1 00:00:05,972 --> 00:00:09,008 ♪ ♪ 2 00:00:10,577 --> 00:00:13,146 John Wilson: Hey, New York. 3 00:00:13,213 --> 00:00:16,516 it's nice to live in a place with so much fun stuff to do. 4 00:00:17,851 --> 00:00:21,388 But, in a city with so many options, 5 00:00:21,454 --> 00:00:24,257 making plans can be a stressful experience. 6 00:00:24,324 --> 00:00:25,692 (inaudible) 7 00:00:25,759 --> 00:00:29,629 First, you need to figure out what you wanna do. 8 00:00:29,696 --> 00:00:32,132 Then, you need to figure out who you want to do it with. 9 00:00:32,198 --> 00:00:33,633 (clears throat) 10 00:00:33,700 --> 00:00:36,336 Then, you have to set a date and time, uh, 11 00:00:36,403 --> 00:00:39,539 in which you want to execute that plan. 12 00:00:39,606 --> 00:00:43,209 This might sound easy enough, but once a plan is made, 13 00:00:43,276 --> 00:00:45,645 you might begin to feel trapped, 14 00:00:46,980 --> 00:00:49,883 and you begin to see your future in all its banal, 15 00:00:49,949 --> 00:00:51,684 predictable details, 16 00:00:51,751 --> 00:00:55,054 down to the final handshake goodbye. 17 00:00:55,121 --> 00:00:58,057 And during this period, you might begin to daydream 18 00:00:58,124 --> 00:01:00,760 about ways to get out of the plan. 19 00:01:01,861 --> 00:01:03,797 You can say that you're sick. 20 00:01:05,465 --> 00:01:08,435 Or pray that the weather takes a turn. 21 00:01:08,501 --> 00:01:09,903 ♪ ♪ 22 00:01:09,969 --> 00:01:12,839 You could also just say that something else came up, 23 00:01:12,906 --> 00:01:16,376 but your friends will probably see straight through that. 24 00:01:17,277 --> 00:01:19,446 So, when the day arrives, 25 00:01:19,512 --> 00:01:22,182 you just end up going through with the plan anyway. 26 00:01:22,248 --> 00:01:25,418 And it's exactly what you thought it would be. 27 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:30,190 When your life is filled with obligations, 28 00:01:30,256 --> 00:01:33,860 it can feel like your fate is set in stone. 29 00:01:33,927 --> 00:01:36,629 But if you never make any plans to begin with, 30 00:01:36,696 --> 00:01:39,299 you can live in a world of constant excitement 31 00:01:39,365 --> 00:01:42,268 and let destiny be your guide. 32 00:01:42,335 --> 00:01:47,373 This way, you could discover a funny new restaurant, 33 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:49,976 meet the love of your life somewhere, 34 00:01:51,077 --> 00:01:52,946 or see a bunch of cool stuff 35 00:01:53,012 --> 00:01:54,848 you wouldn't have seen otherwise. 36 00:01:56,282 --> 00:01:58,017 So, stick with me, and I'll show you 37 00:01:58,084 --> 00:02:01,187 how to live in a world of endless possibility, 38 00:02:01,254 --> 00:02:03,490 where you won't know where one experience ends 39 00:02:03,556 --> 00:02:06,092 and the next one begins. 40 00:02:06,159 --> 00:02:09,062 And you can finally understand what it truly means 41 00:02:09,128 --> 00:02:11,197 to be spontaneous. 42 00:02:16,169 --> 00:02:17,470 Now, if you're not sure what 43 00:02:17,537 --> 00:02:19,472 spontaneous behavior looks like, 44 00:02:19,539 --> 00:02:21,574 it's easy to find around New York, uh, 45 00:02:21,641 --> 00:02:23,276 if you know where to look. 46 00:02:23,343 --> 00:02:25,612 This person spontaneously decided 47 00:02:25,678 --> 00:02:27,947 to create a traffic jam. 48 00:02:28,014 --> 00:02:30,016 It seems like someone just 49 00:02:30,083 --> 00:02:33,152 spontaneously combusted here. 50 00:02:33,219 --> 00:02:35,088 This person spontaneously rode 51 00:02:35,154 --> 00:02:37,190 their Citi Bike onto the subway. 52 00:02:37,257 --> 00:02:39,659 Then, they took all the stickers off 53 00:02:39,726 --> 00:02:42,829 and put them on the wind-- uh, the walls, 54 00:02:42,896 --> 00:02:45,031 and after they were satisfied, 55 00:02:45,098 --> 00:02:47,901 they spontaneously fell asleep. 56 00:02:48,635 --> 00:02:50,136 Unfortunately, 57 00:02:50,203 --> 00:02:52,338 most of what we take for spontaneity 58 00:02:52,405 --> 00:02:56,376 usually just turns out to be part of a meticulous plan. 59 00:02:56,442 --> 00:02:58,111 -(hoedown music) -This may appear to be 60 00:02:58,177 --> 00:03:00,513 a spur-of-the-moment hoedown, 61 00:03:00,580 --> 00:03:03,750 but nothing could be farther from the truth. 62 00:03:03,816 --> 00:03:06,653 A lot of planning went into something like this, 63 00:03:06,719 --> 00:03:08,354 and this whole spectacle 64 00:03:08,421 --> 00:03:11,724 is part of a carefully choreographed routine. 65 00:03:11,791 --> 00:03:15,161 They may have had to travel far distances to get here 66 00:03:15,228 --> 00:03:18,398 and hire babysitters or reschedule meetings 67 00:03:18,464 --> 00:03:19,699 to make it possible. 68 00:03:19,766 --> 00:03:22,702 And if one person decides not to show up, 69 00:03:22,769 --> 00:03:25,605 it could cause some people to have to sit out 70 00:03:25,672 --> 00:03:29,442 and tank the mood of the whole affair. 71 00:03:29,509 --> 00:03:32,478 To be truly spontaneous, you should avoid anything 72 00:03:32,545 --> 00:03:35,281 that requires a reservation or tickets 73 00:03:35,348 --> 00:03:37,584 that you need to buy in advance. 