A GPS gives you directions. The little red triangle keeps you focused on the road right in front of you making sure you do not stray from the computer calculated route to your destination. A calm, synthetic voice warns you well in advance of any turns you need to make. You will get to your destination precisely and exactly as calculated by the computer. Your attention does not need to move much beyond the dashboard and the little red triangle.
A map lets you dream of alternatives. That paper map forces you to look at your surroundings and become aware of the land and scenery around you. Lakes have real shapes; road types are different colors. You are looking for landmarks outside of your vehicle to match with the marks on the map. Awareness of what is around you makes you concentrate on your surroundings, not a little red arrow on your dashboard. The land, not the road is the center of your attention.
The red triangle gives way to your imagination plotting alternate routes to wherever you might wish to go. You can take secondary roads, gravel roads and if you get far enough away from civilization, Forest Service Roads. Paying attention to what is around you is one of the joys of using a paper map. Technology takes away the possibility of serendipity.
Getting lost is a great way to find things you were never looking for.
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