montreal will be the last leg of my work travels that began in early January. While it has been a great experience to travel to almost all of the Davis offices, it has also been quite tiresome. I know that there are many people in this world who travel extensively for work or maybe even for pleasure. So my recent travels likely pale in comparison to some. One thing I have learned traveling these past couple of months is that I know I can travel light. I have learned how to pack efficiently. I have also come to realize that I don’t need to have a lot of “stuff” when I travel. Nor do I need a lot of “stuff” period. So after my trip back from Whitehorse, I took on the task of cleaning out my closet. I know I have a lot clothes and I have always been one who likes having unique and stylish clothing. But I know that I can still have a sense of style without so much “stuff”. I simply do not need all these things. I have donated 4 garbage bags of clothes and shoes. I will likely give away more when I get back home.

Efficiency and Connecting Flights

My flight this morning had a connection through Calgary and typically I hate having to catch connecting flights. I hate connecting flights for the following reasons, a) they are time consuming and I prefer using my time efficiently, b) I hate the possibility of missing a connection hence wasting more time waiting around trying to get to my final destination and c) I often feel a need to stop in the washroom to pee when I get off the plane. I know that c) is a ridiculous reason to hate connecting flights. I think I have been classically conditioned to feel the need to pee after I get off a plane. So you ask why does having the need to pee have anything to do with hating connecting flights? Well, if I have a very close connect time between flights, typically anything under an hour, I worry that my need to pee could make me miss my flight. I am obviously a control freak. What can I say?... I’m a Virgo.

Adding to my theme of efficiency, not only can you check-in on-line but Air Canada, amongst other airlines, can send you your boarding pass by way of a text message! It’s great and there’s no need to use a stitch of paper! Since I have learned to travel lightly, by bringing a carry-on bag, checking in on-line, and getting to the airport in just enough time to clear security, I can arrive at the gate and board a flight without having to wait. I hate waiting around and I find this system for travel unbelievably efficient. I love it when things tick like clock work! Now if only we were allowed to verify photo identification without actually having an ID card, the efficiency travel process would be complete. I know there is such technology available but given the debate surrounding privacy, I can understand the hesitation to implement. But a have a good reason why I would consider a retina and/or finger print scan and that has to do with a dirty toilet.

The Need to Pee

From what I’ve told you so far I gather you get that I am all about efficiency. I like to plan and be prepared. I even put much thought into what I will wear on the plane in order to ensure comfort on the plane, comfort during any connections if applicable, and I take into consideration the weather condition at my arrival destination. And in doing so, I always make sure I am wearing pants with back pockets. When I can, I often opt to wear my jeans as long as I don’t have to go directly to the office from the airport. The pockets are for my driver’s licence or my passport. So before boarding a flight, I have my Blackberry for my e-boarding pass in one back pocket and ID in the other. Well today something went terribly wrong during my connection in Calgary.

As I got off my connecting flight into Calgary, I, of course, have the incredible need to pee. The flight coming into to Calgary was late so my one-hour time frame to connect shortened to about 25 minutes. So I quickly drag my little carry-on bag with me to the bathroom. Of course, I’m about to burst and the toilet stalls are so small I can barely fit my bag in with me in the stall. At this point I didn’t care if the stall door was opened or not. I had to pee like there was no tomorrow and when I did, it sounded like a cow peeing on a flat rock. What a relief. I can now rush back to find my gate. At this point, I probably have about 10 or 15 minutes before the flight takes off. Well upon finishing relieving myself, I pull up my jeans and to my misfortune, my ID slips out of my back pocket…. hits the edge of the toilet seat and (it seemed to be happening in slow motion) jumps into the bowl full of my own pee! Aghhhhh! I am grossed out.

Now, if photo identification was not needed to board the plane, I would have simply walked away. Cards can be replaced! But I needed this stupid piece of plastic so what else could I do but reach into the bowl and get my driver’s licence. Now, it was very important that I did this in a calm and controlled manner. The last thing I needed to do was reach in and in a panic, accidentally splash around urine! My luck would have it that I would likely scream and flick pee into my mouth! Ughhhh! Hence, I am pro retina and/or finger print scan as a means of identification.