We hardly even noticed that we passed the one-year mark in our experiment of living without a car. Time for some reflections. Basically, I'd sum it by saying that there are some obvious inconveniences of carlessness but, then again, car ownership is also a pain in the neck. It's been a matter of trade-offs.
Car ownership (cons)
- parking tickets on street sweeping days
- always forgetting to renew residential street parking permits
- keeping up with insurance payments
- remembering to file car registration
- oil changes
- dealing with maintenance issues
- I hate driving
- can't just hop in the car and drive down to the store when it's cold and rainy
- fewer Target runs
- having to plan things ahead of time
- getting to the CityCarShare pod and finding out that your car isn't there or the reservation that you thought you made wasn't made after all
- relying on others for rides
- grocery shopping is a bigger production
- the herky-jerky drivers on AC transit
- ability to do things at a moments notice
- ability to haul a lot of stuff (sometimes I really miss that Passat wagon)
- I've learned to love biking and have discovered I can go many places in Berkeley (and beyond) on my bike
- Target is overrated
- none of those bureaucratic headaches (see above)
- walking is great exercise
1 comment:
CONGRATULATIONS on a whole "carless"year! You have really gone "green"! Not only are you saving the planet, but you're getting into better shape with more exercise. Good for you. Your lifestyle is an inspiration and the wave of the future.
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