#[did NOT enjoy the Coast Starlight leg of the trip back home- very boring]

[simply-sithel]

Overnight train trips are good mental health check-ins. Seated across the table from someone most likely, three times a day, you are expected to be sociable- entertaining possibly. Everyone being mindful of the fact we must be 'good company' to each other as we travel together. I wonder if there's a similar feeling to cruises...

The need to frame one's narrative- because on the train we're going somewhere. Are we at the beginning, the middle, or the end of our journey? True origin and true destination. These facts are expected to be exchanged with dinner companions, I feel- thus forcing one to construct such narrative to have on hand. It is distinctively different than the routine exchange of job information one often falls into at routine parties.

Took the Southwest Chief from Chicago to L.A. in a 'roomette' -- would recommend.