The Art of Doing Nothing

I have become exceptionally skilled at doing nothing.

I don't believe that "doing nothing" means that you sit on the couch all day while watching "Survivor" reruns and eating taquitos.  So what is "doing nothing" then?

Doing nothing means planning nothing and then having the ability to stop yourself when you attempt to plan an activity.  It's great.  You can be especially good at it by strolling through the French Quarter here in New Orleans without wondering which gallery with painted, naked bodies to go to or whether you need a hand grenade, almost-life-size beer, or a hurricane next.  You just stroll.  I keep telling Christo that I am a fabulous wanderer but I don't think he gets it...

For those of you obsessed with planning or think that you'll bore easily, read these tips:
- Go to an area with a lot of shops, museums, galleries, great photography spots, lots of cotton candy...really whatever floats your boat.
- Just start walking or, better yet, STROLLING and trying to take in as much as possible.
- Look up and down and behind you every so often.
- Pretend you are either a 2 year-old or a Justin Bieber-obsessed tween and when you see something shiny or amusing walk towards it and investigate.
- Remember to drink water.
- Talk to people.  It's easy to get caught up in a 30-minute conversation here in the South with a bunch of ladies you think walked out of "Drop Dead Gorgeous" (obviously with Southern accents instead of Midwestern) but not so easy in other areas of the US. So you say, "fuck 'em", and talk and maybe you'll freak someone out which just adds to your already skillful meandering.

Also, once you get really good at this then you can do something that only the craziest of crazies do: drive across the US alone.  Don't plan anything except for who will be your couchsurfing host that evening.  Pull in to the first visitor's center you see and ask the old, senile ladies what the most fun things to do are.  Load up on brochures that you know you'll just recycle in 2-days' time.  Continue.

That's really all you need to do and I feel like those are too many tips for this very particular art of doing nothing.

You should have conversations like this one I had with Christo the other day:
Christo: So what did you do today?
Me: Hung out. Wandered.
Christo: Where did you wander around?
Me: The Quarter.
Christo: Where in the Quarter?
Me: Um...I really don't know.
Christo: Well, what streets were you on?
Me: I have no idea but it was pretty fun.
Christo:  What was around you?
Me: A lot of art galleries. Then some antique stores.  Then I stopped in at a little cafe and got some ice cream because it was hot.
Christo:...alright.  Well, do you want to go to the concert in the square?
Me: Sure. I don't have any other plans.

I then proceeded to walk in the direction of the square as I seemed to remember it on a map a few hours before.  Once I heard loud music I knew I was close.

Obviously, this is all made easier when you look at the weather forecast for the day and it says, "95 degrees. Feels like 115."  It's like God is telling you to move more slowly!  Do nothing or I'll make you sweat through all of your clothes!  And you'll be sticky all day!  Ha!

Maybe you don't agree that this is the art of doing nothing but, then again, you may be doing it wrong.