On Friday, my wife and I sat in my car while stationary. We were not in a parking lot but on a five-lane road. The other four lanes were creeping along southward. My electric Nissan just sat there for three or four minutes.

And folks wonder why I don’t drive in Memphis unless I have to. It wasn’t always like that. The five-lane highway used to be two lanes, and the traffic moved along quite nicely. If this kind of progress continues, no one will be able to drive anywhere at all.

What I anticipated would be a brief one-hour road time stretched to over two. The constant vigilance required was exhausting, as surrounding drivers seemed poised to modify my vehicle the moment my attention wavered. Navigating these conditions continuously would undoubtedly strain one’s mental resilience, potentially causing long-term psychological challenges.

Urban sprawl has reached a critical point, with neighboring suburbs experiencing similar challenges. The mounting traffic congestion is compounded by an influx of drivers with diverse and often problematic commuting behaviors. In hindsight, relocating immediately upon retirement would have been a prudent decision. Now, I’m concerned that the window of opportunity for a strategic move has narrowed significantly.

At least, as they continue their migration south, it will drive up my property values.