Farewell To Thee, My Noble Steed

We thought we could have them both.

For three years we've bathed them, fed them, and cared for them.  They've been part of the family.

But we feared that someday we couldn't afford them both.

We debated.  We discussed.  Must we choose?  Is there another way?  But in the end it was clear:  we had to pick one or the other.  Finally, grudgingly, we've made a choice.

We kept the kid.  We got rid of the car.

It wasn't an easy decision, mind you.  Both are expensive.  Both could break-down at any second.  Both, at one time or another, have been towed. 

But, at the end of the day, only one was a part of our lives every day.  And it wasn't the one with that cornered well or had ample storage space.

Besides, I've seen cars just like ours on the road.  I've never seen another Cheeky.

So yes, today I followed in the footsteps of so many New Yorkers unwilling to spend $350/month to park something they only use when their carless friends ask to borrow it.  We're turning it in, and living a auto-free life. 

It's a formality, really, since most of our driving involves loops of our neighborhood looking for spaces without hydrants.  But apple picking and the zoo just got a lot more complicated.

Cheeky better not get too cocky, though...we could change our minds.  I'm just not sure the return policy is quite so good...

Comments

[misfithausfrau]

Well, Cheeky is way cuter (I assume!). With Cheeky being older, it does get a little easier to go to places. Do you, by chance, have an Avis around the corner?

[always home and uncool]

cheeky will be carrying you soon enough.

[Kara]

Oh no! How will you venture north to the Boston suburbs? Zip car?

[sam {temptingmama}]

I can't even imagine being car-less. Though, I think my butt would thank me if I were.

I don't know that I could even make a decision between my car and my baby. LOL

[L.A. Daddy]

That's what part of me loves about the big city. Being able to have the option not to have a car would be nice. But the 'Burbs don't make it easy to do without.

Now... doing without the kid? That's still an option here.

[landismom]

I echo the zip car comment--I think you can still do those kinds of day trips pretty easily.

Good for you!!

[Matthew]

That is something I miss about living in NYC. I didn't own a car in the 6 years I lived there and never once thought I was missing out.

Now? I drive the kids to the park that's about a half mile from where we live.

(Please don't judge me.)

[whit]

That's awesome. I always thought if I lived in NYC I'd go carless. That's not really an option in L.A. with our week transit- unless you want to add 3 hours each way to every trip.