Planning something radical when I move
Jan. 3rd, 2018 12:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenayI'm planning to be car-less when I move.
I know. I've owned a car of some form for over twenty years. It'll be a strange new existence for me. But I've mainly owned a car out of necessity. When I lived in England before, it was the only way to get to the places I worked. I could do some errands on the bus, but if I wanted to earn a living, I had to have a car. Living in Canada, there hasn't been an option. Nothing is within walking distance. The bus doesn't take me anywhere I need to go. A car is essential for everything from work to acquiring food to getting my post.
After I move, I'm about 99% confident I'll be working in London. That means I'll be doing the daily train/Tube commute with a season ticket. I'll be making damn sure I live within easy distance of the train station for that.
Why add the expense of a car to my season ticket?
If I'm living within reasonable distance of the train station, I'll also have good access to buses that can take me most of the places I need to go. I've factored a local bus season ticket into my budget. I can get my groceries delivered, so a car isn't needed for that. I will make sure I live within walking distance of somewhere to buy the bare essentials like milk and fresh veg, to top up between grocery deliveries when necessary. I'll be a bus ride away from my parents, a bus/train/Tube from my sister and most of my friends. Owning a car should (hopefully) be totally unnecessary.
Mum plans to put me on her car insurance. I suspect that's mostly so I can drive her places sometimes when her eyes aren't doing well, but it will mean there's a car I can borrow if I absolutely need one.
I've never liked owning a car. I'm not a big fan of driving and I've become less happy about driving as the years go by. Cars always need expensive repairs when you can least afford them and they're environmentally awful unless you can afford an electric one. If I can do the car-free thing, it'll be one source of stress removed from my life and I'll feel a bit greener.
So there we go. One of my radical post-move plans. For the first time in over twenty years, I won't own a car.
I know. I've owned a car of some form for over twenty years. It'll be a strange new existence for me. But I've mainly owned a car out of necessity. When I lived in England before, it was the only way to get to the places I worked. I could do some errands on the bus, but if I wanted to earn a living, I had to have a car. Living in Canada, there hasn't been an option. Nothing is within walking distance. The bus doesn't take me anywhere I need to go. A car is essential for everything from work to acquiring food to getting my post.
After I move, I'm about 99% confident I'll be working in London. That means I'll be doing the daily train/Tube commute with a season ticket. I'll be making damn sure I live within easy distance of the train station for that.
Why add the expense of a car to my season ticket?
If I'm living within reasonable distance of the train station, I'll also have good access to buses that can take me most of the places I need to go. I've factored a local bus season ticket into my budget. I can get my groceries delivered, so a car isn't needed for that. I will make sure I live within walking distance of somewhere to buy the bare essentials like milk and fresh veg, to top up between grocery deliveries when necessary. I'll be a bus ride away from my parents, a bus/train/Tube from my sister and most of my friends. Owning a car should (hopefully) be totally unnecessary.
Mum plans to put me on her car insurance. I suspect that's mostly so I can drive her places sometimes when her eyes aren't doing well, but it will mean there's a car I can borrow if I absolutely need one.
I've never liked owning a car. I'm not a big fan of driving and I've become less happy about driving as the years go by. Cars always need expensive repairs when you can least afford them and they're environmentally awful unless you can afford an electric one. If I can do the car-free thing, it'll be one source of stress removed from my life and I'll feel a bit greener.
So there we go. One of my radical post-move plans. For the first time in over twenty years, I won't own a car.
