Ok. I live in Southern California and I do not own a car. To avoid confusion, I have a Drivers License but I do not have a motor vehicle. This is often where people get confused.
Maybe it is because less than a month after getting my license I turned left in my Datsun Nissan Pulsar and get hit in the left side passenger door by a Volvo?
Maybe it is because when I was 19, Irma, my blue Toyota Corolla ran out of gas a block from my house?
Maybe it is because when I was 23 the clutch on the Red VW Rabbit (diesel) died while I was driving south on Lakeshore Drive?
Maybe it is because while driving to deliver my 88 Honda Accord (with 28,000 miles) the hood flew into my windshield while driving on I55 at 55 miles per hour?
Admittedly, I do not have a good history with automobiles. In fact, I suspect if I get a car it would spontaneously combust on the 405 or I will a blow tire on PCH and fly into the ocean. Deeper than that is the unwillingness of this city girl to get a car.
Yep, I am indisposed to indulge in the one thing that every other individual in this environment sees as a necessity.
Why?
Three reasons. I am cheap, I am vain, and I like my alone time.
I do not want a car payment. I do not care to pay car insurance. I am loath to pay for gas. I am cheap.
I work about 70 hours a week and the only exercise I get is walking to my workplace. I get. I am 35 and look good in a bikini so it works. I have people tell me I must work out a lot so it works. I am 5 foot 7 inches and wear a size 6...so it works. Yep, vain.
Again, I have a very intense job with long hours where I am constantly in contact with people so crave in my half hour of time where I can listen to music or catch up with friends.
So now we have the why. How about the how?
How? Location and planning.
I live one and a half miles from my office. I stride to work everyday. I catch a ride home every night. My groceries are delivered. Dry cleaners pick up and drop off during the day. Blocks away from my apartment are any kind of restaurant you can imagine ranging from fast food to Four Star feasts to Sushi to Cuban. I can even eat Vegan should that be what I want. Also, smack dab in the middle of the dinning Mecca is the bus stop. Two busses run down Bristol Street every 15 minutes. They take me to any store I could desire. Really, South Coast Plaza, Barnes and Noble, CVS, Nordstrom Rack.... ANYTHING!! In the opposite direction of my apartment, another bus takes me down Newport Boulevard. It only runs every half an hour and takes a little more planning but it takes me to all sorts of wonderful places like my doctors and the beach. Location, Location, Location.
I am also grateful for the people who give me rides to events that I want to attend which are out of my daily/weekly geographical sphere.
I could say more about this…however all you need to know is I am quite happy with my carless existence. Could you be happy with out a car? What is the one thing other people cannot live without that you would be happy to sacrifice?
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When I am in a city with convenient public transportation, I prefer it to driving. I aspire to living in a city with good public transportation as an expat and learn other languages.
ReplyDeleteI did this for a year in Irvine when I moved here because I was a white knuckled driver..I was more afraid if ten minutes in the freeway driving to LA than I was at 2 am walking alone on the streets of NYC.
ReplyDeleteThen I realized it was a pain in the ass for people to drive me around...and I was just avoiding it because I was afraid...so I got one and overcame my fear.
On the other hand I loved not having a car n NYC. It depends on the location I think!
To quote Maki, she is happy to drive me around as long as I do not shut down the 405....
ReplyDeleteI was carless in Cypress for 15 months and it left me hating Southern California.
ReplyDeleteOCTA is awesome in the sense that it can definitely get you where you need to be. The downside: a trip can take 3 hours because Orange County is so spread out.
One thing that I can sacrifice? TELEVISION!
I stopped watching that thing about 7 years ago.
I was in that car for the first accident.....
ReplyDeleteI could be happy without a car if I lived somewhere with better public transportation. I try to walk a lot here, but this city is not set up well for non-car ownership.
That car was the Porche of teenaged own cars....
ReplyDeleteCars and TV seem to be the too things people have opinions about. I LOVE my TV...