Roody

I now own a car, or rather half a car. My father passed away about a month ago, and my sister and I inherited his little car.

I want to be carlite, but so far I've been driving quite a bit, mostly to help my sister with the memorial service, bank, lawyer, etc. (I live about 200 miles away). I admit that I've also driven on some of the errands that I usually do by bike, foot or bus.

I don't find it easy to be carlite, because I'm basically a lazy person. The temptation to drive is sometimes greater than I can deny.

I plan to sell the car as soon as the paperwork goes through, but until then, it's half mine. Today I went on a nice drive to a beach on Lake Michigan. Tomorrow I'll be driving it back to Lansing and getting it ready to sell.

Robert Foster

It often does come down to the issue of ease of use. If the vehicle is there and someone gets a whim to go somewhere it is easy to get the keys and go. It is both the advantage and disadvantage of the vehicle. No real planning required just jump in and go.

Roody

Yes, I am finding that. Ordinarily, I plan individual trips in order to accomplish more on each trip. I also plan into the future, like delaying one errand for a few days until I can combine it with another errand in the same part of town. With the car, it's a little too easy to wait until the last possible moment to do something.

Robert Foster

That is why the car free idea is so foreign to the thinking in our society. It requires people to sit down and plan or slow down and think and we are trained to rush at the tings we do. Hurry and do your homework, hurry and get a job. Hurry to finish that deadline. Learn to Multi-task. We as a society have embraced microwaves, remote controls, (can you even get a TV without a remote?) Fast food, jet air travel and yes the computer and Cell phone because we just can't wait.

For those that see cycling as an alternative it is a source of freedom. For those, the majority, that have fully embraced technology cycling is a step back into a world we have long left.

That is simply part of the struggle car free faces. The motor vehicle is the answer to all those that say, it is too hot, too cold, to late too far and there isn't enough time. Every other method to get from point A to point B requires planning. It is an attitude that will take a very long time to change if it ever is.

It remindes me of when you posted the question about using AC. When I first read the question I simply asked myself this question, if I have it why wouldn't I use it? I never even considered not having it or having it and not using it. Yet when I didn't have it where we used to live I never thought about it one way or the other.

Platy

As far as I can recall, you've never disrespected anyone here simply for owning or using cars. So your change in car ownership status, while interesting news, doesn't negate your insights about and advocacy for carfree living. By the way, I'm sorry to learn of your father's passing.

zeppinger

Lets vote him off the island!

gerv 

I believe there have been several people here who have gone from carfree to owning a car. IIRC, most seemed to go through a stage where they were using a car, then less and less. The shine wears off, you miss the early morning air. You are back in the saddle.

gerv 

Just because the rest of the world like these things, doesn't mean I have to. From your list, I have to say I'm not fond of most things... except perhaps computers and remote controls. Jet air travel sucks enormously for environmental reasons and also because I've spent too much time in O'Hare airport. Cells phones are an annoyance.

Roody

I assume you mean Mackinac Island, which is carfree.

SunnyFlorida

First - I'm sorry to hear of your dad's passing.

Second - your honnest confession doesn't make me think less of you.

As gerv once said in a previous thread, "papal dispensation" should be given in some circumstances. This is one of them.

.

Dahon.Steve

My sincere condolences about the passing of your father.

I would keep the car for a while since it's one of the few things that you'll remember from your father. When my father passed, I was the owner of his car which was his most prized possession. I kept it to drive my mother back and fourth to the supermarket each Sunday. I hated fixing that car and all the associated cost involved. However, it nearly bankrupted me and was forced to junk it years later. I still miss that car in some ways because of the memories we all had when the family was complete.

gerv 

Yes, of course, as other mentioned and I forgot above... sorry to hear your Dad passed away. It's usually a hectic, difficult time...

Robert Foster

I never indicated you or many of the ones in car free enjoyed my list I was simply pointing out the hard road car free people have talking to the majority. If that isn't a concern to you that is fine as well. When speaking to a group of your friends and neighbors I am sure you have to feel you are in the minority. I was pointing out the reason for that and civing consideration to how Roody finds it so easy to use the vehicle simply because it is there. That is the reason many people use it for short trips they don't need to take. Because it is there. Cell phones can be just as addicting and the computer isn't far behind.

wahoonc

Roody,

Condolences to you and your sister from us.

