We did it.
Eight months ago I proposed a few radical life changes to my husband. Cut the cable and get rid of the car. The initial response was, not likely but I will think about it. Three months later, once the Canucks were out of the playoffs, we cut the cable. And a few months after that he said he was ready to get rid of the car.
Life change, even for the better, is stressful. We procrastinated over getting the car cleaned up and listed for four months. For a while I was in a Mexican stand off with Chris over who would actually do the dirty work. Last Tuesday I emptied the car out and took it to an auto detailer. Chris picked up the car the next morning and we listed it Wednesday afternoon. We had an offer and a deposit that night.
For Chris this will be the first time since becoming a licensed driver that he has been without a car. He’s handling the change well but I won’t say we aren’t having minor moments of panic. Our lizard brains are babbling away at us that this is a mistake and what about all the life emergencies that require a car.
I keep saying there are options. Anything dire requires an ambulance. Otherwise there are taxis. We are ZipCar members and there are many lots nearby including one kitty corner to our building. For longer trips Budget and Avis are a few blocks away. Don’t forget public transport: Skytrain lines are a few blocks in either direction. But we mostly walk places. Our car was only seeing action once a week.
Feedback from family and friends ranges from ‘well done’ to a litany of what-ifs and disaster scenarios.
Just like with the cable cutting I make no claim that this is forever. Things could change. For the moment, though, neither of us commute and we live in walking distance to all necessities and wants. Most often we’ll be renting or zipping a car to visit family that lives farther afield. We are determined to keep the visits up but may ask people to meet us near a Skytrain stop once in a while.
The math of it should give us a decent transportation budget. Our insurance was $145/month and I would estimate gas and maintenance would average $100. We maybe used one tank of gas a month. We should also have some income from renting our parking stall. This is a conservative estimate on savings. I could add more to this budget: we received $2200 for the car sale and I am sure we would have needed to buy a new (at least new to us) vehicle in the next five years. I’ll be tracking the financial side of it and writing some progress reports via this blog.
Change is scary and exciting and invigorating. I am constantly reminded that I would not be able to make these changes if I didn’t have such a supportive and open minded spouse. A lot of friends ask how Chris is taking this whole less is more lifestyle change. I think he is doing very well with it despite the casualties. I knew when I married him that he was open for adventure and change. While we are saving for the future, we’re not counting down the days to the weekend or retirement. We’re not waiting to enjoy life once X happens or once we have enough money for a bigger home or a better car or more vacations. Of his many amazing attributes, my husband’s ability to live in the present and enjoy each day is one of his best. I think it is the one that has rubbed off on me the most in our three years of marriage.
If you want to know more about going car-free check out Tammy Strobel from RowdyKittens’ Simply Car-free.
Anyone out there car-free or considering it? Is it possible for you but you’re too scared to pull the trigger? Tell me more in the comments.
Hi there! My husband and I have been car free for about 3 years and love it! However, we are now starting to family-plan. I’d love to get more insight into having baby without a car. THANKS! 🙂
Hi Marge, We have been car-free on and off since our first son was born 7 years ago. Probably the biggest thing that has worked for us is creating a life around a small dense area and finding activities and services that are easily accessible by transit. We walk most places with our kids: school, library, play ground, grocery store (though mostly get groceries delivered). Our doctor is a quick bus ride or 20 minute walk away. We use a car share service for day trips when needed. Good luck! Rachel
Hello! ive been living a type of minimalist lifestyle for a few years now. Im on my 2 round of not having a car and i really do love it. Yes there is a but, i working on having a kid. I live in St pete florida, while bikes are considered in the downtown areas with s lanes and what not it def gets harder further out. Also i wander about the legality of having an infant on a bike. Do you know of any sets? Any advice about during or after? Any type of info would be help of things i should think about if i want to con’t this lifestyle and have a kid. thank you.
Wow, I would so love to be car free. Unfortunately where we live it just isn’t a possibility. We will just have to settle for using it as little as possible. I can actually see a two car future for us. Can you believe that. In any case you guys rock. Keep up the good work.
That is fantastic!
I practically live out of my car though (it’s my moving vehicle from city-to-city), but if I was in one spot, such as in Toronto, I’d give up my car the same way I have for a while back. I mean, the transportation is not AMAZING but it’s pretty damn good.