travel anxiety

When it comes to things like check-in times, I'm enormously paranoid careful. I'll leave the biggest margin possible to account for possible delays in reaching stations/airports and invariably arrive sooper-early. Girlfriend is often despairing of amused by this.

The only bit in flying that I really don't like is when you get a very slight amount of turbulence and just for a split second everything seems to stop, as if the plane will simply fall out of the air. That freaks me out a wee bit. Big turbulence though = no problem, just like a rollercoaster or summat. Kind of weird I know.

I'm going to NYC next friday, and i started panicking about my passport two weeks ago.

I highly recommend not drinking before or during flights unless that is the only way you will remain calm. Flying is already so dehydrating, you don't need alcohol to help exhaust you further. I also read on takeoff so as to make the time until you level off go by faster. I only like airports because I get to read all the magazines for free.

Sometimes, I think I'm going to have a panic attack on the tube (only when it's underground), but I never have. Yet, the thought is always there that I'm going to wig out or something. How do I deal with this? I either force myself to get on the train, or go on the bus. It's weird because I can go months without being worried and then it just hits me again.

I guess in both situations of flying and being underground are ones where I'm not in control, or can't get out of easily. You could say the same is true of most transport, but these fears aren't rational so it's a mute point.

Regardless, you've a right to your fears, Autobot. (Love the name, BTW!) A mate of mine feels the same when she's on trains. Doesn't bother me, but I respect her right to feel it.

I know I may get mugs chucked at me, but I honestly don't mind flying at all. That's always been the best part of travel for me: relaxing into the seat, as the plane lifts off the ground. I've flown so many times since I was a kid, that it doesn't bother me. (Those 6 hour flights can be a bitch though, once my legs lose feeling.)

http://www.newarkmuseum.org/

Ditto

Plus I've got a whole array of minor but ridiculous fusses and concerns (re: airport security, passport, luggage, etc.) about the vacation that I'm sure Ned and Chris B. wouldn't find terribly surprising after Terrastock.

Also, right now I have a mild case of swimmer's ear that, given my plans, I can't really do anything about, and I'm concerned it might develop into a full-blown earache.

My hope is that once I get on the plane I'll just fall asleep and I won't have to THINK during most of my flight. I plan to read a book that I know from experience will bore me to sleep: Beckett's Molloy.

Airport bars, while crazy expensive, are classic. There are few better places to watch people than in an airport. It’s amazing. And even better if you’re pissed. It’s a pain to have to frequently visit the airplane restrooms, though.

Since my plane leaves at 11:10, it would really suck it weather delayed the flight.

You can also catch the airtrain at Newark, which will connect you onto the trains into NYC.

I'm not sure what terminal I'll be in at Newark but since I'm connecting to Rome it will probably be the fanciest one with the duty free shops and such. I doubt I will be leaving the airport (as much as I would love to nip over to NYC!) because it's such a pain getting through security, and I'll be traveling at a busy time. The shops sound great, but I want to save my money for Rome! So it will probably be naptime in Newark.