nanter

So I finally got rid of the car! The guy who bought it from me had a pre-purchase inspection done at the mechanic, and the woman there said, "I don't know why you are selling it!" To which I replied, "I'm going to have no car at all!" With a look of shock, she replied, "What?? Why would you do that?"

So after I concluded the transaction, we exchanged a few texts (he was not on the road at this point!) and I asked him how the maiden voyage went. He said, "LIBERATING!" It's funny, because I feel exactly the same, having gotten rid of it!

We shall see if I end up having to use my Dad's car for getting to certain rotations next year, but I have a really good chance of being able to keep this permanent until I can make it to New York for residency in a couple of years. My sister is car-free in Manhattan, but being car-free in Richmond is a bit trickier. My girlfriend isn't sure I can pull it off, but I am looking forward to proving her wrong!

gerv 

Congratulations. Sounds like you are ready for the adventure.

nanter

Thanks! I was already pretty car-lite, only using the car to go to Trader Joe's and an occasional big box store, so I think you're right.

Dahon.Steve

You're going to have your redency in New York City? You would be crazy to have a car in that case. Unless you can afford to pay rent for a parking spot, there is no way you leave a car on the streets of Manhattan.

On another topic. I too felt liberating when the car went to the junkers! I got nothing for my car because it was beaten to death. However, it wasn't until about three years later when I discovered human powered machines. (bicycles)

I think the motorist feels liberated only because they don't make use of bicycles and make no use of bus and train schedules forcing them to waste time waiting for public transit to arrive.

nanter

Yeah, I wasn't going to try to have a car in New York. That's why I'm hoping to hold out for the next two years not having a car, but it may become necessary, depending on where I have to rotate.

The guy who bought the car from me actually showed up to look at it on a bicycle. But I guess he feels liberated because of the woefully inadequate transit system here and since he's probably not quite ready to ride a bike through all seasons/weather.

DX-MAN

6 years now, car-free; almost in the same breath as "I don't know how you do it!", I started to hear, "You're pretty smart, what with the gas prices!" when gas hit $2/gal. Now, once again, they're talking about $4/gal. with the Gulf accident, and I expect to hear that again.

From everyone except my bro-in-law, who's been on me for a couple years now to 'man up, grow up, and buy a car'. He doesn't have a clue.

Smallwheels

Why don't you tell him that he's looking at a real man who for six years has used his own physical strength to get around instead of counting on a two ton machine to CARRY him around.

If you want to add in another jibe then ask him how manly he feels knowing that there are plenty of women who use only their physical strength to get around by bicycle.