Fifteen years ago, I bought a new vehicle.  I didn’t splurge on all the options packages, but I bought something that I thought would serve me well for the years to come.  (I probably didn’t do too bad as that is still my main vehicle today.)  The truck was great.  I felt mighty on the road after driving around in a sporty little Talon for years.  The truck wasn’t too hard, it wasn’t too soft, it was just right…except when I tried to use cruise control.

The cruise control in the truck was (and remains to this day)…funky.  I don’t know how else to describe it (okay, I actually could describe the problem in terms of messed up gains in a PID controller).  On long rides, I would occasionally try turning on cruise control only to be reminded of why I didn’t use it.  The technical term is herky jerky.  And it was subtle.  Just enough to be uncomfortable…but not pronounced enough that any company-serving service department manager would ever acknowledge it (not that I tried).

With the purchase of this vehicle, cruise control became uncomfortable.  I stopped using cruise control.  Using cruise control was…weird.

In my life, when I’m on cruise control – making decisions like I’ve always made them, or doing something without really thinking – it feels weird.  That really isn’t the life I want to live.  And when I do slip into cruise, things get a little…herky jerky.

It’s not something that really needs to be fixed…but maybe really should be.