I can't really imagine...

[Aske]

... (well, I can, since I have done it obviously)  life in the pre-Google Earth/Maps  and car GPS era with respect to moving to a new place.

[twoiron]

I suppose it was the same as it was 50 years ago:

You actually had to get off your ass, and then learn how to read a map.

As far as moving interstate or overseas, I guess you just took pot luck.  The world really isn't that scary.

 

[Dunk]

I agree.  Over the past few years I've been in Minneapolis, Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, and Denver among other places.  I can't imagine driving from the airport to the hotel, then from the hotel to a golf course without one.  Especially in Dallas and Houston.

[Spanky]

And cell phone too. My FIL called me the other day because he was trying to find a place. I get on the laptop and pull up google maps and find out where he is then while on the phone do a turn by turn direction with him till he gets to where he wanted to go. Wouldn't have been able to do that 20 years ago.

[Darla]

20 years ago, you had to get out of your car and use the pay phone. Yes the thing that required a quarter, to call someone to figure out where you where and at that point you should ask the gas attendant where you are going instead of calling someone.

[MFAWG]

A quarter? I remember when a phone call was a dime!

Phone books have these things called 'Maps' in the front of them.

If all that failed, you could always hire a sherpa to guide you....

[Blader]

30 years ago you didn't have to worry about dying from a bout of copulation