74 00:03:37,650 --> 00:03:39,619 Having anything on your calendar at all 75 00:03:39,686 --> 00:03:42,422 will create a burden you have to carry with you 76 00:03:42,488 --> 00:03:44,424 until the day of the event, 77 00:03:44,490 --> 00:03:46,893 or possibly cause anxiety, 78 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:50,997 knowing that it'll be too hard to back out at the last minute, 79 00:03:51,064 --> 00:03:54,601 uh, if you, if you need to. 80 00:03:54,667 --> 00:03:57,937 And no matter how secure you think your reservation is, 81 00:03:58,004 --> 00:04:02,442 the universe will always find new ways to disappoint you. 82 00:04:02,508 --> 00:04:05,244 So, Jason proposed at Rockefeller Center 83 00:04:05,311 --> 00:04:07,213 December 2019, 84 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:09,415 and by Janu-- end of January, 85 00:04:09,482 --> 00:04:11,851 our entire wedding, vendors, venue, 86 00:04:11,918 --> 00:04:14,120 my outfits, his outfits, 87 00:04:14,187 --> 00:04:15,321 were already booked. 88 00:04:15,388 --> 00:04:17,991 This is actually the contract 89 00:04:18,057 --> 00:04:20,193 I had with Elite Palace. 90 00:04:20,259 --> 00:04:21,728 -Wilson: Oh, really? -As you can see, 91 00:04:21,794 --> 00:04:24,998 it was definitely a beautiful venue. 92 00:04:25,064 --> 00:04:29,102 Um, after New Year's of this year, 2021, 93 00:04:29,168 --> 00:04:31,270 was when I contacted the venue, 94 00:04:31,337 --> 00:04:34,374 and I-- that's when I learned that they sold the place, 95 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:37,210 and they never told me or any other couples 96 00:04:37,276 --> 00:04:38,745 that they were selling. 97 00:04:38,811 --> 00:04:40,780 And so far, they have my money, 98 00:04:40,847 --> 00:04:43,416 and I've never heard back from them. 99 00:04:43,483 --> 00:04:46,085 Wilson: How-how-how much was your deposit for the venue? 100 00:04:46,152 --> 00:04:47,920 So, up until August, 101 00:04:47,987 --> 00:04:50,790 I had paid $22,000. 102 00:04:50,857 --> 00:04:53,726 Feel like we just got robbed, and if they're listening to us, 103 00:04:53,793 --> 00:04:55,028 we would just like our money back, 104 00:04:55,094 --> 00:04:56,896 and hopefully, you know, everyone else can... 105 00:04:56,963 --> 00:04:58,765 We could find a way to resolve this, you know. 106 00:04:58,831 --> 00:05:02,068 Not just run away from it. It's kind of what they're doing. 107 00:05:02,135 --> 00:05:04,937 Wilson: So if you don't want something like that to happen to you, 108 00:05:05,004 --> 00:05:08,441 a spontaneous trip to the beach can be a great idea 109 00:05:08,508 --> 00:05:12,712 because you don't need to make a reservation to go there. 110 00:05:12,779 --> 00:05:14,714 And the moment you decide to go, 111 00:05:14,781 --> 00:05:17,784 you suddenly feel alive, 112 00:05:17,850 --> 00:05:20,887 and you go to the dollar store, uh, to get some sunscreen. 113 00:05:20,953 --> 00:05:22,388 And while you're there, 114 00:05:22,455 --> 00:05:25,224 you see some other cool stuff that will help you reach 115 00:05:25,291 --> 00:05:29,395 the $10, uh, (burps) credit card limit. 116 00:05:29,462 --> 00:05:31,431 And then when you get in your car, 117 00:05:31,497 --> 00:05:34,667 try to listen to something that you normally wouldn't listen to 118 00:05:34,734 --> 00:05:38,905 while you head in the general direction of the beach. 119 00:05:38,971 --> 00:05:40,406 But then, while you're driving, 120 00:05:40,473 --> 00:05:43,309 you see a store that catches your eye, 121 00:05:43,376 --> 00:05:47,280 and you get out to take a look inside. 122 00:05:47,346 --> 00:05:50,583 Typically, this would be down to here, wider, 123 00:05:50,650 --> 00:05:53,052 longer sleeves, wider sleeves. 124 00:05:53,119 --> 00:05:57,190 Everything is cut down properly to fit a shorter man's body. 125 00:05:57,256 --> 00:05:59,258 Wilson: It kind of reminds me of, uh... 126 00:05:59,325 --> 00:06:02,929 You ever see the movie "U-571"? It's about submarines. 127 00:06:02,995 --> 00:06:06,299 Clerk: For a taller person, you need inseams of 32, 34 128 00:06:06,365 --> 00:06:08,167 because it's gotta be enough to cover 129 00:06:08,234 --> 00:06:11,871 your full body, or you end up looking like this. 130 00:06:11,938 --> 00:06:14,507 -Wilson: Oh yeah. -Clerk: Yeah, oh yeah. 131 00:06:14,574 --> 00:06:16,375 We also own Over510.com, 132 00:06:16,442 --> 00:06:19,345 so once we conquer the short, we'll head the other direction. 133 00:06:19,412 --> 00:06:21,380 -Wilson: You own Over510.com? -Yes. 134 00:06:21,447 --> 00:06:22,648 Wilson: Wow. 135 00:06:22,715 --> 00:06:24,617 And after you're done in there, 136 00:06:24,684 --> 00:06:26,953 you start heading towards the beach again. 137 00:06:27,019 --> 00:06:31,324 But unfortunately, it starts to rain pretty hard. 138 00:06:31,390 --> 00:06:34,660 And after sitting in traffic for a while, 139 00:06:34,727 --> 00:06:39,198 you realize you have to use the bathroom pretty bad. 140 00:06:39,265 --> 00:06:42,368 So get off at the first exit you can 141 00:06:42,435 --> 00:06:46,372 and ask the motel if, uh, you can use their facilities. 