Frustrated with myself because i still don't drive and trying to find a way to work when my ride goes on her week long vacation next month.
Kind of feel like others see those who need rides and find something valid in their reasoning for not driving, yet when it comes to me, they feel there should be no excuse. i just get told the same damn things, "you need to" "just go do it" "stop relying on others" "think of the freedom you'll have"....
if it was so easy i would have done it by now. If it wasn't so difficult for me to get out of my head and those memories, i would have done it by now. Of course i want that freedom. But that freedom also carried a terrifying weight with my depression. Maybe it's just an excuse for myself? My reasonings feel justifiable even if others don't understand them.
i just feel disappointed in myself.
Sorry you feel this way! I have managed to avoid learning to drive at all into my 50s and will regard it as an achievement if I never do. The amount of people I know who've had cars stolen/break down/constant problems, makes me glad not to have that burden. I always hear people talking about the cost, and when I see people stuck in traffic and I get off the bus to walk, I feel relieved I'm not stuck in this lump of metal! As for finding a place to park in the middle of a confusing one way system....or the hassle if you bump into someone else's vehicle.... It would feel more of a weight than a freedom to me! Of course there are downsides like the crazy people on public transport - and of course worse if there is no public transport. Do what's right for you!
I read these with great interest. I am convinced that one way to help people be healthier and spend less is to have good public transit. My friend who stayed in Europe for months said that many cities have such good transit that you wait for no more than 5 minutes at a bus stop. In addition many cities are designed to be walkable. I've lived in a few places where everything is within easy walking distance and it is blissful.
For most of my life I lived in a city with decent public transit (not good, but decent). I've only owned a car for 3 years out of the last 30, and belonged to a car co-op (where you book one as needed, but you pay) for 20 years along with taking buses.
Also I worked for years in car insurance claims talking to people who'd had accidents. Very stressful even if nobody gets hurt.
The bottom line is that excellent public transit + walkability is far superior to driving. However, most places don't have excellent public transit.
In my current city, which is the only place we could afford to buy a place with no mortgage (since my husband can no longer work and my income is less), we will need to buy a car.