Credit Al Gore with inspiring me. I saw his movie, An Inconvenient Truth, and I was motivated to do something, anything, that I could about the problem of Global Warming. Don't start yelling at me that warming has not been conclusively linked to carbon dioxide emissions. I am not an environmental scientist . . . in fact, I am not really even much of an environmental activist. What I did take from Gore's movie is an understanding that the Earth is warming up . . . for some reason. And, being a "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me" sort of guy, I decided to do whatever I could, by myself, without convincing or motivating anyone else to in anyway change their life, about the problem.
Meanwhile, I had a few other motivations to leave the car parked and walk (or ride) instead. I recently turned 50 and my waist was showing it. I used to run marathons (15 years ago), but my body's vociferous objections to my former training regimen coupled with my "all or nothing" mentality was keeping me flat out sedentary. Finally, I decided that if I couldn't run, at least I could walk. So I started walking the three miles from my house to my office a few mornings each week.
I did what I could at first, but from the beginning my goal was to walk both to and from the office each day for a total of 6 miles daily. This would match my former running program with much less stress, strain and impact on my joints and muscles.
I also had financial motivations. The combination of lease payments, auto insurance and fuel was taking nearly $700/month out of my pocket. Living and working in one of the good weather capitals of the world, Santa Monica California, it seemed a little silly to spend over $20 a day on transportation that wasn't really necessary, nor especially convenient.
A strange thing happened as I began my walking program. I noticed that my mood was amazingly elevated as I stayed out from behind the wheel. I am not sure what the explanation for this is. I know that some people think that exercise floods the body with "feel good" endorphins. But this elevated mood was different from anything I had experienced before. And keep in mind that I had done a lot of heavy duty training as a runner. My current theory is that driving has a negative effect on my mind. Operating the car my mind is constantly "on alert" and aggressively competing with other drivers for space and time. Walking, I have all kinds of time to process information and I also have the sidewalks practically to myself.
Now, I have to admit that there are some things that make my carfree lifestyle easier on me than it might be for some others. First, as already mentioned, my office is only three miles from my home. Second, we are not a carfree family. My wife still has her car, and occasionally she lets me borrow it to run an errand -- mostly going to the grocery store, where I would have quite a heavy load to carry if I were to walk it both ways. Third, I am located in a climate that is often ideal for walking. Santa Monica is almost never hotter than 80 degrees F nor colder than 50. Finally, Santa Monica is home to the Big Blue Bus, one of the finest, nicest and most convenient bus systems on the planet. Almost anywhere I want to go, the Big Blue Bus can take me there and usually it takes only a few more minutes than driving myself.
So . . . as of today (October 25, 2007) I have been living the carfree life for about a month and a week, although my car sits parked in my drive as we attempt to sell it. I am walking (or running) at least 6 miles a day now (with almost no aches or pains) and I usually ride the Big Blue Bus if I need to go somewhere that is too far to walk. Once or twice a week, my wife and I go out somewhere (movies, gatherings of friends, etc.) together, and when we do, I typically drive.
I'm not sure how often I'll post, but I hope to put up two to three updates on the carfree life each week. Most of the posts will be much shorter than this -- just observations or impressions of life without a car. Maybe I'll be more motivated because I am now thinking that I'll train for the 2008 LA Marathon that is run the first Sunday of March each year. Anyway, that's it for now so see you next time on Living the Carfree Life.
Meanwhile, I had a few other motivations to leave the car parked and walk (or ride) instead. I recently turned 50 and my waist was showing it. I used to run marathons (15 years ago), but my body's vociferous objections to my former training regimen coupled with my "all or nothing" mentality was keeping me flat out sedentary. Finally, I decided that if I couldn't run, at least I could walk. So I started walking the three miles from my house to my office a few mornings each week.
I did what I could at first, but from the beginning my goal was to walk both to and from the office each day for a total of 6 miles daily. This would match my former running program with much less stress, strain and impact on my joints and muscles.
I also had financial motivations. The combination of lease payments, auto insurance and fuel was taking nearly $700/month out of my pocket. Living and working in one of the good weather capitals of the world, Santa Monica California, it seemed a little silly to spend over $20 a day on transportation that wasn't really necessary, nor especially convenient.
A strange thing happened as I began my walking program. I noticed that my mood was amazingly elevated as I stayed out from behind the wheel. I am not sure what the explanation for this is. I know that some people think that exercise floods the body with "feel good" endorphins. But this elevated mood was different from anything I had experienced before. And keep in mind that I had done a lot of heavy duty training as a runner. My current theory is that driving has a negative effect on my mind. Operating the car my mind is constantly "on alert" and aggressively competing with other drivers for space and time. Walking, I have all kinds of time to process information and I also have the sidewalks practically to myself.
Now, I have to admit that there are some things that make my carfree lifestyle easier on me than it might be for some others. First, as already mentioned, my office is only three miles from my home. Second, we are not a carfree family. My wife still has her car, and occasionally she lets me borrow it to run an errand -- mostly going to the grocery store, where I would have quite a heavy load to carry if I were to walk it both ways. Third, I am located in a climate that is often ideal for walking. Santa Monica is almost never hotter than 80 degrees F nor colder than 50. Finally, Santa Monica is home to the Big Blue Bus, one of the finest, nicest and most convenient bus systems on the planet. Almost anywhere I want to go, the Big Blue Bus can take me there and usually it takes only a few more minutes than driving myself.
So . . . as of today (October 25, 2007) I have been living the carfree life for about a month and a week, although my car sits parked in my drive as we attempt to sell it. I am walking (or running) at least 6 miles a day now (with almost no aches or pains) and I usually ride the Big Blue Bus if I need to go somewhere that is too far to walk. Once or twice a week, my wife and I go out somewhere (movies, gatherings of friends, etc.) together, and when we do, I typically drive.
I'm not sure how often I'll post, but I hope to put up two to three updates on the carfree life each week. Most of the posts will be much shorter than this -- just observations or impressions of life without a car. Maybe I'll be more motivated because I am now thinking that I'll train for the 2008 LA Marathon that is run the first Sunday of March each year. Anyway, that's it for now so see you next time on Living the Carfree Life.
1 comment:
Hi Jim,
I found you because you're a friend of my nephew Steve Gamber out on Facebook. Did you work together at Sun America? Anyway I am interested in posted your article or your links but thought I would ask permission first.
Let me know please. Thanks!
Marge Gann
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