It is very easy to take a car instead of a bike or walking. Get thee away from me Satan...

In Robert's List up there are plenty of things that we don't really need. I get into it with the clowns at work because they don't pre-plan properly anymore, it is too easy to pickup a cellphone and order a couple of cases of something the day before they need it, instead of looking at the long term schedule and having sent down in advance.

Aaron

folder fanatic

For your father passing: my sincere condolences in this very sad and difficult time in your family. As to your transportation status, I would keep the car for a while. Why? This car was your father's and it will ease your grief perhaps in a tiny way. In a more pragmatic sense, who says you cannot be one of us still? I know for a fact when I was too ill to ride any bike earlier this year, I drove a rental car everywhere. My faithful bikes stayed home. Later on, I did take one of them with me in the car as they are all folding ones. Did that sour me on being car free? Hell no! I missed my bikes and riding them. I just realize that I might not be able to ride them all the time like I like to due to circumstances beyond my control. I think that this thought is the key to being truly car free or light. It is choosing & using the best choice for you at a certain point in time to get around.

Roody

Thanks all for your condolences. This is very comforting, coming from my BF friends.

It has been a hard and hectic time. The car has been a help in one sense. The bus from Lansing to Traverse City takes only about an hour longer than driving, but it arrives in TC late in the evening, and departs in the morning. So it's like taking two days off the trip. That's no good when you have to make several short trips, as I did during my dad's illness and after his death. I ordinarily do enjoy the bus ride, however, and I've done it at least a hundred times. But if I hadn't had the car during the last month, my son or friends would have had to drive me a couple times.

The memorial service was Sunday. Dad was a Unitarian, so the service was long on memories and short on religion, which I like. There were slides (dad was a photographer) and lots of music: Steven Foster, John Lennon, and the whole congregation joined hands and sang "You Are My Sunshine" at the end, which he often sang to my sister and me when we were little.

Doohickie

Sounds like a beautiful service for a nice guy.

Rob_E

Possibly when things calm down, you will be less likely to use the car even if you have it. The fact that you have a long drive to make regularly will, no doubt, put you in to a car mindset, but that can change even if you don't get rid of the car. I know that even though I have a car, I seldom use it and seldom even think to use it, but taking a trip out of town where I have to drive everywhere can quickly put me back into "car mode." But once you stop needing the car regularly, you may find yourself getting back into your old groove. Once I started trying to be more reliant on my bike to get around, the car just sat longer and longer. Although now I have issues with having a car that sits under a tree and never gets taken anywhere.

Good luck to you.

Artkansas 

Sorry about your Dad.

Fasteryoufool

Oh man... I'm sorry to hear about your dad.

Don't worry about the car thing, I'm sure you'll work it out soon enough.

cooker

Sorry to hear about your Dad.

Newspaperguy

My condolences.

rnorris

I share the sentiments of many others here and offer you my condolences as well.

I don't know if this is your first parental death, but you're discovering one of its immediate consequences is the sheer volume of practical matters that need to be addressed. I'm car light rather that car free, but I know my rate of car trips at least tripled in the weeks following each death- picking up people at airport, funeral arrangements, trips to attorneys, etc.- so give yourself a lot of slack and use the car as you need to to handle this. It's an aberration in your lifestyle, not a permanent change, and things will calm down in time.

Everyone handles these passages differently. In the case of my siblings and I, it was handy to have our parents' cars around for a few weeks, but further along they just became reminders of their deaths and we were glad to have them gone. If it turns out the same for you, the car's attraction may fade in time.

Roody

That's pretty much the way it's been going for me too. My dad made things as simple as possible with a pre-paid funeral and a living will, but there are still many details to be handled and errands to be run. Legally, I don't think I can sell the car just yet, but we should have that taken care of soon. My goal is to have the car sold within a month.

You sure do spend time in some crappy places when you have a car. Like Speedways, where the aroma of rancid hot dogs mingles with the fresh gasoline splashed on your clean pants. Like car washes, where you suddenly learn that the driver's window doesn't seal tightly when you're sprayed in the face with "Bugoff" prewash super detergent.

Torrilin

Oh man Roody, I am so sorry to hear this. Not at all the kind I wanted to see after camp! I know you've been expecting this, but there is never a right time for a parent to die.