Jul 23
Transportation
The first thing I’d like to note is that one does not appreciate or miss one’s favorite mode of transportation until one is deprived of it.
Horse theives were universally vilified were they not?
Having been raised in the West and living almost all of my life more than 5 miles from civilized “services” I can tell you that my car is of not only a utilitarian necessity but also one of psychological necessity.
Were my husband and I careful, it would be much more than a month before we’d be hungry based on what is in our refrigerator and cupboard now. Of course, if electricity were to be cut off, we’d be hungry much sooner. So why is transportation so necessary?
We have 5 vehicles that are currently running and capable of getting us miles and miles away from our current location. However, we both have our favorites.
Neither of us wants to drive the ancient motor home far. (Actually it might not get us far… it’s utility is iffy except it is home to a very reliable generator.)
Nor do we want to make any long trips in the near ancient Mazda pickup. It’s handy for many things, but is used most often as a lock for the garage — if parked close enough, the garage door cannot be opened.
The 19 year old F150… well, we have a sentimental attachment to it, but not to its gas mileage or odometer reading. Really, after 450,000 miles doesn’t a vehicle deserve to be put out to pasture… so to speak?
Enter the two vehicles we drive every day. There’s my husband’s 1996 Chevrolet pickup and my 1998 Cadillac. The pickup is holding up very well, though I think it could do with some new shocks/struts… whatever. It bounces a lot, okay?
My dear 1998 Caddy, purchased used in 2003 with 90,000 miles has another 70,000 on it (that’s six years worth, so I’m not REALLY complaining.)
And now… finally, I get to the point of this post. My dear Caddy has been overheating (little by little… a degree here, 10 degrees there) and I have not felt truly confident in driving her for some time. Today, we had her radiator replaced.
And I am so happy! I no longer feel that I cannot set off for Arizona, South Carolina, Colorado, or Dallas at the drop of a hat.
What is amazing is the relief I feel knowing I can do that easily, comfortably in my car, at my whim, without imposition on anyone else do that.
I’ve never been without the capability of going anywhere I wanted to go. But… to go on my terms is worth a lot, if not quite priceless.
July 24th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
People would actually want to drive to Dallas? Who knew?
Wheels to move with — it’s really liberating, isn’t it? Odd how we get attached to mobility.
July 24th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
No, no, no!! Not drive in Dallas, drive TO Dallas. DFW and my son’s place, specifically. Neither are actually in Dallas, but what do us hicks care about preciseness?
I don’t really want to go anywhere most of the time. I like being at home (or wherever I currently am in most cases.) My car has sat for weeks without being driven. All you have to do is put it in the shop, and I want to GO somewhere right then.
July 24th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
So when are you going to be here?
July 25th, 2009 at 12:23 am
ha… you have no idea how often in the past few days I wish I could be there. So much fun, and the pool every evening and…
but, I can’t right now no matter how much I would like to.
July 25th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
“Cars confer upon us,” said P. J. O’Rourke, “the ultimate and most important of human freedoms. We can leave.“
July 25th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
I love P.J. O’Rourke… and that’s precisely why I want a mechanically viable vehicle in my driveway. I may not want to leave, but I really want to be able to.
July 28th, 2009 at 9:28 am
To show you how out of touch I am with the freedom you describe, Donna, a few years ago I was visiting my sister out on Long Island and she asked me to take the car and run up to the store. As I caught the keys I said, “Hmmm, better check something first.” And when I did my suspicions were correct. My license HAD expired, a good two and a half years ago!!! But, hey, since I’d been in New York I hadn’t had the need to drive, hadn’t thought about driving, and still don’t to this day have a reason to drive. So I didn’t then and still don’t have a license. Pretty pathetic, huh? Maybe one of these days I’ll get another one just for (God forbid) emergencies.
July 28th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
We have 2 cars (one in AZ and one here in IN) and of course the old motor home that we moved here in… I wish we had a newer, nicer car here to cart baby E around in.
July 30th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
scribbler: I can imagine that having a car in NYC would be more of a headache than not. I’ve never lived in a place with reliable or convenient transportation other than a car.
talina: newer and nicer is good, but reliable, safe, and cheap are better!