Once you get into the groove with the ZipCar thing, it will feel more seamless, I bet.
Cars have never been anything but a source of anxiety for me, between breakdowns and towing and accidents and parking and being sideswiped and...argh. Although we still have Tom's car, I hardly ever drive it and I am pleased that we live somewhere where not having a car at all wouldn't hinder us too much.
I'll admit, I'm a little jealous of all this talk of car-giving-up.
I have no car. I have never had a car. I feel no particular wish to ever have a car. (Although I can drive.) I like public transport - you can read on it. Also, more environmentally friendly. Fear not, vw, all will be well.
I've never regretted giving up my car, not for a moment. I'm sure that you'll see it as a huge burden lifted from you.
This is me, 10.5 years into the not car having after growing up in the car culture of CA. In DC, having a car is so far down the list of 'nice to haves' that I don't even think about it. Of course, I'm insanely blessed with generous friends who lend me theirs when I need one.
And now that peapod will deliver my groceries (and schlep them up my stairs) for less than it would cost to use a zipcar, (including tip!) life is mighty fine.
I adore having a zip car membership -- and I don't even use it that often.
WoooHoooo! Just got the e-mail that says my zipcar membership was approved. Now I can reserve a car for New Years. Wheeeee!
This morning I found out that my mom was in a car accident. She was on her way to a physical therapy appointment (a month or so ago she slipped in the bathroom and landed in the splits, shredding tendons and such) when she was broadsided in an intersection. Her back was injured but we don't know how badly yet. Oh, and her new car has at least $10,000 of damage. I don't know yet whether the driver that hit her had insurance. My poor mom. She's been in a lot of physical pain lately (and she already has fibromyalgia so she always has some pain). I wish I'd been more successful financially because I feel like I'm not much of a resource for her other than emotional support. Anyway, she believes in the power of prayer so if any of y'all Buffistas can spare a good thought, I'm sure she'd appreciate it.
That's great news, vw. I'm glad you live somewhere that has carsharing.
OMG Spidra. much ~ma to your mother. That is awful. (total understatement)
I don't even have a liscence. I know how to ride a horse Western and English styles. I know how to drive a herd of zebra. I know how to bobsled, despite the fact that the majority of my formative years have been spent in South Florida. I also have the benifits of knowing how to ride a tricycle, bicycle, and unicycle. There's also buses, metro rails, the underground, trains, and horse drawn carts that I know how to use to get around. I plan to learn how to drive a dog team. I really haven't the space or the car to learn about cars. Cars don't lick you when you've had a trying day, and I will say nothing else about transportation least the travel Gods make me miss the No. 3 Northbound again.