Autobahn

Autobahns have always been special places for me. Most of the time, I was not under time pressure; rarely did I have to get from A to B within a certain time. Rather, autobahns are travel routes. There, I find myself in in-between states, a kind of no-man’s-land with infinitely many possibilities. This opens up spaces for thought. Often they are simply empty. The brain is occupied with moving safely through traffic. It is a pleasant kind of occupation; consciousness is fully occupied and alert, a mistake would be fatal. If I am understimulated or become tired, I simply drive a little faster, or slower, or take a break. This creates a kind of equilibrium.

In this equilibrium, other thoughts can sort themselves out and spin themselves further unnoticed. Only occasionally does my consciousness hold on to a thought. In this way, thoughts can find their way without immediately encountering the usual filters of thought. On the autobahn, I keep getting to know myself a little anew, or remember an earlier self.

Added to this is physical space. This is either familiar and therefore triggers associations that are, as it were, prompted from outside. Or it is a new space, inviting dreams and awakening curiosity. Personally, I always experience this positively. I do not really know fear or unpleasant feelings on the autobahn, although, of course, I sometimes think about unpleasant things too, that is clear.

This space of movement, of traveling, of association, of gentle stimulation and wakefulness almost always brings me, at some point, to think about my childhood. After all, I also grew up in a country where people drive a great deal. It would be good if that changed soon, and I myself also try to drive less. It is no longer in keeping with the times, and actually a little irresponsible too.

This space, then, is a given space. It is not creative, or free. It is a space with strong conditions. I like immersing myself in this space to see which other spaces I actually want to free myself from. It is probably the case for many people that, when driving, we follow our thoughts and somehow want to change our lives.

I like being on the autobahn. Traveling on the autobahn is a metaphorical place, a physically metaphorical place—a physical metaphor. In the past, I thought a great deal about theories of linguistic metaphors. What do they mean, what is their linguistic reference, how do they work… especially in art and literature. Metaphors are words that, in a particular context, mean something different from what they normally mean. That is exciting!

Traveling on the autobahn is the opposite of a simulation, and yet these spaces function similarly: simulation spaces and travel routes. Both spaces mean something that they actually are not.