142 00:06:46,439 --> 00:06:49,375 They say that it's for customers only, 143 00:06:49,442 --> 00:06:53,045 but thankfully, the rooms are only $15 an hour. 144 00:06:54,447 --> 00:06:58,117 There was still plastic wrapping on the lampshades 145 00:06:58,184 --> 00:07:02,655 and a bunch of burn marks on the sink. 146 00:07:02,722 --> 00:07:06,025 And when you look on the internet about it, 147 00:07:06,092 --> 00:07:07,760 it seems like they might actually 148 00:07:07,827 --> 00:07:10,797 have a problem with bedbugs. 149 00:07:10,863 --> 00:07:14,534 So, you hang your stuff on the shower rod, 150 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:17,703 and since you still have an hour left 151 00:07:17,770 --> 00:07:20,006 after you did your business, 152 00:07:20,072 --> 00:07:23,176 you text a friend who lives nearby to see 153 00:07:23,242 --> 00:07:25,044 if they want to come join you 154 00:07:25,111 --> 00:07:26,679 and you decorate the room 155 00:07:26,746 --> 00:07:29,582 with the stuff you got from the dollar store 156 00:07:29,649 --> 00:07:32,485 while you, uh, wait for their response. 157 00:07:32,552 --> 00:07:34,220 (clears throat) 158 00:07:34,287 --> 00:07:35,988 Unfortunately, it turns out 159 00:07:36,055 --> 00:07:39,559 they were in the middle of doing some work. 160 00:07:39,625 --> 00:07:42,795 So, you spent the rest of your time there 161 00:07:42,862 --> 00:07:44,931 watching TV 162 00:07:44,997 --> 00:07:47,934 and staring out the window at 163 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:50,837 all the other people who decided 164 00:07:50,903 --> 00:07:53,172 to be spontaneous. 165 00:07:56,242 --> 00:07:59,946 Your girlfriend is really good at planning things, 166 00:08:00,012 --> 00:08:02,648 but you started to argue a lot recently 167 00:08:02,715 --> 00:08:05,384 because she says you refuse 168 00:08:05,451 --> 00:08:08,855 to commit to anything. 169 00:08:08,921 --> 00:08:11,824 So, you make a loose plan to 170 00:08:11,891 --> 00:08:14,460 get a couple's massage at a spa 171 00:08:14,527 --> 00:08:18,097 upstate, uh, over the upcoming weekend. 172 00:08:18,164 --> 00:08:21,400 When you get there, you walk inside to ask the receptionist 173 00:08:21,467 --> 00:08:24,370 if they have any openings that afternoon. 174 00:08:24,437 --> 00:08:26,305 But unfortunately, 175 00:08:26,372 --> 00:08:29,008 it turns out they've been booked for months. 176 00:08:29,075 --> 00:08:31,911 (Receptionist speaking) 177 00:08:31,978 --> 00:08:34,046 Wilson: Um... No, I'm okay. 178 00:08:34,113 --> 00:08:36,148 -I'm okay for now. Thanks though. -Alright. You're welcome. 179 00:08:37,650 --> 00:08:40,653 So you look up what else is nearby, 180 00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:43,656 and it turns out you're not too far from 181 00:08:43,723 --> 00:08:46,559 the world's largest garden gnome. 182 00:08:48,327 --> 00:08:50,963 She says that she, she likes it, 183 00:08:51,030 --> 00:08:52,665 even though you know 184 00:08:52,732 --> 00:08:55,568 she'd rather be getting a massage right now 185 00:08:55,635 --> 00:08:58,671 instead of standing on frozen grass, 186 00:08:58,738 --> 00:09:01,040 looking at a big statue 187 00:09:01,107 --> 00:09:03,276 of a small man. 188 00:09:04,010 --> 00:09:05,745 ♪ ♪ 189 00:09:05,811 --> 00:09:08,414 When you're spontaneous for long enough, 190 00:09:08,481 --> 00:09:11,317 you get used to going to the second-best version 191 00:09:11,384 --> 00:09:14,120 of whatever you're trying to do. 192 00:09:15,154 --> 00:09:17,456 You end up having to sit 193 00:09:17,523 --> 00:09:20,393 in the first row at a movie theater. 194 00:09:20,459 --> 00:09:24,163 You can only see free comedy shows. 195 00:09:24,230 --> 00:09:26,399 And, after a while, you start to wish 196 00:09:26,465 --> 00:09:30,770 you could do coordinated things with the people you love. 197 00:09:30,836 --> 00:09:33,906 But, you remember there's a good reason 198 00:09:33,973 --> 00:09:36,208 you never try stuff like that. 199 00:09:37,310 --> 00:09:39,278 When you were growing up, 200 00:09:39,345 --> 00:09:42,415 your dad would always try to bring you to places, 201 00:09:42,481 --> 00:09:46,052 but they would always turn out to be closed when you got there. 202 00:09:47,386 --> 00:09:49,522 This happened so often that 203 00:09:49,588 --> 00:09:53,426 he eventually started a blog called Closed Places, 204 00:09:53,492 --> 00:09:57,029 where he started posting photos of each incident 205 00:09:57,096 --> 00:10:00,766 as a way to deal with the pain. 206 00:10:00,833 --> 00:10:04,203 This kind of scared you from making plans 207 00:10:04,270 --> 00:10:07,506 because they never seem to work out very well. 208 00:10:08,874 --> 00:10:12,778 So, you just stumbled through life like a piece of driftwood, 209 00:10:12,845 --> 00:10:14,447 letting the world shape you 210 00:10:14,513 --> 00:10:16,916 instead of trying to control anything. 