#WalkingSnob

Today I spent a little time in Vancouver for the first time since late November. I had to pick up my daughters from the Airport. I parked our hideous pickup at Scott Road Station and took the SkyTrain downtown, aiming to find my way to YVR.

The Scott Road to #YVR journey begins at 4:09pm. #transit #skytrain #vancouver #604 #surrey

A photo posted by Jeffrey Nordstrom (@jeffnords) on Jul 10, 2016 at 4:12pm PDT

Approaching Metrotown. #burnaby #YVR #skytrain #transit

A video posted by Jeffrey Nordstrom (@jeffnords) on Jul 10, 2016 at 4:26pm PDT

This was easy to do because I like walking.

And when you really like something, it's hard to see why people think it's so weird. My students in Hope laughed at me when I'd walk the five blocks to downtown Hope for groceries; my fellow teachers raised an eyebrow when I told them that I regularly walked five kilometers from my home to the Mall of Arabia in 6 October City; when I told party-goers last weekend that I walked an hour and 10 minutes to the party, they looked at me like I must be hiding something. But I'm not. I enjoy my walking time. I really do.

But back to my story. I made it downtown and meandered a little.

Ah, #robsonstreet and #granvillestreet: the centre of a world I've never really participated in. #vancouver #YVR #604

A photo posted by Jeffrey Nordstrom (@jeffnords) on Jul 10, 2016 at 4:58pm PDT

34 years living in BC and I've never needed to step inside Waterfront Station. I like to walk too much; I've never had the need. ☺ #vancouver #YVR #604 #skytrain

A photo posted by Jeffrey Nordstrom (@jeffnords) on Jul 10, 2016 at 5:40pm PDT

And I got back on the SkyTrain to YVR. When I met my daughters and mother-in-law at Arrivals, they wanted to go get some food with some other in-law members of the family. They chose the Cactus Club in Richmond. They didn't have room in their car, so they offered to send someone else to come out and pick me up. And I said "No." I wanted to ride the SkyTrain and walk.

And by the time I was finished my SkyTrain ride to Richmond, which only took 20 minutes or so, I'd written this rant:

For years, I have chosen to walk whenever possible. I will refuse a ride if i can walk instead. It's better that way. I am a walking snob.

— Jeffrey Nordstrom (@jeffnords) July 11, 2016

Seriously, people. I don't want a fricking ride. I'm not being a goddam martyr. I unequivocally prefer to walk... by choice.

— Jeffrey Nordstrom (@jeffnords) July 11, 2016

If U offer me a ride when I can walk, I don't see it as a gift. Instead, I see it as the person TAKING SOMETHING AWAY from me. #walkingsnob

— Jeffrey Nordstrom (@jeffnords) July 11, 2016

Don't take my cherished thinking, observing, processing, recentering time from me. I'm a damn introvert and walking is how I do it.

— Jeffrey Nordstrom (@jeffnords) July 11, 2016

Oh, will I get there 5 minutes faster if I get in your car? 10 minutes? 60 minutes? Good LORD, I don't want to SIT in your car! Let me walk!

— Jeffrey Nordstrom (@jeffnords) July 11, 2016

Hey! How's that SITTING doing?! Hope you're having fun. Sitting. Me? I'm walking from POINT A to POINT B, baby. #notlikeaboss #walkingsnob

— Jeffrey Nordstrom (@jeffnords) July 11, 2016

Did you □ the 1 about the guy who chose to WALK everywhere? Yeah? Was he a better person than you? Was he me? Hell yes he was. #walkingsnob

— Jeffrey Nordstrom (@jeffnords) July 11, 2016

I'm the #WalkingSnob. Unless #WalkSnob is better. How would I know?

​I don't know how to hashtag.