I am headed out on a road trip this weekend. Car travel has been part of my life ever since I can remember. The other day, a family member shared a picture of me as a 5-year-old standing next to our family car . . . a Volkswagon Super Beetle. That got me thinking about all the “luxuries” that I enjoy when I travel by car now. So here is a little Then vs. Now to remind me how grateful I am for what I have.

Then: No AC in the car just windows you could roll down

Now: AC that is controlled by every passenger in the car and cooling seats as well

Then: Only AM radio was consistent as you traveled through states and smaller towns and of course you had a hard time hearing it with the windows down so you wouldn’t get too hot

Now: Am/FM radio + Sirius Radio + USB drive full of songs + Pandora + Amazon Music + . . . honestly the list is too long but the good news is, we can hear the music as quietly or as loudly as we want and we can even control how much sound is coming from different areas of the car

Then: Car blinkers weren’t always a thing so you had to know hand signals. The other drivers knew those hand signals as well. You also had to know how to twist your body and look behind you but maintain alignment, so you could back up the car correctly

Now: Sensors surround the car so you don’t hit anything and nothing hits you plus cameras surround the car so you can see what is happening at all times. No more guessing games

Then: Understanding the noises and feel of your car so you knew if there was a potential issue

Now: Warning lights, tire pressure readings, oil life readings, plug-in diagnostics to tell you everything about your car . . . on your smartphone and give you recommendations of the best places to take your car in.

Then: Parking your car with all the windows cracked to try and avoid it being over hot inside when you got back to it.

Now: Smartphone starts the car remotely so it can be cooled and comfortable by the time you get to it