5. May, 2008 - I’ve got other plans

I noticed recently that people sometimes have weird reactions to hearing I’ve got other plans in response to a question about whether I’m going to do something (go to the Sporty, go on a photowalk, or some other invitation). And with the Saints season starting, that’s a more frequent answer.

To be sure, this year I’m going to try and miss some games, leaving a little more free time for myself over the summer, but it’s still interesting to see how people respond. Some just accept it at face value. But the majority seem to feel a need to know what those other plans are. Am I up to something more fun than what they have planned, or perhaps something more boring so they can try and talk me out of it?

But then there are days like yesterday when I just don’t know. There was a Saints game, but there was also the May Day Parade down in south Minneapolis. And it also would have been a nice day to go visit Mom. When I woke up, I really wasn’t sure which I’d choose to do. I was leaning towards going to the game, and I eventually did, but it wasn’t a sure thing.

And that happens to me fairly often in the summer. There’s a lot of things going on. The default is usually going to the game, but there are times when I’ll be double- or triple-booked with various things to do, and I’ll put off making a firm decision as long as possible. It may be that it looks like rain, so I’m not expecting to go to the ballgame. Or it may be that there’s something special going on (like the Zappa Plays Zappa show that’s about a month out). Or it’s possible that I’m just thinking I need a quiet night at home after a week of eleventy other things going on.

In any case, when I respond with I’ve got other plans and don’t have an immediate answer to the follow-up question of What are you going to do? people seem to be dissatisfied. It’s not that I’m trying to be evasive or avoid that person. Too often it’s that I already have too many things to choose from, and don’t want to make the decision more difficult by adding another possibility to the mix.

But maybe I need to change my answer. Would it be better to lie and say that I’m doing one of the things from the list of possibles? Would it be better to bore folks with the long explanation like I’m doing here? Or maybe I just should not care what other people think. I don’t know, but as I said, I’ve noticed that the short answer just doesn’t seem to satisfy people, so I’ve been pondering how to handle it.

So that’s the kind of thing that goes through my brain sometimes. But for the moment, my course is clear. It’s time to get to work for the day.