Go Carless and Get Into Shape
That’s my car at the curb behind my bike. I left them both in California when I moved to Mexico. I miss the bike, but I’m not sure about the car. The car is now in front of my daughter’s house, and I’m still paying $80 a month for insurance on it. I love to drive, but for years I have wanted to go carless. That’s impossible in California. Good public transportation in that state doesn’t exist. The car manufacturers and oil companies see to that. They own the politicians.
The weather is always nice; especially in Southern California. Californians don’t need to stay at home for any reason so they’re always out driving. I lived in L.A. for most of my life. Like the song says:
It never rains in Southern California but when it does, it pours.
California occasionally has a wet year. That’s when you hear about all the mudslides in the news. Do you know what Californians do when there’s a heavy downpour? They hop in their cars and drive like bats out of hell to go shopping. The retail establishments are packed. I’ve never been able to figure that one out. Maybe you can.
Why I’ve Gone Carless
You’re probably wondering why I want to live without a car if I love driving:
- It costs a lot of money to own a car. Owning a car is like owning another house. You have to maintain and clean it. I hate to clean.
- It pollutes the environment. I’m environmentally conscious.
- I don’t get exercise when I drive. I can remember my teachers saying that people were overweight because of cars; it’s true. I now walk to places that I would otherwise hop in my car to go to. I sat on my butt in front of my computer for probably 25 years getting no exercise.
The biggest payoff for me is the exercise. I’m limber and strong again. I walk to Starbucks, the post office, my dentist, the bank, restaurants, the beach, and the pharmacy. I don’t know if I’ve lost any weight, but I do know I’ve trimmed off a lot of fat. I exercise because I have to get to places; otherwise, I wouldn’t exercise at all.
I realize that a lot of people can’t give up their car because they don’t have access to good transportation. However, I highly recommend it for people who can.