211 00:10:16,983 --> 00:10:18,484 ♪ ♪ 212 00:10:18,551 --> 00:10:22,355 Almost every single thing you've ever recorded 213 00:10:22,421 --> 00:10:24,623 is the direct result of randomly being 214 00:10:24,690 --> 00:10:27,994 in the right place at the right time, 215 00:10:28,060 --> 00:10:31,130 and it terrifies you to think that you could have missed out 216 00:10:31,197 --> 00:10:33,032 on all this great stuff 217 00:10:33,099 --> 00:10:37,169 if you had made plans to begin with. 218 00:10:37,236 --> 00:10:41,440 But, doing things impulsively doesn't always work out 219 00:10:41,507 --> 00:10:44,310 the way you hoped it would, either. 220 00:10:44,377 --> 00:10:47,246 Maybe your trip to get a massage was disappointing 221 00:10:47,313 --> 00:10:50,816 because you expected it to work out a certain way. 222 00:10:50,883 --> 00:10:52,685 ♪ ♪ 223 00:10:52,752 --> 00:10:54,420 And the only way around the family curse 224 00:10:54,487 --> 00:10:57,923 is to become a truly spontaneous being 225 00:10:57,990 --> 00:10:59,692 and remove anything 226 00:10:59,759 --> 00:11:02,962 that even resembles a plan from the equation. 227 00:11:04,730 --> 00:11:08,200 How-how-how do you define intent? 228 00:11:08,267 --> 00:11:10,970 Well, intent is an operation in the mind, 229 00:11:11,037 --> 00:11:14,240 and it's defined, in the jury charge, 230 00:11:14,306 --> 00:11:18,077 by looking at events that occurred both before the act, 231 00:11:18,144 --> 00:11:20,513 during the act, and after the act. 232 00:11:20,579 --> 00:11:22,782 It can be formed over a long period of time, 233 00:11:22,848 --> 00:11:25,351 or in a split second before the act occurs. 234 00:11:25,418 --> 00:11:26,585 Wilson: Is there a way to prove 235 00:11:26,652 --> 00:11:29,188 that I accidentally went to the beach? 236 00:11:29,255 --> 00:11:32,191 Well, you'd have to look at all of your behavior 237 00:11:32,258 --> 00:11:33,859 and communications 238 00:11:33,926 --> 00:11:36,529 before you arrived at the beach. 239 00:11:37,229 --> 00:11:39,765 So, if you MapQuested 240 00:11:39,832 --> 00:11:42,735 that you were going to a baseball field 241 00:11:42,802 --> 00:11:44,637 that wasn't near the beach, 242 00:11:44,703 --> 00:11:46,672 that would be evidence that you didn't intend 243 00:11:46,739 --> 00:11:49,708 to go to the beach. If when you drove, 244 00:11:49,775 --> 00:11:51,644 you were supposed to have made a left, 245 00:11:51,710 --> 00:11:55,181 and you made a right and headed towards the beach 246 00:11:55,247 --> 00:11:57,883 without realizing it, and you can show that 247 00:11:57,950 --> 00:11:59,285 you intended to go left, 248 00:11:59,351 --> 00:12:00,886 but you made a mistake and went right, 249 00:12:00,953 --> 00:12:03,923 that would be relevant. If when you got to the beach, 250 00:12:03,989 --> 00:12:06,125 you said, "My god, I'm at the beach. 251 00:12:06,192 --> 00:12:08,761 I don't want to come to the beach," and you left the beach, 252 00:12:08,828 --> 00:12:10,663 that would show that you made a mistake. 253 00:12:10,729 --> 00:12:12,665 You went to the beach unintentionally. 254 00:12:13,099 --> 00:12:14,100 ♪ ♪ 255 00:12:14,166 --> 00:12:16,936 Wilson: Everything he said made sense. 256 00:12:17,002 --> 00:12:20,606 But, that seems like a lot of work, 257 00:12:20,673 --> 00:12:24,510 and you're not sure if it's worth all the effort. 258 00:12:26,112 --> 00:12:28,647 You always admired your landlord 259 00:12:28,714 --> 00:12:32,151 for being able to just pack up and move to Las Vegas, 260 00:12:32,218 --> 00:12:33,986 and it was refreshing to think 261 00:12:34,053 --> 00:12:37,389 that you could still be spontaneous at that age. 262 00:12:37,456 --> 00:12:40,726 She actually gave you her new address when she moved away, 263 00:12:40,793 --> 00:12:43,562 and you're sure it would make her really happy 264 00:12:43,629 --> 00:12:47,032 if you just showed up unannounced and surprised her. 265 00:12:48,234 --> 00:12:50,069 And maybe you can learn a thing or two about 266 00:12:50,136 --> 00:12:53,539 the right way to be spontaneous while you're there, 267 00:12:53,606 --> 00:12:57,643 so you impulsively buy a ticket to Nevada 268 00:12:57,710 --> 00:13:00,279 to surprise your former landlord. 269 00:13:01,714 --> 00:13:05,050 When people decide to go to Vegas in movies, 270 00:13:05,117 --> 00:13:08,988 they usually just seem to effortlessly appear there. 271 00:13:09,054 --> 00:13:12,958 But, there's a lot of stuff they don't show you. 272 00:13:13,025 --> 00:13:16,562 These are all the magazines you can buy. 273 00:13:16,629 --> 00:13:18,998 These are all the snacks. 274 00:13:19,064 --> 00:13:21,767 This is what it's like to wait for a hamburger 275 00:13:21,834 --> 00:13:25,204 at... uh, fuckin' Shake Shack. 276 00:13:25,271 --> 00:13:29,008 This is what it's like to wait to board the plane. 277 00:13:29,074 --> 00:13:33,312 And this is what it looks like when you get on. 278 00:13:33,379 --> 00:13:37,049 This is the cab ride to where you're staying. 279 00:13:37,116 --> 00:13:41,053 And this is the line to check in to the hotel. 280 00:13:41,120 --> 00:13:42,388 (clears throat) 281 00:13:42,454 --> 00:13:44,723 It was really busy, and the only room 282 00:13:44,790 --> 00:13:48,661 they had available was really expensive. 283 00:13:48,727 --> 00:13:51,630 But, you had waited on line for so long 284 00:13:51,697 --> 00:13:55,534 that you just ended up, uh, taking it anyway. 