My son, in the midst of a peculiarly annoying quarrel, grabbed my keys and made off with my car.
Yes. The only car I have.
Oh eek! Oh augh! Ohhhh gawd, what’ll I do?
Right?
Welp…maybe not.
Maybe, just maybe this is an occasion for celebrating. Because, incredibly enough, it has brought about an Insight of the first water.
Know what? Here in the Big City, I don’t need a car. Occasionally I do need access to a vehicle with four wheels and an engine. Very occasionally. In fact, those occasions are so rare and the alternatives to owning a motorized beast are so inexpensive that, f’rgodsake, I could afford to rent a Mercedes whenever I feel in the mood.
Seriously.
There are three major grocery markets within easy walking distance of my house. Add to those a hardware store, several restaurants, a computer store, a bookstore, a wine shop…on and on. And also a place where I could rent a car, if absolutely necessary. A train line runs north and south, with a stop about a block from the house. And Uber drivers are standing by to sell you a ride, too.
WHY have I been spending all that money on owning and insuring a rolling tin can?????
Yes, it’s convenient to have a car outside your kitchen door. But a phone call will bring an Uber right to your front door. Just now we’re coming up on the hottest season of the year in Phoenix. But at 8:20 in the morning, it’s balmy enough outside. Right now I could walk to the Albertson’s and back without raising a sweat.
Admittedly, I do own a rolling cart. This allows me to transport bags 0r boxes of groceries without having to lug them in my hands. Admittedly, the potential for PITA is there… But…but…a rollee cart is one helluva lot cheaper than a gas-guzzler. Cheaper to buy, cheaper to operate. And you don’t have to insure it.
Somethin’ to think about, ain’t it?
What would I do with that vast two-car garage?
One idea is to convert it into an art studio. Year-round: it’s air-conditioned. Or I could rent it to someone who wants to give art lessons. A half-dozen friends could draw and paint in that space.
Of course, the space could always be used for storage. Problem with that idea: I don’t have much junk to stash.
Leave the side door to the backyard open, and lo! It becomes the biggest dog house in the nation. Ruby the Corgi will love it. So will the coyotes, I expect.
😀
Seriously: getting rid of the car just might not be that bad, as ideas go.
- It would save a ton of money.
- It would repurpose part of the house.
- It could create an income source, in the form of art studio rental.
- It could open the door to new friendships.
Interesting…