It snowed a bit last night. So much so that we were hoping for a school snow day. This morning it was time to shovel out the driveway and front walk. This summer we were given an old snow blower from G's brother. I told G this morning that I would rather shovel than blow. I got rid our gas lawn mower for an push mower this summer, why would I start using a snow blower after 9 years of shoveling? Not to mention, you reek of exhaust after using one of those things.
So I shoveled and G blew snow with the fumey blower. We both smelled like fumes and G decided the blower was a pain in the ass and put it at the curb where it was briskly snatched up and taken away.
I saw two different neighbors walk by as we blew/shoveled snow and I wondered if they were thinking: Aren't those folks the eat local people? Why the hell are they using a snow blower?
Clearly, I've got insecurity issues! :)
That thought came from a conversation I had with my midwifery partner just yesterday. We were talking about how she was judged for having 3 cars by a well-intentioned friend who couldn't believe two adults w/o kids would have 3 vehicles. Two of them are older, but gets-you-where-you-need-to-go cars, and one of them is so un-road worthy, that they use it as farm equipment-- essentially using it to haul heavy stuff all over their rural property when needed.
We live in the city and have 3 cars. We've had 3 cars for at least the last 5 years, if not longer. I would LOVE it if we didn't need to depend on cars so much. But G's job is 30 minutes away via car. He could bike to work, but the roads to work have no shoulder for cars, let alone bikes. And yes I know, Share The Roads and all that biz, but honestly, the thought of him biking at 4am on a 50mph road that generally has a lot of gravel trucks and pick ups flying down it, with NO shoulder, makes me incredibly nervous.
As for me, well I am on call. Some of our clients live 60-70 miles away. I can't be out on a bus somewhere when a client suddenly needs me. Not to mention, I've got two big luggage pieces and an oxygen tank to haul around. I've been trying to figure out how to safely carry birth gear on my motorcycle for years, but I just can't wrap my head around it!
So why 3 cars? We call it our "Fleet". All 3 cars are 20+ years old and they run fab most of the time. However, it's not uncommon to have only 2 of the 3 running at any one time. I keep hearing arguments about what's cheaper in the long-run: getting a new Hybrid for $28,000 or taking care of the old car you have. (One Volvo has 300K miles, the other 150K and we have a VW Rabbit that's older than Adam and gets 28 mpg.)
So yes, 3 cars for both of us. Believe me, if you need your midwife to come right away, you want her to have a car handy!
4 comments:
If it makes you feel any better, I don’t judge you. In fact, I’m always paranoid about how you’ll judge me as I mow the lawn with my gas powered mower, trim with my gas powered trimmer, and edge with my gas powered edger. I do shovel by hand, but I’ll tell you, I do covet a snow blower, especially with the weather forecast for tomorrow. And also, there’s the matter of my ‘fleet’ of two cars for one guy. I’m fairly certain that my carbon footprint is much, much larger than that of your whole tribe. Ugh....
I do try to be a better person, and your example is inspiring. It is. But my reality is that I’ve got limited time, and all that you do takes a real commitment of time. Or, that could just be a cop-out and the truth could be closer to the fact that I’m just lazy… Again, ugh…
But it’s thinking like this that can drive a person insane, so I try not to think about it. You shouldn’t be so hard on yourself, and instead concentrate on wheat production! Mother Gaia could use more people like you, and fewer people like me. Thank you for being a good person.
Yours,
Inadvertently Evil Neighbor
We would never judge you, neighbor! Just the opposite, we're thankful we have such a cool, laid back neighbor(s)who doesn't mind screechy children in the summertime and a back yard full of garden patches.
I doubt your carbon footprint is all that big. Your two cars are there more often than you!
As for wheat production...your yard DOES get better sun than ours. Fiefdom, anyone? :)
We have 3 cars for 2 drivers as well. We have 1 from the 80's and 2 from the 90's. I drive the neon most days, the Monster Truck for my art/craft shows and now that the weather is crap, for safety purposes.
We are also a little over a year away from having a third driver, Yikes!
My husband and I have an SUV. It's horribly embarrassing. It was a hand-me-down. But mostly it stays parked at home while I walk to work and my husband bicycles (2 miles, on 30 MPH roads, at rush hour when traffic can't move even that fast). Owning cars and driving cars are not the same. Disposing of a car generates a lot of toxic garbage, as does manufacturing a new one, not matter how fuel efficient it will later be. You're doing the right thing. Hang in there!
Post a Comment