I'm driving a car but I'm not going over to the Dark Side!

[Roody]

Under what circumstances (if any) would you borrow a car? If you had (or have) a car, can you resist the temptation to drive it?

For the last few days, I've been in a city 200 miles from home. I took a Greyhound bus here, as I do every month, to visit my dad. But I'm not taking the big gray dog home.

I'm going to be driving!!!! I don't really want to do this, it's to help my dad out. I'll probably keep his car for about two weeks. He's been ill lately, and my sister, who lives near him, is in Guatemala for a while. She wanted me to have the car "just in case" and dad agreed.

I'm planning not to drive when I get home. We'll see! This is a good chance to test for myself the "Beer Analogy."* I do plan to drive at least once. I want to launder and donate all the tons of "fat clothes" that I no longer wear because I've lost so much weight :) and I'll use the car rather than pay somebody to do it as I originally planned.

I'm kind of nervous about driving so far!


*The Beer Analogy: This was debated in another thread recently. Basically, it says that, if you wanted to give up drinking beer, you wouldn't keep a 12 pack in the refrigerator. So if you want to quit driving a car, you shouldn't keep one parked in the driveway.

[Slow Train]

Do you have a safe deposit box at the bank? Go there and lock the damn things (keys) away! It is the only way for you to keep your self-respect. ;)

[Roody]

So far not so good. I'm driving to work today :( with the poor excuse that the freezing rain continues to fall on top of the snow. As soon as I got to my house, I zeroed out the trip odometer so I'll know how much I drive, cumulatively.

The drive home was not much fun (but probably more fun than the Greyhound bus usually is). The trip was 182 miles in about 4 hours with a lunch stop.

My lower back and hip ached, which they never do on the bike. Also, I felt a strange combination of fatigued and restless that I never feel when riding. It's so funny that people sometimes ask me, "But isn't it uncomfortable to ride a bike?" :D

And this morning I was almost late for an appointment because I forgot that it would take some time to scrape ice and snow off the car windows. I never have to worry about that when I hop on my bike!

[gwd]

I do plan to drive at least once. I want to launder and donate all the tons of "fat clothes" that I no longer wear because I've lost so much weight :) and I'll use the car rather than pay somebody to do it as I originally planned.

You might want to hold off on donating those "fat clothes". A friend with stable weight over the last 12-15 years of car free living had use of a car for a month AND tried to limit her caloric intake AND still biked to work etc. AND increased her body weight by 3.2%.

[Cadd]

If you don't plan to drive your car for for more than 2+ weeks, I would suggest getting a trickle charger. This way, in an emergency when you do need it, the battery won't be dead.

[Roody]

You might want to hold off on donating those "fat clothes". A friend with stable weight over the last 12-15 years of car free living had use of a car for a month AND tried to limit her caloric intake AND still biked to work etc. AND increased her body weight by 3.2%.
:eek: Good point!

[Artkansas]

Other things you might do are...
1. Remove one of the wires to the battery. Check which one before doing.
That will keep the battery from discharging and make it just a little bit harder to go, thus reducing the temptation.

2. Lock the keys in the glove compartment and lock the car. That'll cost you $60 or so to start the car.

I feel with you there Roody. Last year a co-worker wanted me to keep his car while he was on assignment in Iceland for two months. It was too dangerous to leave it at work all night, and I couldn't leave it at the apartment complex all day, so I had to drive it.

I never felt quite complete while I had it. I was glad to see it go.