285 00:13:55,601 --> 00:13:56,902 (clears throat) 286 00:13:56,969 --> 00:13:59,705 The next morning, you get up real early 287 00:13:59,772 --> 00:14:03,242 and take a cab out to your landlord's house. 288 00:14:03,309 --> 00:14:06,212 She has no idea that you're coming, 289 00:14:06,278 --> 00:14:10,316 but the front gate seemed to be open. 290 00:14:10,382 --> 00:14:13,252 So, you walk inside the vestibule 291 00:14:13,319 --> 00:14:15,888 and give the doorbell a try. 292 00:14:15,955 --> 00:14:17,690 (door bell rings) 293 00:14:17,756 --> 00:14:20,259 She doesn't answer at first, 294 00:14:20,326 --> 00:14:22,461 so you wait a second 295 00:14:22,528 --> 00:14:24,797 -and try a few more times. -(ringing) 296 00:14:24,863 --> 00:14:27,032 And after that doesn't work, 297 00:14:27,099 --> 00:14:29,301 you go around to the, the side 298 00:14:29,368 --> 00:14:31,370 and try to get her attention. 299 00:14:31,437 --> 00:14:34,707 Hey, mama! Hey, mama! 300 00:14:34,773 --> 00:14:38,544 But after about 20 minutes of trying to make contact, 301 00:14:38,611 --> 00:14:41,614 your surprise visit doesn't 302 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:44,917 seem like it's gonna work out either. 303 00:14:45,651 --> 00:14:46,752 ♪ ♪ 304 00:14:46,819 --> 00:14:50,522 You had never seen this part of Las Vegas before. 305 00:14:50,589 --> 00:14:53,626 All the houses were nearly identical 306 00:14:53,692 --> 00:14:57,296 and set up with mathematical precision. 307 00:14:58,564 --> 00:15:00,733 For such a carefree city, 308 00:15:00,799 --> 00:15:04,737 there seemed to be a lot of order here. 309 00:15:04,803 --> 00:15:09,008 Downtown, the streets are in a perfect grid, 310 00:15:09,074 --> 00:15:11,543 and all the people seem to be moving 311 00:15:11,610 --> 00:15:14,580 in a very predictable flow. 312 00:15:14,647 --> 00:15:18,784 Everyone stuck to the designated pedestrian zones, 313 00:15:18,851 --> 00:15:21,553 and the escalators brought them over the freeway 314 00:15:21,620 --> 00:15:24,456 in a very orderly fashion. 315 00:15:24,523 --> 00:15:27,426 And in the area right outside your hotel, 316 00:15:27,493 --> 00:15:29,428 all their performers are forced 317 00:15:29,495 --> 00:15:32,431 to stand inside tiny little circles, 318 00:15:32,498 --> 00:15:36,435 or else they might get fined by the city. 319 00:15:36,502 --> 00:15:39,238 Even the people they hire to clean up the streets 320 00:15:39,305 --> 00:15:41,974 are in perfect synchronicity. 321 00:15:43,876 --> 00:15:46,912 And they had absolutely no tolerance for anyone 322 00:15:46,979 --> 00:15:48,947 that violated time limits. 323 00:15:49,014 --> 00:15:50,482 -What happened here? -(truck humming) 324 00:15:52,017 --> 00:15:53,986 Wilson: Can you leave it parked for too long? 325 00:15:54,053 --> 00:15:56,822 Long time. Since 1:00. That's why. 326 00:15:56,889 --> 00:15:59,458 ♪ ♪ 327 00:16:02,328 --> 00:16:04,930 Wilson: After walking around for a bit, 328 00:16:04,997 --> 00:16:08,367 you noticed you were close to City Hall. 329 00:16:08,434 --> 00:16:12,338 It's a side of Las Vegas you also never see in movies. 330 00:16:12,404 --> 00:16:15,374 And since you had nothing else planned, 331 00:16:15,441 --> 00:16:17,976 you decide to drop in. 332 00:16:19,111 --> 00:16:21,647 They had a bunch of stuff on the agenda, 333 00:16:21,714 --> 00:16:23,916 but it was hard after a while 334 00:16:23,982 --> 00:16:27,319 to tell what was actually important. 335 00:16:27,386 --> 00:16:28,754 The main event of the afternoon 336 00:16:28,821 --> 00:16:31,857 was a birthday recognition ceremony 337 00:16:31,924 --> 00:16:34,960 for a beloved city councilman. 338 00:16:35,027 --> 00:16:38,664 And they even surprised him with a full mariachi band 339 00:16:38,731 --> 00:16:41,700 that played on the floor of the council chamber. 340 00:16:41,767 --> 00:16:44,837 (mariachi music) 341 00:16:51,009 --> 00:16:53,812 It looked like it really surprised everyone, 342 00:16:53,879 --> 00:16:56,448 even though it must have taken a lot of planning 343 00:16:56,515 --> 00:16:59,051 to make something like this possible. 344 00:16:59,118 --> 00:17:02,921 (mariachi singing in Spanish) 345 00:17:08,927 --> 00:17:09,895 (song ends) 346 00:17:09,962 --> 00:17:12,998 (applause, cheering) 347 00:17:17,936 --> 00:17:19,538 Then as you were leaving, 348 00:17:19,605 --> 00:17:23,542 you happen to pass by the City Marriage Bureau. 349 00:17:23,609 --> 00:17:27,045 You know that Vegas is famous for impulsive weddings, 350 00:17:27,112 --> 00:17:29,882 and you thought maybe you could find some people there 351 00:17:29,948 --> 00:17:32,985 who were just as spontaneous as you. 352 00:17:33,051 --> 00:17:36,155 So, how long have you been planning to get married? 353 00:17:36,221 --> 00:17:38,123 Oh, we've been together 25 years. 354 00:17:38,190 --> 00:17:39,892 We thought it was about time. 355 00:17:39,958 --> 00:17:41,427 -Wilson: Oh, really? -Wife: Yeah. 356 00:17:41,493 --> 00:17:43,295 ♪ ♪ 357 00:17:43,362 --> 00:17:46,165 Wilson: You thought that maybe you had talked to the wrong couple, 358 00:17:46,231 --> 00:17:49,034 but the more you asked around, 359 00:17:49,101 --> 00:17:50,702 the more it seemed like they, 360 00:17:50,769 --> 00:17:53,505 uh, weren't an exception. 