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Thinking About Hoofin it. - 12/8/2008 6:40:15 AM   
Christinestill


Posts: 1199
Joined: 12/4/2008
Status: offline 		as many of you know, i'm moving to a new town with pretty much just the clothes on my back and what i can pack into 2 suitcases.  i've got a job and will be staying in a room that is too far to walk to work.  i'm thinking i want to find a place close enough to work to walk, and save my pennies for a few months so i can have my savings built back up and have a good down payment on a new car. 

my question is, for those who have chosen to be carless for months at a time, what are the pros and cons as you see them?  what suggestions would you have for someone who's never been without one?

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RE: Thinking About Hoofin it. - 12/8/2008 6:41:43 AM   
subm2use


Posts: 2
Joined: 10/2/2008
Status: offline 		hey hang in there i was you only a year ago

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RE: Thinking About Hoofin it. - 12/8/2008 6:44:41 AM   
DesFIP


Posts: 25191
Joined: 11/25/2007
From: Apple County NY
Status: offline 		You might want a bicycle to begin with. Great exercise and you could live a little farther from work.
The down side of course is shopping. Carrying home more than a loaf of bread if you live two miles from the store gets tiring. And walking in bad weather is no fun. Pennsylvania in winter is like here in New York. It's all bad weather, either sleet or bitter cold. Today it was a balmy 13 degrees when I got up. Wednesday 50 and rain.

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RE: Thinking About Hoofin it. - 12/8/2008 6:52:08 AM   
LumusandtheLady


Posts: 1926
Joined: 11/1/2008
Status: offline 		Well, jeez, Christine, if ya wanted to talk with me, why not just cmail me?  

You've literally described what I did when I came out to Lumus this year. I went from always having had a car to not having one. The biggest cons are not being able to get around when we need to, i.e. "oh, I need to run this errand NOW, oh wait, I can't, no way to get there" unless you plan it out in advance and make transportation arrangements like a taxi or a friend. Shopping gets interesting because you can't just throw everything in the car and drive home when you're ready to go. Costs involve alternative transportation like cabs or buses though you no longer have insurance, gas and repair costs after the initial cost of the vehicle.

Pros (yes there are some!) involve fitness, money and not needing to worry about parking if you're in an apartment complex. I'm in better shape now from walking everywhere. I've seen things that I would have missed if I'd been driving, I've gotten to know the close local area nicely and quickly and enjoyed the local weather. I've saved money by not having to buy gas when it was really expensive and I didn't have to worry about insurance or other upkeep costs of a vehicle while settling in to the area.

That being said, a car is on our list of big ticket items, in fact it's #2. It's going to be a few months though the way things are going lately. So if you can get close enough to do without one and are close to stores and work, I'd say go for it!

Rain


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RE: Thinking About Hoofin it. - 12/8/2008 7:37:58 AM   
LadyHibiscus


Posts: 27124
Joined: 8/15/2005
From: Island Of Misfit Toys
Status: offline 		My first recommendation:  get a granny cart.  You know, those metal mesh boxes with the wheels, that grannies used to drag behind them?  LOVE mine, it really saved me when I was carless and needed to shop.  The bike is also genius, because walking is good, but bikes are FASTER.

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RE: Thinking About Hoofin it. - 12/8/2008 7:44:15 AM   
VirginPotty


Posts: 11624
Joined: 7/16/2008
From: Virginville
Status: offline 		ROLLER SKATES (or rollerblades)!
Talk about a GREAT exercise & what fun..........if you don't fall :))


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RE: Thinking About Hoofin it. - 12/8/2008 7:44:29 AM   
MadAxeman


Posts: 4171
Joined: 8/28/2008
From: UK
Status: offline 		You'll be fitter, learn about and become known in your new area quicker and be less prone to impulse buying. All big gainers.
Good luck with your new life chapter Christine.

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RE: Thinking About Hoofin it. - 12/8/2008 7:46:16 AM   
jlf1961


Posts: 14840
Joined: 6/10/2008
From: Somewhere Texas
Status: offline 		When I was living in keywest, I went carless for the entire time I lived there.

Parking was at a minimum, so a bike was the best idea... besides you could get a bike into a tender and out to a boat where you be sleeping.


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RE: Thinking About Hoofin it. - 12/8/2008 7:48:39 AM   
Christinestill


Posts: 1199
Joined: 12/4/2008
Status: offline 		thanks for the suggestions so far, they give me new ideas i hadn't thought of.  (wish i could rollerblade, unfortunately my skating skills match those of my dancing.) 

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yes i'm pro-gun, i'm not about to sit around with a fucking rolling pin and hope for the best.


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RE: Thinking About Hoofin it. - 12/8/2008 7:51:08 AM   
Lynnxz


Posts: 4813
Joined: 10/3/2006
From: Atlanta
Status: offline 		Bikes are always a good idea, I tried rollerblading while I was carless, but quickly discovered I suck at stopping, plus, if you run out of sidewalk, you are screwed.

