I'm in the midst of craptastic contract negotiations today on my side job. I hate haggling over money, but the cost of living has increased. I asked for 15 percent and was offered 7.5 percent, but only if I accept paypal payments. Paypal takes about 3 percent, so accepting means I get 1/3 of what I wanted. Refusing means maybe walking. We'll see.
Well, I'm glad that today's the day we brought the car to Kevin's shop. He's fixing some scratches and chips in the paint so that we can sell it. It's a really nice car, we know. It would last us forever, but if we had $13,000 sitting around, we wouldn't spend all of it on this car. So that's why we're doing it. Also, both houses 1114 (my mom's) and 1746 (ours) need work - furnaces, floor sanding and maybe a roof. You can do the math. We could buy an older car and have capitol to get a lot done. My work still does not require a vehicle and I don't expect that it will.
Countercultural aspects of car withdrawl
I have felt a good deal of popular resistance to the possibility of us going carless. Some folks hate the idea even though 1) we're just considering a carless life, though we'd like to do so pretty much for sure one day and 2) we're not asking anyone else to do the same thing. I have encountered some shock and even a little hostility at the mention. a - d - d - i - c - t - i - o - n.
related anecdote
During the '04 elections I was running a bit one night with Justin Jeffre (of boyband 98 degrees fame) and some woman was way into him and he wasn't so into her. She asked excitedly if he and I watched the Daily Show together and I told her, "I don't have a tv. I got rid of it years ago."
"What?!"
"I got rid of it. I don't watch television."
She shrieked, "Oh my god!" She turned on a tack and was gone.
- Steve
1 comment:
While I wholeheartedly admit fear at how quickly my addiction to a car re-manifested itself when I bought back into the mainstream in 2003, I lived effectively and cheaply without one in this city (and a year in Durham, NC) from 1996-2003. You're right that shock and disdain are the first reactions from most, especially when they find out you have a small child. I do, however, applaud you and Becky for living out your convictions. We may not always agree on things, Steve; but, I can ALWAYS count on the two of you to be firm and clear in being the people you both say you want to be! Thanks for being around to challenge all of us in the best possible way, that of (healthy) family.
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