361 00:17:53,572 --> 00:17:56,341 How-how long have you been planning to get married? 362 00:17:56,408 --> 00:17:59,344 I think, what, since last night? 363 00:17:59,411 --> 00:18:00,379 -No, it's... -No. 364 00:18:00,446 --> 00:18:02,147 We've known each other since junior high. 365 00:18:02,214 --> 00:18:04,149 He proposed four and a half years ago, and... 366 00:18:04,216 --> 00:18:07,319 We've been married 15 years in November, 367 00:18:07,386 --> 00:18:10,055 and so we wanted to do our renewal this year. 368 00:18:10,122 --> 00:18:13,425 We renewed our vows after 26 years of marriage. 369 00:18:13,492 --> 00:18:14,860 -Wilson: Oh, really? -Yes. 370 00:18:14,927 --> 00:18:16,895 Wilson: You two-- You guys didn't just meet? 371 00:18:16,962 --> 00:18:18,430 -No. -No. No, no. 372 00:18:18,497 --> 00:18:20,466 No, 31 years ago, we met. 373 00:18:20,532 --> 00:18:22,501 Wilson: Oh... Okay... 374 00:18:22,568 --> 00:18:24,670 So, if you can't find 375 00:18:24,736 --> 00:18:28,474 what you're looking for at the chapels, 376 00:18:28,540 --> 00:18:31,376 go back downtown to the casinos, 377 00:18:31,443 --> 00:18:34,279 which might be the last place 378 00:18:34,346 --> 00:18:36,148 you're guaranteed to find evidence 379 00:18:36,215 --> 00:18:39,218 of truly spontaneous behavior. 380 00:18:40,586 --> 00:18:43,856 But when you get in there, it seems like 381 00:18:43,922 --> 00:18:46,458 people just plant themselves in one place 382 00:18:46,525 --> 00:18:48,827 for hours at a time, 383 00:18:48,894 --> 00:18:52,331 playing the same game without any interruption, 384 00:18:52,397 --> 00:18:55,167 hoping that things will eventually just... 385 00:18:56,134 --> 00:18:57,836 go their way. 386 00:18:57,903 --> 00:19:01,173 -Do you believe in kind of luck at all? -(machines beeping) 387 00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:04,309 Not really, no. 388 00:19:04,376 --> 00:19:07,246 You know these are fixed. Nobody's gonna win big here. 389 00:19:08,780 --> 00:19:10,482 (music from machine) 390 00:19:10,549 --> 00:19:12,718 It all depends on the, uh... 391 00:19:14,386 --> 00:19:16,221 the... What do you call it around you? 392 00:19:16,288 --> 00:19:18,323 The vibes you have, 393 00:19:18,390 --> 00:19:20,959 if you have enough sleep, 394 00:19:21,026 --> 00:19:23,295 if you feel good, if you're not tired, 395 00:19:23,362 --> 00:19:26,331 uh... such and such and such. 396 00:19:26,398 --> 00:19:30,369 -Wilson: How do you feel right now? -I feel good. Yeah. 397 00:19:30,435 --> 00:19:33,972 Wilson: You try to play a couple of games yourself, 398 00:19:34,039 --> 00:19:35,874 but all you did 399 00:19:35,941 --> 00:19:38,176 was end up wasting money 400 00:19:38,243 --> 00:19:40,646 that you didn't want to spend. 401 00:19:40,712 --> 00:19:43,315 And after a while, 402 00:19:43,382 --> 00:19:45,150 you begin to question 403 00:19:45,217 --> 00:19:48,587 whether or not you'll ever be able to break this curse. 404 00:19:48,654 --> 00:19:50,622 Do some people have like strategies 405 00:19:50,689 --> 00:19:53,358 to, to kind of increase their chances? 406 00:19:53,425 --> 00:19:55,761 -Manager: Yeah, they think they do! (laugh) -They think they do, 407 00:19:55,827 --> 00:19:58,397 and we love it. You know... 408 00:19:58,463 --> 00:20:00,899 Being a casino host, you kind of love it 409 00:20:00,966 --> 00:20:03,335 because it's just gonna make them think 410 00:20:03,402 --> 00:20:05,470 -they're invincible. -Manager: Don't you love it when a guy goes, 411 00:20:05,537 --> 00:20:07,439 "I got a new strategy for roulette?" I'm like, 412 00:20:07,506 --> 00:20:08,640 -bring it on, sir. -(laughs) 413 00:20:08,707 --> 00:20:11,343 Some people are natural-born losers. 414 00:20:11,410 --> 00:20:14,313 No matter what they do, they just can't win. 415 00:20:14,379 --> 00:20:16,782 And it's whether they're betting sports, 416 00:20:16,848 --> 00:20:20,285 playing poker, blackjack, slots, they just can't win. 417 00:20:20,352 --> 00:20:23,188 They just-- No matter what they do, 418 00:20:23,255 --> 00:20:26,391 they have no luck. And if they do win, 419 00:20:26,458 --> 00:20:27,893 if they do win, they blow it-- 420 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:30,429 they can't wait to get back and blow it all back. 421 00:20:30,495 --> 00:20:32,130 It's just, that's, that's... 422 00:20:32,197 --> 00:20:34,633 I've seen it year after year, 423 00:20:34,700 --> 00:20:37,269 week after week, day after day. It's crazy. 424 00:20:37,336 --> 00:20:39,938 ♪ ♪ 425 00:20:40,005 --> 00:20:42,708 Wilson: Maybe it's naive to think 426 00:20:42,774 --> 00:20:46,678 that luck will always guide you to the right place. 427 00:20:46,745 --> 00:20:50,816 And even if you want to control your destiny, 428 00:20:50,882 --> 00:20:54,586 there will always be some invisible force 429 00:20:54,653 --> 00:20:57,522 stopping that from happening. 