We have set ourselves free! This done by selling our car – to live the car free life style. No more the guilt over our heads of supporting oil based wars. Done the stress of gas prices, maintenance, insurance, taxes, repairs (blown head gasket was the twist of the dagger). Un-conforming to the modern made American dream that “you NEED to have a car” – in order to get a job, get food, find a significant other. This dream creating the illusion of ownership when the reality is most people don’t own their cars, the bank does.
This car did have many great stories of adventures with us, but also did carry a scarlet letter on it when originally purchased. Bessy had a job where you drive together to locations far off to work. In order to climb the corporate ladder, you recruit people on a team you want to grow – somewhat of a pyramid scheme gig. These people, who don’t make much, somehow need transport.
So the mental drive to grow the company programs in your head – led to the decision to buy a four seat car. Originally Roger wanted a smart car, fuel and space efficient two seater. Eventually Bessy did find better job. So somewhat of a lesson learned here, be wary of centering your life around a particular job (such as this car purchase). We still kept the car, but as its known a car is a money pit, and the repairs it needed were beyond the value worth of keeping it as usage is so low.
Fortunately, we were exposed to the car free life living two years in bike / train friendly Holland. When we first moved there yes I (Roger) was shocked at the deprogramming needed to free myself from the car centric and materialistic lifestyle. I was in the deep – driving since 16, getting into the car scene when the Fast and Furious movies came out. I worked myself up to a twin turbo dodge stealth – a top gun car at its time.
It was my daily driver, and that was a fatal error when I was building the power up. Eventually it gave out with the large turbos I added. I put my heart and soul into it, yet it was a time to learn to let go. Still living in Connecticut, a car was needed thanks to the infrastructure. So I am not totally going to hate on cars, because I probably would have never met Bessy!
No regrets, of the former life. If anything it makes me appreciate where I am. This also makes me excited for this new life, as we are on a verge of change thanks to technology – Uber/Lyft being so cheap in urban areas. The transition phase is occurring with cars to be automated / driverless. It is good to be ahead in the emerging trends.
Couple of Athletes 