Photo NOT taken at 1am, but was taken waiting for a ride
Let me count the “Losses”:
1. Independence – You’ve heard of Maslow’s Hierachy of Needs? The basic level starts with our Physiological Needs, the literal requirements for human survival. They include the following:
- Breathing
- Food
- Homeostasis
- Sex
- AND Driving
Depending on friends and family to take you everywhere is like getting people to breathe and eat for you — at least it feels that way to me on Day 35 of Vehicle-less in Suburbia.
2. Time – They say that you should give busy people your critical tasks to do because they’re the ones most likely to get things done, but probably not if they have to spend 2-3 hours a day arranging one, two, or three different drivers every single day.
3. Shopping – Retail therapy is out of the picture. I can ride my bike to the bank and to pay my water bill, but eggs will break, ice cream will melt, and who needs more clothes when your outings are somewhat limited.
4. Favor-Power – Stick with me on this one; I just made it up. So there is this Circle of Reciprocity, but it’ll be a long, long, long time before my friends are going to “owe” me. That, of course, is why I need to get enough dough to throw the greatest shindig ever planned resulting from Internet Wealth.
5. Esteem – Remember Maslow’s hierarchy? Well it used to have “Esteem” as the penultimate level, but that’s been replaced by a revised pyramid. Good thing[!] because if you don’t drive these days [and you're not living in NYC or SF or other large city], people do think something must be wrong with you, i.e., drugs, alcohol, vehicular manslaughter, texting on your cell phone.
6. Activities – Waaaah, it’s really hard to “use up” one of my favor tokens to get a ride to my health club for yoga, spin, and swimming; I know, I can ride my bike and play in the sprinkler. [We finally got HOT 3-digit temperatures in the Bay Area.]
7. Privacy – Of course, you have to explain your disability-story over & over & over — or you can keep really private by staying home to garden, play the sax, watercolor and wait for the “Lifting of the Ban.”
8. Sleep – We’ve come full circle, so I’m going to soak in a hot tub and nap for hours. [Good thing I wrote this. My bath water was running and I would have had a mess to dry up. Ever happen to you? It has to me, but that's a story for a different day -- unless someone asks in a comment, hint, hint] 
** Apparently the full moon can disrupt our sleep patterns. It’s a good outside excuse even though Reuters disputes the theory.
*** Thanks to Day 17 Driver du Jour, Joe Ranno, for the witticism “vehicle-interruptus.” He’s got lots more and we’ll do a whole skit with him later on this blog.
PS My wonderful friend Deborah picked me up for the second round trip this morning, right on time.
PPS Don’t you just hate it when someone says to you “It’s All Good!” It just plain “Is NOT all good,” but I have determined some bennies [i.e., benefits] which I’ll be sharing Down The Road.
Love to hear what you think might be the greatest perks from not driving.
Good stuff. I believe the Latin transliteration is Vehiculus interruptus but Linnaeus never had a car.
I’ll tell Joe . . . and BTW, how about telling your Facebook friends to Read Your Mommy
wow.. sans car in Novato? Or anywhere outside a really metro friendly city? that’s gutsy. It couldn’t be done in LA unless work and everything was within a 5 mile distance so you could use a moped, bike or other similar vehicle.
I hope you are tweeting about this!
Tweeting about Driving Miss Shari is a GREAT idea. THX, Stevie. And . . . I’ve got my fingers crossed for you
This was my horoscope for today:
If you teach or train, work in sales, marketing, in technology or the media this is an important phase.
I am all of those.
I like the pyramid, I think I should start at the bottom and work my way up; but I’m at the top working my way down…
Mike, I don’t normally like when people tell me “It’s ALL GOOD,” but in your case — whether you are working from the bottom UP or the top DOWN, I’d say “It’s All Good.”
Hi Shari, I had no idea you were experiencing mobility challenges. So sorry. Put me on your list of volunteer chauffeurs! I will be working in the City on the 30th, 31st, 1st, 7th, 8th, and 9th…otherwise, can be pretty flexible. Thanks for sharing all of this valuable information. I did subscribe to George Kao’s workshops. Do you have any more workshops coming up? Hope to see you soon. -Diane
Actually, Diane, re: workshops —
I’ve decided to hold Social Media Salons twice a month in my home, and they’ll be FREE. I just have to figure out dates and times. They will be 90 minutes with an extra 15 at the end just for Q&A. What days of the week and times might work for you [and anyone else who's reading this].
BTW, Diane, if you have a chance to go to the first post: How to get Rich & Famous on the Web AND leave a comment there, you will help me reach my goal of 500 comments for the First Post.
Well, Miss Shari, here is my 2 cents worth on not being able to drive:
1. You’re getting to know your drivers. You become better friends. It’s sort of like forced face-to-face interaction…
2. You walk more… hopefully. A good health benefit…
3. You’re forced to ask for help, something a lot of us aren’t very good at! Makes you realize that “no man is an island”, nor should he be….
4. You realize that life goes on (albeit with changes) without a car…
5. You probably meet people you’d otherwise never meet…
6. You’re replenishing brain cells… recent studies show that anything outside of your normal routine forces your brain into action…
7. Think of all the money you’re saving on gas!
8. It gave you a reason to write this blog!
9. You’re probably talking to your neighbors more…
10. And last but not least, It takes a village to drive Miss Shari! And what a wonderful village it is!
Kathy
Kathy, you are Clever!!! Lots here to think about. I’m “almost” sorry I can drive now. So any time you want to pick me up, let me know.
BTW, now I know why my head was expanding; it was all those new brain cells.