430 00:20:57,589 --> 00:21:00,626 So, you just go back to your room 431 00:21:00,692 --> 00:21:03,662 and watch the same old TV shows 432 00:21:03,729 --> 00:21:06,365 instead of trying something new, 433 00:21:07,432 --> 00:21:10,302 and spend the rest of the night 434 00:21:10,369 --> 00:21:13,905 thinking about all the things that got you here. 435 00:21:17,175 --> 00:21:20,145 The next morning, you were walking around, 436 00:21:20,212 --> 00:21:23,315 trying to make the best of the time you have left, 437 00:21:23,382 --> 00:21:26,652 but, unfortunately, your visit happened to coincide 438 00:21:26,718 --> 00:21:28,487 with one of the worst heat waves 439 00:21:28,553 --> 00:21:31,123 in the history of Las Vegas. 440 00:21:31,189 --> 00:21:34,626 And you seem to be the only person left 441 00:21:34,693 --> 00:21:37,062 walking around on the sidewalk. 442 00:21:38,363 --> 00:21:40,899 You started feeling really dehydrated 443 00:21:40,966 --> 00:21:43,602 and needed some air conditioning, 444 00:21:43,669 --> 00:21:46,238 so you walk into the first open door 445 00:21:46,304 --> 00:21:49,307 you can find to get some relief. 446 00:21:49,374 --> 00:21:51,109 And when you start to look around, 447 00:21:51,176 --> 00:21:52,978 it seems like you've just walked into 448 00:21:53,045 --> 00:21:55,647 the middle of an event. 449 00:21:55,714 --> 00:21:57,849 You see a bunch of signage everywhere 450 00:21:57,916 --> 00:22:00,819 for something called MPI, 451 00:22:00,886 --> 00:22:03,989 but you don't know what any of it means. 452 00:22:04,056 --> 00:22:05,490 What does MPI stand for? 453 00:22:05,557 --> 00:22:08,093 Meeting Professionals International. 454 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:10,796 Wilson: And as you continued talking, 455 00:22:10,862 --> 00:22:13,465 you realized that you had actually just walked into 456 00:22:13,532 --> 00:22:17,402 a convention for convention planners. 457 00:22:17,469 --> 00:22:20,906 There were plans about making plans with other plans. 458 00:22:21,573 --> 00:22:23,442 Plans for days, 459 00:22:23,508 --> 00:22:25,210 as far as the eye could see. 460 00:22:25,277 --> 00:22:27,546 They had a lot of food. 461 00:22:27,612 --> 00:22:29,648 There were dozens of places to chill. 462 00:22:30,849 --> 00:22:33,385 And Usher was even there, 463 00:22:33,452 --> 00:22:36,555 and you wondered what kind of person it takes 464 00:22:36,621 --> 00:22:39,725 to be part of something like this. 465 00:22:39,791 --> 00:22:41,293 Everything that you do in life, 466 00:22:41,359 --> 00:22:43,228 if you don't have a well-executed plan, 467 00:22:43,295 --> 00:22:45,464 it's fraught for failure. The better your plan, 468 00:22:45,530 --> 00:22:47,365 the better the meeting's gonna be, the better event, 469 00:22:47,432 --> 00:22:49,701 And I love it when you see a plan put together, 470 00:22:49,768 --> 00:22:52,137 and it comes together months later, 471 00:22:52,204 --> 00:22:53,739 exactly as you thought. 472 00:22:53,805 --> 00:22:55,741 I always have a POA, plan of action, 473 00:22:55,807 --> 00:22:57,976 and a backup plan. If that one doesn't go as planned, 474 00:22:58,043 --> 00:22:59,344 I know what I'm gonna do next, so. 475 00:22:59,411 --> 00:23:01,413 I think just being brought up in the meetings business 476 00:23:01,480 --> 00:23:02,814 and working in it so long, 477 00:23:02,881 --> 00:23:06,318 you just always have another avenue to go down 478 00:23:06,384 --> 00:23:07,786 in case you hit a roadblock. 479 00:23:07,853 --> 00:23:09,421 Whenever you're having a bad day, 480 00:23:09,488 --> 00:23:12,057 pop in your, uh, your AirPods, 481 00:23:12,124 --> 00:23:14,392 turn on your favorite rock tune, and start, 482 00:23:14,459 --> 00:23:16,828 you know, thinking about ways you can drum up new business 483 00:23:16,895 --> 00:23:18,930 and how you walk to the beat of a different drum. 484 00:23:18,997 --> 00:23:22,033 That gives you fuel. That gives you motivation. 485 00:23:22,100 --> 00:23:24,169 That gives you-- That gets you fired up. 486 00:23:24,236 --> 00:23:26,171 Woo! Woo! Woo! 487 00:23:26,238 --> 00:23:28,106 ♪ ♪ 488 00:23:28,173 --> 00:23:30,575 Wilson: Everyone here seemed so much happier 489 00:23:30,642 --> 00:23:34,112 than all the other people that you met at the casinos, 490 00:23:34,179 --> 00:23:36,448 and you envied the confidence they had 491 00:23:36,515 --> 00:23:40,852 in organizing such complicated events. 492 00:23:40,919 --> 00:23:44,189 You even happened to meet the guy who actually planned 493 00:23:44,256 --> 00:23:47,759 the whole convention for convention planners. 494 00:23:47,826 --> 00:23:50,762 And even with the amount of pressure 495 00:23:50,829 --> 00:23:52,664 he must have felt, 496 00:23:52,731 --> 00:23:56,101 he was still one of the most centered people 497 00:23:56,168 --> 00:23:58,570 you had ever met. 498 00:23:58,637 --> 00:24:00,972 He even invited you to a big party 499 00:24:01,039 --> 00:24:04,309 they were having that evening to celebrate 500 00:24:04,376 --> 00:24:09,080 all the successful plans they've made over the years. 501 00:24:09,147 --> 00:24:11,550 They had really thought of everything, 502 00:24:11,616 --> 00:24:13,752 and it made you realize 503 00:24:13,819 --> 00:24:15,887 how good things can get 504 00:24:15,954 --> 00:24:17,956 when you commit to something. 