Thank you all for your comments, this has been very enlightening, and I look forward the continued conversation. Would it be a safe thing to say that part of someone's ability to be bike free would largely depend on where they live? Also, would you say that there are some points in life where it is very difficult to be car free, and other stages of life that it is much easier?
By the way, rockmom, the fact that you and your husband are able to raise a family being bike free in the US in this day and age is fantastic! We are such a car-focused society, many would say you are doing the impossible. That being said, are your families accepting of your "car-less-ness", or do you wind up catching grief for it every once-in-a-while?
Again, thank you to everyone who has and will be commenting.
D