“I see that you don’t own a car,” commented a friend visiting from out of town.“Yes”, I responded. “I haven’t owned one since 1964.”
“Why?” she queried. So I proceeded to tell her about my E to the 3rd power life without a car.
“Well, it started as an economic decision. It costs from $6000 to $12,000 a year to own and operate a car. That has always seemed like a lot of money to me, especially during the years that I was self-employed. If I didn’t have to earn $6,000 to $12,000, that meant I had more time for my passions of writing and painting."
What I didn’t mention was that the cities in which I’ve lived – Brussels, Chicago, Manila, Mumbai, Victoria, Singapore, and Sydney – all had public transit systems that seemed less of a hassle than finding (and paying for) parking. Likewise in the small city where I live now.
“Then,” I continued, “over the years, as I learned more and more about global warming and issues of environmental degradation, my economic decision became an ethical choice. I saw that not owning a car was a personal way that I could limit my impact on the environment.”
Again, I didn’t mention that on the occasions that I’ve borrowed or rented a vehicle to accomplish some task that was difficult on public transportation, I felt intensely separated both from nature and other human beings. I find that public transportation puts me in touch with a diverse population that I, as an educated professional, would otherwise not encounter – the poor, youth, immigrants, single parents, and the disabled.
Not that all of the characters I encounter on buses or trains are pleasant and agreeable. I’ve been known to avoid certain times and routes noted for having loud and belligerent passengers. But the truth is, my fellow passengers keep me connected to reality and to our common human suffering. They force me out of my comfort zone and challenge my limited perceptions.
“And now,” I concluded, “not owning a car is a major component of my exercise program. I take routes that force me to walk at least part of the way to and from work or to and from the grocery store. I’m the kind of person who has to build exercise into my everyday routine to make it happen. Not owning a car saves me a gym membership and gets me moving whether I feel like it or not.”
Of course, I didn’t tell her I also do Pilates and Yoga because walking and weight-bearing are just the beginning of what it takes to keep the whole body flexible and resilient. Or that my morning and afternoon walks keep me in touch with nature’s rhythms even as I curse the rain, snow, or blazing sun!
So there you have it: my life without a car makes good economic sense, delivers a low impact on the environment, and gives me ongoing physical exercise - with connections to society and nature thrown in for good measure.
In fact, I have so much invested in not owning a car, that it’s hard for me to see why anyone would want one of those clunkers – except, of course, when I need to lug a forty-pound bag of dirt or pebbles for the garden. Thank you to everyone who’s come to my rescue at such inopportune moments.
