I've owned a car since before I got my drivers license at the age of 16. I was a motorhead in high school, and spent all my extra time and money working on my old Plymouth 'cuda. I bought and sold cars as a way of making extra money, and I worked in a garage part time while in college. I had always owned a car, sometimes 2 or 3 at the same time.

In my driveway 2 years ago, I had a 2005 Jeep Rubicon, a 2006 Pontiac GTO, and a 2001 Yamaha R1. I've always loved cars, but I've always loved cycling too. I put more miles on my Gios Compact Pro than I did on any of these vehicles.

Last year I had a change of heart about my career and my direction of life. I left my job, and took a new one with a different company in Japan. I sold my cars, furniture, and just about everything else, and moved to Japan. The only thing I made sure to bring was my old Gios.

So far, I have not regretted my decision. I enjoy my new job, the different culture, and pretty much everything else I have experienced here. I live in the countryside and am able to explore the mountains and coast on my Gios. My girlfriend lives in Tokyo, and I keep an old Vivalo Keirin track bike at her apartment to get around in the city during my weekly visits.

I never would have thought that I could get used to life without a car, but here I've found that cars are not a necessity. In many ways, they are an inconvenience. They are not expensive to purchase, but between parking, gas, a multitude of taxes and inspection fees, not to mention insurance, it's hard to see any benefit.

The public transportation system here in Japan is probably the best in the world, and it's easy enough to find a train, bus, or subway that will take you anywhere you need to go. A bike will take you anywhere else.

Good stuff Sangetsu! Thanks for the story. More and more people, day by day...

Awesome; now bring that mindset back to the States =)

Lovin' it, Sang....

But I can't follow in your footsteps; I did lose the car, but I've been an avid reader since I first learned how, so my books stay. I like an eclectic assortment of movies, as well as my Lance-era TDF vids, so the DVDs have to stay. With the digital broadcast changeover coming next year, I might as well just wear out the 7-year-old TV. Oh, yeah -- I bought a house a month before the TV, and I really hate moving (so does my sister's family that lives with me!), so I think I'll keep the house, too.

I wanted to see Japan when I was in the service; best opportunity, but it didn't work that way. Kudos to you for taking the leap and making it work!

I'm not a car fan, but it is a necessary evil of my job. Trying to change that, but it is hard changing the mindsets of my clients.

-D