One in.....how many?

The title of this post was going to be one in, followed by the number of car-free households in the United States, but that information does not seem to be readily available. I'm 100% positive that I could find it, given some time and access to the proper databases (librarian alert!), but it's just not that important to me.

What IS important to me is that I am now, officially and at what seems like long last, 100% without the car. After much drama and inertia, I wound up with two representatives from my local used car lot at my house looking at the car. We went for what I thought was a test drive, and wound up at the lot where I was suddenly in negotiations with the Boss. I had to think about it for a second, so I walked home, got my bike, rode to my local pub to speak with the bartender who'd expressed interest in the car (I wanted to not sell it out from under him, but the offers were quite different so I figured he wouldn't go for it). He didn't want it for the price, so back on the bike to the car lot it was and presto changeo, title signed over, key left behind and I cycled away a free woman!

I stopped driving it in October, when the state inspection expired and I didn't feel like paying to get it renewed. I turned in my plates to the state this winter when my insurance policy came up for renewal (so I didn't have to renew). I was going to sell it quickly after that but inertia set in and then it was buried under a thousand feet of snow a couple of times. Two weeks ago, faced with an offer, I decided to get serious. Under mandate from parents I had the car lot folks look at it and the offer was far higher and without the added messiness of doing busniess with friends. In the blink of an eye, what was going to be a quick once-over and casual offer turned into a "let's do this now, how's a check sound" kind of situation. Woo hoo!. Hooray for money. And no more car.

Now to negotiate the price of the rental of the parking space (already have a prospective renter waiting in the wings, impatiently at that!).

Comments

[Charmaine Ruppolt]

Hi - I just came upon your blog. :) GREAT that you've gone car-free! :) I went car-free 2 years ago and it's gone pretty good, I think. :) I have a membership with Zipcar and also rent Enterprise cars when I need to...but most of the time, I can get around by bike & Metro pretty good. :) Nice to see a "local" on here! I keep a car-free blog (noted below) if you'd like to check it out. Also have a blog about my bike commute to work (I ride every day, year round): http://bikerchickchar.blogspot.com/

Glad you enjoy living in DC and working on the Hill. I enjoy your perspective and your writing style. :) Keep up the good work and have fun!

Charmaine

[Dottie]

YAY! Good for you. From all I've read here, it sounds like your neighborhood is totally liveable without a car and with a little help from a bike :)

[Catherine]

Thank you both! It's all very exciting, though I've been living "car-free" since October, the actual absence of the car and the presence of money has been great.

Great to "meet" you, Charmaine! Do I possibly see you on the trails?

[Charmaine Ruppolt]

Hi Catherine - - I think I may have seen you on the trail a couple times last year - - I think riding the electric bike? You were at the Tidal Basin & 15th Street, going up the sidewalk toward Independence Avenue. I'd love to meet up with you sometime to chat about bikes, blogs, etc. :) Drop me a line at: char22046@yahoo.com, if you'd like.

[Catherine]

Charmaine--that was more than likely me, and more than likely the e-bike. I take the Amsterdam on the commute from time to time, but I figure that I've got this great tool, I may as well use it what I bought it for!

I'll drop you a line and we'll work something out :)

[Charmaine Ruppolt]

Hi Catherine - okay, I'll look forward to hearing from you. I'd love to see either of your bikes. :) Yes, drop me a line anytime!

Charmaine