Giving Up Driving & Car (relocate, family, best, cities)

[GeoffD]

I'm 59. I'm hopeful that by the time I'm too old to drive, I'll be able to afford my own self-driving car. It may be moot by then and self-driving taxi service will be everywhere so there's no point in owning a car because the service is cheaper and easier.

That's just one piece of technology that will hopefully help me to age in place and keep me out of assisted living.

[thinkalot]

Originally Posted by jaminhealth

Oh those boys and their toys. Then there is Jay Leno...well he's got millions to support others who care for all his toys. Too bad he doesn't house some of the poor vs cars...

Leno and his wife are well known for their charity. He is providing jobs to the people that take care of his cars.

[Sand&Salt]

It doesn't feel like the loss of autonomy that I anticipated. It really a huge weight off, like another poster said. We used to love road trips, but kind of "been there, done that" feeling about it now. Plus we both were not comfortable driving at night anymore. Sold the Toyota Rav4 that we loved for 10 years, used the $$ for moving our stuff down here.


We retired to an area with excellent public transpo, very cheap. Not a single regret about cars!

[marino760]

Originally Posted by Sand&Salt

It doesn't feel like the loss of autonomy that I anticipated. It really a huge weight off, like another poster said. We used to love road trips, but kind of "been there, done that" feeling about it now. Plus we both were not comfortable driving at night anymore. Sold the Toyota Rav4 that we loved for 10 years, used the $$ for moving our stuff down here.


We retired to an area with excellent public transpo, very cheap. Not a single regret about cars!

That's good to hear. That's kind of become my plan too. The more I think about it, the more it seems having a car when I really don't need one becomes more like an albatross around my neck. My main reason for having a car is to get to work. Once retired that will be gone.

[M3 Mitch]

Originally Posted by marino760

That's good to hear. That's kind of become my plan too. The more I think about it, the more it seems having a car when I really don't need one becomes more like an albatross around my neck. My main reason for having a car is to get to work. Once retired that will be gone.

Damn, that's sad. You need a better car - how about a vintage Corvette? Or an E30 M3 like I have?

There are all sorts of fun cars you can own, and drive, and enjoy, not just as an appliance - although, yeah, you can drive them to the doctor or to get groceries too - get the right deal on the right car, and it will always be worth at least what you paid for it, maybe more.

It helps if you have at least 2 cars, a garage, and can do all your own routine maintenance, and it helps to not live in rust country, nor in Cali.

[charlygal]

Originally Posted by M3 Mitch

Damn, that's sad. You need a better car - how about a vintage Corvette? Or an E30 M3 like I have?

There are all sorts of fun cars you can own, and drive, and enjoy, not just as an appliance - although, yeah, you can drive them to the doctor or to get groceries too - get the right deal on the right car, and it will always be worth at least what you paid for it, maybe more.

It helps if you have at least 2 cars, a garage, and can do all your own routine maintenance, and it helps to not live in rust country, nor in Cali.

Some people don't find cars fun, Corvette or not.

[marino760]

Originally Posted by charlygal

Some people don't find cars fun, Corvette or not.

I always thought of a car as a necessary object in order to get from point A to point B, not much else.

[newcomputer]

an observation. People who consider or have already given up driving or owning a car seem more mellow than those with opposing views.


My truck is 18 years old. I use to rent a car when I wanted something for a trip, but it got to where I had difficulty figuring out how to operate a different car. It wasn't fun to drive something so much out of my comfort zone.


Now I just drive the truck, but I have researched other forms of getting around should the need arise. I don't think I will miss driving. Certainly not the end of the world.

[matisse12]

Originally Posted by newcomputer

Thank you all for inspiring me to make the call and sign up for my local government funded transit service. I don't feel like a sad sack or that I have given up at all I can still drive to the store, etc, but don't have to worry about my twice yearly trip to the doctor that was beginning to be a problem. It will be interesting to see how not having to make the drive affects my BP

I won't mind waiting. I can visit friends or spend time at the senior center as long as I am back at the meet up place at the right time.

I can also plan a trip to the grocery to stock up and see how that goes. By the time I decide to quit driving altogether, or the truck decides for me , I should be an experienced passenger.

$5 round trip. I bet lots of you have a similar program in your area.
Thank you for this thread. I have been thinking about this for awhile. I'm glad I finally made the call. I think this will give me more freedom and independence, not less.

I see you live in 'middle Tennessee'. As an example, I looked up Johnson City, Tennessee and nearby towns at Instacart.com and found that Instacart delivers groceries from Food City and Krogers for those towns. You could put your town and nearby towns into Instacart.com and see if they are delivering groceries for your town & area. It's a great service - and Instacart.com is all over the U.S. I use it a lot. Instacart delivers from Target too in many areas.

[M3 Mitch]

Originally Posted by charlygal

Some people don't find cars fun, Corvette or not.

And I find that sad, like a wino who drinks Thunderbird just to get drunk, or worse, just to avoid the DTs.

Almost any aspect of life can provide enjoyment beyond whatever prosaic necessities it might cover.