Comments on: Musing About The Car

By: Daniel M. Perez

Daniel M. Perez — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:09:36 +0000

@Janie Coffey Yep, we're definitely in the same place, then. Just waiting for them to go kaboom.

By: Janie Coffey

Janie Coffey — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 10:31:38 +0000

My car is right there to. A 01 Ford Expedition (which I loved) is close to 200K miles. It has served me well for all these years, but I know her days are numbered….I haven’t needed a “big” car in years, but it is paid for, runs well and does the job. When she goes, at least I know I have fully gotten every ounce out of her (at least for a non-mechanical type person)… but yes, the day is coming….
.-= Janie Coffey´s last blog… The Miami Story is Coming – We need your Stories about Miami! =-.

By: Daniel M. Perez

Daniel M. Perez — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:34:01 +0000

@JJ
To me, my car is not a status symbol, but as much as I want to downplay it, it does exert a powerful psychological pull on me, yes. Which is why this forced estrangement has been good; it’s weaning me off. If I was younger and alone, I’d have tossed it away already, but I don’t have that energy and impetus anymore. Or rather, I know to think things a bit better now.

By: JJ

JJ — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:34:26 +0000

Clearly it does make it easier to let go of your car as it wears down, but I understand the difficulty of letting go. It is giving up a very powerful form of freedom. You get a lot of the same freedom from cycling, but the elements and time may work against you. Cars have a very powerful psychological componant to them. If the didn’t, they’d all look and function exactly the same. Giving up your car is a lot like giving up a part of yourself. Still, I envy you being in a postion to have a choice and make a change.