Driving anxiety

[Kristen Marie]

I love driving dressed! I started last year with some little trips....15 miles to First Event....10 miles to Sisters of Boston activities....5 miles to the Randolph Country Club. But, I am always mindful of the stories of getting stranded when the car breaks down, or being pulled over for a missing tail light, or locking my keys out of the car......so let me tell you about last night.

I attended a dinner hosted by "Sisters of Gardner" at the charming Old Mill Restaurant in the middle of Massachusetts. It's over an hour from where I work, so after my Sunday afternoon meeting, I changed into a new outfit (a Cold Water Creek sweater and black skirt), jumped on the highway and headed west. The trip was uneventful which was very good and I arrived on time....and I was thrilled with the hour behind the wheel as Kristen.

After a great time of food and friendship with the girls from Gardner, I started home at 8:00. Ten minutes into my return trip on the highway, the car lurched and the infamous check engine light came on. Uh oh. The car recovered but for the next hour, I kept running all the possible scenarios through my head. Do I pull off and change? Do I keep traveling and hope I make it? Do I call one of the girls and ask them to follow me? All of a sudden, being dressed on a two-lane highway in the middle of deserted Massachusetts was not as thrilling as I thought.

Well, I chose to continue since there were no immediate exits and did make it back safely, but it really got me to thinking about a lot of things, including females getting stranded. And I remembered the stories that so many of you have shared and that truly got me through my anxiety....even though that damn check engine light was on all the way home.

So, I thought I'd pass along what I have learned.

I always pack a guy bag with me with cold cream and a face cloth.
I always keep an extra car key, credit card and cash in my purse.
I always keep my AAA card in my car.
I always do a quick safety check of my car (lights, oil, water, air pressure) the day before my trip.

I'm sure there must be some other hints you gals would like to pass along....

[TxKimberly]

. . .
So, I thought I'd pass along what I have learned.

I always pack a guy bag with me with cold cream and a face cloth.
I always keep an extra car key, credit card and cash in my purse.
I always keep my AAA card in my car.
I always do a quick safety check of my car (lights, oil, water, air pressure) the day before my trip.

I'm sure there must be some other hints you gals would like to pass along....

I used to do just that - thinking along the lines of a pilot ejecting behind enemy lines, I called it my bail out bag. These days I really don't care if I'm stopped for a tail light. Why should I? Nothing illegal in it.
Of course there IS the common sense aspect though! Would you rather chance a tire in a pair of jeans or in a minidress? LOL

[Michelle Hart]

I actually had a blow out one night when I was on my way to a date. Girls that's bad esecially in 4 inch heels a miniskirt and a white blouse. There was NO WAY I was going to change a tire so I just limped home and took my other car.

It cost me about an hour and a half but it all worked out.

[trannie T]

I think about carrying a bag with boy clothes. I might do it sometime. One of the first times I went out I got stopped in a DUI checkpoint, I was sober and quickly went on my way. In my purse I carry my keys, drivers license and AAA card along with my girl stuff.

[Nicole Erin]

Sounds like you are well prepared.
I assume AAA would come out and change a tire or whatever if needed?

OH if you are going on a highway trip where there might not be any public places nearby, you could have a blanket or something so you don't freeze your butt off if you are in a broke-down car for a while. That is, if it is a cold night. Just maybe also have a few other survival things ready if there is a chance you could be stranded for more than a few hours. [I don't know where you go or how far]

But yeah it sounds like you have it together. I mean other than those, what else would you really need. You have the basics at least.

[Suzy Harrison]

When driving I too used to have a bag of guy clothes and make up removal gear. But I don't bother anymore. I've been stopped by the police anyway for speeding with no problems, so it doesn't worry me too much if I break down or get stopped.

In fact if you break down en-femme you're more likely to get help as female than as a male

[obsessedwithpantyhose]

i got stoped in my plaid skirt and 4 inch heels for no turn signal,,cop had some hot young chicky babe in his front seat,,i think he was gona get a DUI out of this stop,,fooled him I DONT DRINK,,anyways he still had me get out and follow his pen with my eyes,,

Kristen,did u go to auto zone the next day to have then scan ur ecm for free to pull the codes???there is an automotive thread in the "lounge"....my car spits every so often when im on the freeway,,its the overdrive system in the trans but it happens so infrequently im not gona bother with it............(by the way im a semi retired auto-diesel mechanic)

[alter_3]

TxKimberly, I love the "behind enemy lines" idea. lol. Crawling through the trenches to get home, in a minidress!