505 00:24:18,023 --> 00:24:19,691 And when you're getting a drink, 506 00:24:19,758 --> 00:24:22,260 you actually run into someone 507 00:24:22,327 --> 00:24:24,329 who works for the resort 508 00:24:24,396 --> 00:24:26,498 that you tried to get a massage at. 509 00:24:26,565 --> 00:24:28,867 You tell him all about what happened to you, 510 00:24:28,934 --> 00:24:31,069 and he just laughs 511 00:24:31,136 --> 00:24:33,939 and tells you to call ahead next time. 512 00:24:34,005 --> 00:24:37,409 And at one point you saw a couple of people 513 00:24:37,475 --> 00:24:39,077 jump into the pool, 514 00:24:39,144 --> 00:24:41,847 which you didn't expect to happen at all. 515 00:24:41,913 --> 00:24:44,015 But after a few seconds, 516 00:24:44,082 --> 00:24:46,318 a bunch of other people joined them, 517 00:24:46,384 --> 00:24:50,188 and they all started, uh, uh, synchronized swimming. 518 00:24:50,255 --> 00:24:53,592 Even though it was clearly planned well in advance, 519 00:24:53,658 --> 00:24:55,627 it still created a wave 520 00:24:55,694 --> 00:24:58,830 of genuine excitement across the crowd. 521 00:24:58,897 --> 00:25:01,867 ♪ ♪ 522 00:25:01,933 --> 00:25:05,537 -(saxophone playing) -I stayed there for hours, 523 00:25:05,604 --> 00:25:08,940 drinking as much shitty beer 524 00:25:09,007 --> 00:25:10,609 as I possibly could. 525 00:25:10,675 --> 00:25:12,043 (saxophone music) 526 00:25:12,110 --> 00:25:15,113 It was honestly one of the most fun parties 527 00:25:15,180 --> 00:25:17,515 I've ever been to. 528 00:25:17,582 --> 00:25:20,252 And it was all because they had a plan. 529 00:25:20,318 --> 00:25:23,088 (saxophone continues) 530 00:25:23,154 --> 00:25:24,823 ♪ ♪ 531 00:25:28,159 --> 00:25:30,128 (music fades out) 532 00:25:30,195 --> 00:25:32,030 (inaudible) 533 00:25:32,097 --> 00:25:34,366 So the next morning, 534 00:25:34,432 --> 00:25:37,068 you track down your landlord's phone number 535 00:25:37,135 --> 00:25:41,406 and call her to tell her that you're in town. 536 00:25:41,473 --> 00:25:44,910 It turns out she was busy at the moment, 537 00:25:44,976 --> 00:25:47,379 but you make a plan 538 00:25:47,445 --> 00:25:49,881 to meet up later that afternoon. 539 00:25:50,916 --> 00:25:53,852 She's really happy to see you, 540 00:25:53,919 --> 00:25:57,522 and she gives you a big hug when you show up. 541 00:25:57,589 --> 00:25:59,424 (inaudible) 542 00:25:59,491 --> 00:26:01,693 She shows you around her new house, 543 00:26:01,760 --> 00:26:04,362 which has a bunch of big rooms 544 00:26:04,429 --> 00:26:08,767 and places for stuff that she likes to make. 545 00:26:08,833 --> 00:26:11,169 She even has a nice little backyard, too, 546 00:26:11,236 --> 00:26:15,073 where she plants stuff and gets to relax. 547 00:26:15,907 --> 00:26:18,043 And before you know it, 548 00:26:18,109 --> 00:26:20,245 you've settled back into 549 00:26:20,312 --> 00:26:22,113 the same old routines. 550 00:26:22,180 --> 00:26:23,982 And she does your laundry so 551 00:26:24,049 --> 00:26:25,784 you don't have to go back home 552 00:26:25,850 --> 00:26:27,652 with any dirty clothes. 553 00:26:27,719 --> 00:26:29,187 (clears throat) 554 00:26:29,254 --> 00:26:32,123 Maybe it's okay to have a plan 555 00:26:32,190 --> 00:26:35,593 because otherwise, the people that depend on them 556 00:26:35,660 --> 00:26:39,364 won't be able to enjoy your company. 557 00:26:39,431 --> 00:26:41,099 And at the end of the day, 558 00:26:41,166 --> 00:26:44,402 no matter how spontaneous you think you're being, 559 00:26:45,770 --> 00:26:48,606 your heart may have had a plan all along. 560 00:26:50,709 --> 00:26:53,478 -I'm gonna miss you. -Mama: I love you. 561 00:26:53,545 --> 00:26:57,182 -Wilson: I love you, too. -Mama: And I hope I see you. 562 00:26:57,248 --> 00:26:59,684 Wilson: I know. I see you soon. 563 00:26:59,751 --> 00:27:02,754 ♪ ♪ 564 00:27:05,557 --> 00:27:08,626 It was nice to get back to New York though, 565 00:27:08,693 --> 00:27:12,030 where it still feels like anything is possible. 566 00:27:14,232 --> 00:27:16,401 You missed the sound of the train and 567 00:27:16,468 --> 00:27:19,037 all the different places it can take you, 568 00:27:19,104 --> 00:27:22,941 even if you're not sure which way you're going. 569 00:27:23,008 --> 00:27:26,211 (Wilson speaking) 570 00:27:26,277 --> 00:27:27,579 Wilson: Where's it going? 571 00:27:28,780 --> 00:27:31,349 Wilson: Oh shit. 572 00:27:31,416 --> 00:27:35,253 When you live in a place with so many possibilities, 573 00:27:35,320 --> 00:27:36,855 it can feel like you're doing 574 00:27:36,921 --> 00:27:40,492 the wrong thing all the time. 575 00:27:40,558 --> 00:27:44,929 But as long as you're open to surprises, 576 00:27:44,996 --> 00:27:47,532 the city will never let you down. 577 00:27:49,000 --> 00:27:52,771 So, don't worry about planning too much 578 00:27:52,837 --> 00:27:56,574 because you'll always end up somewhere you didn't expect, 579 00:27:56,641 --> 00:27:59,010 whether you like it or not. 580 00:27:59,077 --> 00:28:01,279 (waves washing ashore) 581 00:28:05,283 --> 00:28:07,318 This is John Wilson. 582 00:28:07,385 --> 00:28:09,421 Thank you so much for watching. 583 00:28:11,589 --> 00:28:14,626 ♪ ♪