Get a bike with one of those big baskets of the front! :D


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RE: Thinking About Hoofin it. - 12/8/2008 8:24:37 AM   
VirginPotty


Posts: 11624
Joined: 7/16/2008
From: Virginville
Status: offline 		Banana seat too, Lynx??

< Message edited by VirginPotty -- 12/8/2008 8:25:02 AM >

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RE: Thinking About Hoofin it. - 12/8/2008 8:31:39 AM   
Lynnxz


Posts: 4813
Joined: 10/3/2006
From: Atlanta
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: VirginPotty

Banana seat too, Lynx??


Lmao, sure, it'll complete the look.

Banana seats are butt-pinchy though. :(


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RE: Thinking About Hoofin it. - 12/8/2008 8:44:01 AM   
VirginPotty


Posts: 11624
Joined: 7/16/2008
From: Virginville
Status: offline 		Playing cards added to the wheels so people can HEAR Christine pumpin' those pedals from blocks away! Oh and a Fog Horn too! Little mirrors added sticking out the side of the handle bars should complete the look.

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RE: Thinking About Hoofin it. - 12/8/2008 8:46:16 AM   
igor2003


Posts: 1718
Joined: 1/1/2004
Status: offline 		Have you looked at all into whether there might be someone you can car pool with at the new place of employment? 

Bikes and skates are good as long as there isn't ice on the ground.  I can't roller blade because of the bone structure in my feet, but I do great with the "old fashioned" 4 wheel skates with a toe stop.

What about finding a small gas scooter?  Low cost, great mileage, get saddlebags for shopping, and the ability to go those extra distances when you have to.

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RE: Thinking About Hoofin it. - 12/8/2008 9:02:40 AM   
Lynnxz


Posts: 4813
Joined: 10/3/2006
From: Atlanta
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: VirginPotty

Playing cards added to the wheels so people can HEAR Christine pumpin' those pedals from blocks away! Oh and a Fog Horn too! Little mirrors added sticking out the side of the handle bars should complete the look.


Don't forget the little streamers from the handlebars XD


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RE: Thinking About Hoofin it. - 12/8/2008 9:08:40 AM   
MadAxeman


Posts: 4171
Joined: 8/28/2008
From: UK
Status: offline 		You lot won't be happy until she is on a pogostick, topless.
Image incoming....

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RE: Thinking About Hoofin it. - 12/8/2008 9:09:43 AM   
LinnaeaBorealis


Posts: 8595
Joined: 10/5/2008
From: Insanity & beyond
Status: offline 		I was always a car person.  After I moved to San Francisco, I decided to sell my car because I was tired of making the payments for something that I only used twice a week, to move it out of the street sweepers' way.  I utilized the transit system & my two feet.  I've always loved walking.  At one point, I was averaging 5 miles per day, which was the round-trip to work & back.  I grocery shopped nearly every day because that way I didn't have to carry a lot.  I found stores with live butchers so that I could get just a meal's worth of meat. They used to give me a hard time when I would buy 1/3 lb of hamburger & 2 strips of bacon.  LOL  Daily shopping spoiled me, though.  Everything I ate was always fresh!!

I was always in shape when I walked everywhere.  I never had to worry about my weight.  Like others have said, you get to know your local area & the merchants & neighbors a lot quicker when you're not wearing a vehicle.  I would be carless now if I lived somewhere that I could walk to things or had public transportation, but I'm in the 'burbs & that's non-existant.  And the savings are incredible when you don't have to make a car payment & all the other stuff that goes with owning a car.  I did enjoy the extra $$ every paycheck!

I say try it for awhile, give it a good shot.  What do you have to lose?  If it doesn't work, you can always change your mind.

Linea, who misses walking long distances every day

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RE: Thinking About Hoofin it. - 12/8/2008 10:21:01 AM   
LadyHibiscus


Posts: 27124
Joined: 8/15/2005
From: Island Of Misfit Toys
Status: offline 		Ask Bearalicious for his Rollerblade Saga...

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RE: Thinking About Hoofin it. - 12/8/2008 12:04:43 PM   
cjan


Posts: 3513
Joined: 2/21/2008
Status: offline 		Christine, I lived for many years in Chicago without owning a car. I also live in Key West for years without wheels. Two entirely different towns and circumstances. Chicago has good public transportation that is an adventure in itself. In Key West, one doesn't need a car, hoofin' or a bike will do nicely.

Depending on where you will be living, a car may not be a necessity. Try it, especially under the circumstances, you may wind up loving not having the expense and hassle of owning a car.

Also,as others have said, walking is great exercise and a wonderful way to get to know and enjoy a place.


< Message edited by cjan -- 12/8/2008 12:06:11 PM >

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RE: Thinking About Hoofin it. - 12/8/2008 12:39:31 PM   
LadyHibiscus


Posts: 27124
Joined: 8/15/2005
From: Island Of Misfit Toys
Status: offline 		Oh, I forgot about the winter GEAR.  But it gets cold where you are in Utah, right?  You will need waterproof/windproof stuff, good boots, and good gloves! 

God, I hate winter!!!  lol

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