Welcome to the board Quail! do you have a mirror? type the word Mirror in the search box and you'll find some threads regarding their use and the different types. It might help you some if you can see the cars coming behind you. I rode on the shoulder of a state highway a few weeks ago and was glad I did because it helped me to overcome my fear of being on the road......not my caution, but my fear. I just keep telling myself to be sure and hold my line, not make any sudden moves that the drivers can't anticpate and - as someone here suggested - use hand signals for any moves I may make ie: a storm drain ahead I just signal I'm moving slightly left so the driver knows I'm going to move over in the lane some, or when I reach a turn lane but I want to go straight, I signal that I'm staying in the thru lane so the cars know what I"m doing. I gotta tell ya, NM has the Worst drivers of any state I've ever lived or driven in but they tend to behave very well with cyclists. I would suggest you stay to the left of the line but as far right as possible, it sounds like the right of the line is just too messy for a bike which could result in more troubles than the cars!

PS: is you get a chance, there's a thread under the open forum entitled "getting to know you", tells you about us and - if you're so inclined - tell us about you!!