For some people, driving is a monotonous but necessary evil for getting from one place to another. For others, it's a pleasure that is their escape from everything. A way to get away from the real world for a little while, with the added bonus of having an excuse to not answer your phone.

1. When gas prices skyrocket, your heart hurts.

That means that when you have to stop at gas stations, you contemplate how much you actually need to drive. We all know that in the end, you'll still go out driving anyways.

2. You wish you were born in the days of Sunday afternoon drives.

Taking a whole afternoon to drive down backroads and just spend time in the car? Yes, please.

3. But Sunday afternoon drives are slow...

You're down for the whole thing except the part where you have to go at a slow and leisurely pace. That's not cool.

4. You always volunteer to drive

Roadtrips with your friends? You never have to argue over who will drive because it will always be you. You will always volunteer to drive and your friends greatly appreciate it. It's a great system.

5. Roadtrips

Driving with your friends in the car is awesome. There's lots of energy, and you should always have someone to talk to unless they all fall asleep, which is totally against roadtrip rules.

6. Solo Roadtrips

There's a time for a car full of friends, but there's also a time for driving down the highway by yourself, music off, windows up, just being alone with your thoughts.

7. Car rules

There are rules to riding in your car, and all of your friends have heard the speech at least once. "Music may be turned up, never down, and only in increments of two or five. Your 'oh, crap' handles are located above and beside for your convenience." It goes on.

8. You have an interstate/backroad preference

If it's a Saturday night in a pickup truck, backroads with the windows down are the only way to go. Outside of that, the interstate is the way to go. Cruise control on, switching lanes, competing in the imaginary race determined not to come in last while looking out for cops. I mean, never. Speed limits.

9. You have settings

Whether it's windows down in the winter with the heat and volume cranked up or the windows up to keep the thumping of the bass in the car, everyone has their personal preferences on how they like their windows/music.

10. Upset? Let's drive

I've been known to call up a friend and say, "I'm outside, and I have Sonic. Hop in, loser." There's something about emptying all of your worries as you drive down an open highway that is so therapeutic.

11. You know your car like it's an extension of yourself

Each car has its quirks. When it gets too cold for my car's liking (read 70 degrees), it decides to change the radio stations, but if you hold the button, it won't change the station anymore. I know it doesn't like going too fast, but if you let off of the gas and go again, it'll get over it.

12. Traffic is the bane of your existence

I was just going 70 mph, now I'm barely reaching 7. Traffic is enough to make anyone go mad, but this weekend I saw people drive in a ditch on the edge of the interstate to get ahead. That's a little bit drastic.