I have come to a very painful decision. I have decided to sell my car. Not because I want to but because I don't drive it enough any more to justify the expense. And frankly I can't afford the expense. Between car payments and garage rent and insurance, it's just too much for me. It's a lovely deep red 2005 Hyundai Elantra hatchback with a 5-speed stick. They call it a 5-door but really it's a hatchback. It looks kind of like the Saab 93. For a modestly priced car it's pretty neat. But like I said, I can't keep it. It was kind of like fate because a friend of my aunt's told me he was interested in buying it before I even seriously considered selling it. So I have a ready buyer.
I have lived in the city with and without a car, and there's a whole different relationship to space and mobility. Maybe part of it is that the city is an island. Not having car always made me feel kind of stuck. Getting out was an ordeal - maybe only in my mind, but that's how it felt. The instant we got a car, suddenly I felt free, like I could go anywhere anytime. Not that I did, but that I could. I don't know why but it's always been important to me to feel like I could get out. (Some weird psychological issue perhaps?) But it's totally true that I will lose my ability for spontaneous mobility. Things are different now, though. There are zipcars. So I could use those to do take my weekend shopping jaunts. And when I want to go farther I can always rent a car. But it won't be MINE. Maybe once I do it, I'll feel relieved. I don't know. But right now I am feeling very sad. It's weird, it's like I'm grieving for a car.
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4 comments:
I wouldnt be able to survive without a car. I live in a city but I dont like public transportation. Im actually scared of it. And also the cost factor of it would be almost equal to having a car.
Well I use public transportation all the time. This city is very good for that. I wouldn't want to drive around in the city. I only use it for going other places. And especially now that the economy is tanking, I really think getting rid of it is the right thing to do. Unfortunately, my buyer changed his mind, so now I have to place an ad. I looked at those cars-for-cash places but they all sound like sleazy ripoff joints.
I understand the feeling. Even with a very good public transportation system, they don't go everywhere. How about something like FlexCar?
Here there's something called Zipcars. It may be the same thing. You pay a monthly subscription fee and you get x number of hours of car use. The nice thing about Zipcars is that they use my garage. So I could even keep part of my routine. In just about every way, it's the smart thing to do. The downside is, it's not my own car. I drive a stick and I really enjoy it. So that's something I'll have to give up. But it really makes a lot of sense. Now I have to find a buyer!
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