I left without a route, which is another way of saying I left without a deadline. The city looked different when I was not trying to cross it efficiently.
I followed shade, then music, then the smell of bread. For a few hours, curiosity was enough of a plan.
Questions worth carrying
What becomes possible when I stop optimizing the hour? Which interests have I dismissed because they do not lead anywhere obvious? When did wandering start to feel irresponsible?
A good question changes the quality of attention before it produces an answer. These stayed with me all the way home.
The scenic route
The long way is not always better. But now and then it loosens the story that there is only one sensible path through a day—or through a life.
I returned tired, slightly sunburned, and newly fond of the distance between two points.