Things you would never admit to IRL because they'd think you were weird!

[HiddenBooks]

This is a topic that's been going round in my head lately as a thought popped into my mind a few weeks back and is becoming the itch that can't be scratched!

As I was driving home one day, I saw a random lorry with a place name on the side that I didn't recognise, and I thought "I wonder where I'd end up if I just followed that lorry?"

This has now become a regular topic of thought, wondering how long I'd drive for before I gave up following someone and just went home. Or wondering if they might see me driving behind them and realise I'm following them (that would be an awkward convo with the police - "why are you following that vehicle", "Well, officer, I was a bit bored and just wondered where they were going and thought I'd tag along"!)

In my head I've even gone so far as to thinking that if I were single it could be a nice day out! Pack an overnight bag, hop on the motorway and choose a vehicle to follow to see where I end up. Eventually give up and find a hotel for the night (or give myself enough time to drive home again if I couldn't find anything).

So... I realise I am weird for thinking this, but MN is a "safe space" where we can all admit our oddities without being outed, so what are yours?!

The trees walk in Lord of the Rings

Yep! I also scan number plates. The most hilarious part of this whole thing is, ask me a day later & I couldn't recall a thing! 🤣
Well, actually, maybe I could? I've never been asked to! 🤦‍♀️

I have one too. I’m nearly 50

I often think that if the whole population was like me ( or a lot of us) in the past then wheels still would never have been invented, we'd still all be cavemen and women...if even that far advanced. I'm relatively clever but, like a lot of us, not very innovative. Like...phones...the mind boggles.

Same!

@Laiste have you read this https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/From_the_Mixed-Up_Files_of_Mrs._Basil_E._Frankweiler

I do this too! But then I think maybe the police would be suspicious I had taken such notice ,

Love this. There is a red and black butterfly who comes into our garden and will land on your hand if you stand fairly still. I know it's likely that it's several different butterflies but I pretend it's the same one and I've called it Brian.

I sleep with my teddy and cant sleep without him! I also wonder what my dog (A gorgeous Dalmatian girl) would be if she were human ! I imagine her as a highly kind and intelligent Teacher /Social worker ! Maybe a counsellor (as she is a very intuitive and comforting 4 legged equivalent)!

I'm not religious, or particularly spiritual, but whenever people, particularly children, have likes / dislikes / favourites, I wonder if it's a past life thing. Like, one woman at my work dislikes the taste of cake?! And always has done, ever since she was little. Surely she must have been poisoned in a previous life, by a chocolate gateaux. How else could you explain it?

Why are some children seemingly born obsessed with parrots?

Too many to list here! (I really am odd…)

If someone looks at me for a bit longer than seems natural, I have a massive desire to shout “BOO!!” very loudly. Similar thing if it’s very quiet and I suddenly see someone.

In the days when everyone had landlines and wrong numbers were much more common, I used to wonder what would happen if I didn’t tell them they had a wrong number and made up something outlandish instead. Once, a deranged sounding woman rang our house and refused to believe she had a wrong number, and kept demanding to speak to Eileen. I often wonder what would have happened if I’d said that Eileen had gone and refused to tell us where, or if I said she was dead.

Also, in that weird afterglow post-orgasm where you sort of want to pass out, I’ll often plan a holiday.

I have my plans in place in case the worst happens and I end up homeless. Join a gym to be able to take showers, rent a small storage space to hold anything I can't fit into my car, where to park to sleep in the car, etc. People I mentioned this to think I'm insane, but I feel so much better having plans in place and I'll be able to survive.

Oh, yes, me too! All of those!

Also, ones like "what if everything just changed?"

Eg: a normal sunny summers afternoon - suddenly the sun disappeared and it went pitch black

Or, coming home from work and your key doesn't fit in the lock, you ring the bell, your husband answers....and has no idea who you are. Nobody knows who you are.

Turning a corner and suddenly you're in a completely different year.

Waking up in your childhood bedroom at age 9, 12, 15 or whatever....but with all the knowledge you have now, just the chance to do it all again. What would you do differently?

This one possibly prompted by covid, but just a stream of disaster possibilities - suddenly all the water in the world is contaminated and people are fighting in the streets over the small amounts of safe bottled water remaining. Or suddenly there's a limited supply of oxygen left on the planet.

Terrifying.

I also think "what if the early inventors of cars had just made some different decisions? Things could be so different now -maybe you steered with your hips instead of hands, for example, and instead of sitting you stood, just kind of hula hooping to steer. And you couldn't have any passengers, one passrnger per vehicle.

I work in a big office (on the days I don’t wfh). I have often wondered who is hiding a secret, who is an abuser, who is living in a DV situation, who is having an affair etc. Statistically speaking these things will likely exist in some way when you have a large enough number of people. It fascinates me, because you can’t always pick it. I’m suspicious of everyone. Human behaviour is intriguing to me. I have been in a DV situation myself, it stays with you in some ways even many years later, perhaps influencing how I think.

I’ve always done this, to an extent.

I watch them when I can’t sleep or when I want to relax. 😂

Same!

I watch specific scenes in TV shows and movies over and over again. Think it's linked to my (diagnosed) ADHD. Not sure why I do it, but it's almost a compulsion. I've learned not to fight it now and just accept that it will pass eventually...till the next time!

Also am 44 and still love a good teenage/high-school movie or show 😳Possibly has to do with having a very awkward and friendless teenage years. Possibly just a massive sadcase for no good reason.....

Don’t worry about the cat starving to death. It will eat you.

@Beautifulbythebay me too 😢and I would cry every time I pulled up on my driveway and saw his car there safe and sound.

Walking my dogs out in the countryside-woods in particular-I imagine a detailed scenario in which I see someone hanging or my dogs start to dig frantically.. 😱

I then have to work out logistics. Calling the police/how to describe where I am/what happens next etc..
Very often bodies are found by early morning Dog walkers so..

on the topic of a zombie apocalypse - the only reason I exercise is to be fit enough to be a zombie apocalypse survivor! 😄 Not because I enjoy it, for health or to maintain a certain physique.

cardio is important to be able to run away incase there are those horrid fast ones as per 28day/28 weeks later.

I also do lots of strength training with kettlebells to be able to pull myself up and over things if needed/ carrying a backpack with necessities/ overpowering zombies or other survivors trying to steal my supplies.

I know it’s nuts but the flip side of my weird reasoning for exercising is that at least it keeps me healthy 😬

@ChristmasJumpers We also have a points system 😂

I have intrusive thoughts. I could just step out in the road. That looks a good place to hang. Push that person over. Luckily they've always just been thoughts 😬

I too have a fantasy world/life I go off to at night when I am trying to fall asleep, when I'm driving alone or sometimes out on a walk.

My family and I must be in thousands, we've lived in a popular holiday area all our lives.

You should do this, put it on Youtube. Hiddenbooks road adventures. Pack your passport just in case.