In praise of long flights

I used to think of airplane flights as a waste of time. But then I discovered the wonders of being alone with nothing but a notebook computer.

Before getting on the flight, I generally decide on a programming project I’d like to work on. The major consideration is the time of the flight.

Short hops are good for quick tasks. But those long flights — like the six hour hop between NY and California — are pure gold.

You would think that being stuck in a cramped little seat would be a problem. But the very unpleasantness of an airline flight makes it even easier to tune everything out.

When the world around you is not fun, but the world on your screen is filled with endless possibilities, it’s easy to focus on the task at hand. And where else can you find six hours when you can be sure that everybody will leave you alone to get some programming done?

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