I also have a quick change drab kit. Just my luck that the guy to come help me would be a coworker or neighbor!

[Lilith Moon]

My boy bag contains a complete lightweight jogging suit, a pair of trainers and some travel wipes. Nowadays, though, I might well stay dressed in the event of needing help..depending on circumstances.

[annekathleen]

I've left the house "dressed" at night to drive around,
The heels take a little getting used to.
The air running up my stocking legs up my skirt was a turn on.

I've even left the house "dressed" on my motorcycle.
Blonde wig under the helmet,
Womens jeans and boots,
bra and breast forms under a long sleeve turtleneck,
couldnt wait to get on the highway with my visibly obvious breasts
and my long flowing hair from under my helmet.
( helmet had a dark visor ) I passed a road construction crew and
turned a few heads!
I do ride a big V-twin!

[joann07]

I don't really think about it either.
I always keep my AAA card with me if I need any help wherever I am.
My cars always have regular maintenance to keep them in in tip-top shape and I haven't had a breakdown, flat, nor busted light in either of my two cars, but now I probably just jixed myself. :(

Hugs!

[JoanAz]

I have driven my Goldwing in Fem, short shorts, Penyloafers, Leggs, silicon forms, and my hair is my own,
I have gotten a few "gentle horn taps" from passing cars.
Good feeling:happy:

[Christina Nicole]

My "everyday" car has about 300,000 miles on it. I'm trying to see how many miles she'll go before she gives up. I have a few others, but mostly drive the same one, unless the weather is nice, in which case I'll take one of the other ones. Christina prefers to drive one of the nicer cars.

Because of the high mileage, I'm extra careful when doing maintenance to do a good and through inspection. I also carry a few tools, including a Snap-On analyzer. Sometimes a quick fix can be effected on the road. But I still carry a complete change of clothes, makeup remover cloths, and polish remover. A "space blanket" provides privacy for changing clothes. It all fits in a small duffel bag.

Warm regards,
Christina Nicole

[Seville]

Do not ever forget a fully charged cellphone! And an
auto-adapter in case you get stranded long term
somewhere. Don't laugh...it happens!

I've been questioned by the Police on 4 continents - Federal, State,
Local, Forest Service, National Parks, FAA, BLM, TSA (constantly), Navajo
Indian Police, etc, and only met 1 psycho, in a State Park in NY.:(
(All male mode, tho).

If I don't get questioned, I consider it a failure of law enforcement.

[victoriamwilliams1]

Let see, I have been driving out for years I do carry a bag just in case I am too far away from home or i have to change.

I have been pulled over twice while en fem for my tail light.
I have had my tire blow out within 2 miles of home so I drove it home almost to the rim.
I had a blow out where I had no choice but to change since I needed to be towed home because the car at that time had no spare.

I do carry a emergency bag however I do love the thrill of not having it while out which I have done a few times.

[Sarahwithanh11]

Mainly I'd suggest just having what you'd need regardless of how you're dressed - in my case, a cell phone and an AAA card! (Even in guy mode I'm useless on mechanical things).

And I always have baby wipes (an excellent tip I learned on this board) in my purse, mostly in case the makeup needs neatening up. I'm not sure if I'd try to change clothes before the AAA truck arrived or not. I guess I'll have to face that decision when it happens.

[shenangovalleygal]

if youve been somewhere before and dont know the way there w/o a navigator or someplace youve never been before. i find its a good idea to print out a map from like yahoo or mapquest to the desired destination. a dry run would be helpful if the place isnt too far away but never been there before.

a good example of needing a navigator is when krissy and i are visiting her relatives. w/o her i wouldnt know where to turn even with a map. but thats a very touchy subject .

i went to a careerlink in ohio. since i didnt know where the exact address was, i printed out a directional map and took a dry run to it. now i dont need the map anymore since its on a main road and theres a sign on the building saying what im looking for. also the man directing parking called me 'maam' which i found a bit odd since i was NOT in fem mode. must be my pretty face.