One of the nice things about living in the city is that I don't need to use my car for day to day activities. I can walk to work(1), to restaurants, and to movie theaters. The only real need I have of my car is when I visit my sister and nephews once or twice every month, or on the rare ocassions where I need to bring large objects home from a shopping trip.(2)
As a result, my cars over the years have not gotten very much mileage on them. When my first car was destroyed in an accident, the insurance rep seemed stunned when I quoted the mileage on the car. I also don't get a lot of respect from car people. My brother-in-law once told me that if I were to get a cool car like the MINI then I would have an obligation to the world to show it off. I have so far been quite negligent in this responsibility.
With gasoline prices currently rising at incredible rates,(3) however, I now have a socially acceptable excuse for my irrational lack of car use.(4) Now, I can simply say that I am a patriotic American following the request of my President to conserve gasoline in these trying times.
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(1)More accurately, I usually walk halfway to work and then take the bus up the steep incline into Capitol Hill. However, I do walk all the way home, often stopping somewhere along the way for dinner.
(2)Grocery shopping is not a regular activity for me, as my nephews are well aware. While the car dealer was explaining all of the features of my new car, he pointed to the boot and indicated that's where I could put my grocery bags. My five year old nephew quickly responded, "Uncle Bob doesn't get groceries." I suppose my completely empty refrigerator gave me away.
(3)The price of gas at the station by my office jumped four cents today between the time we had lunch and when I returned a few hours later for an afternoon snack.
(4)One might ask why, if I drive so infrequently, did I just spend so much money to buy a fancy new sports car. That is indeed a very good question, one for which I do not have a suitable answer.
