Driving

[hockeygal 0]

OK, this is all anticipatory whining since we haven't even filed yet, but...

I fear one adjustment only. And I might not have been afraid of it if my fella weren't so afraid of it on my behalf and constantly bringing it up....

Driving everywhere.

Not that I can't drive, but I am used to walking everywhere. I'm an urban girl, and I have everything I could possibly need within three blocks of my home. Bank, starbucks, ethnic food, liquor stores, gym, grocers, movie theatre, even an upscale sex shop! But I don't have my honey.

I will adjust, but it will be annoying to have to pull out of the driveway and go find a mall to get some cream for my coffee.

My sister lives in the US, and when I visit her, I feel like I am a prisoner in her car. We even hit a drive-thru to do her banking!!

I guess it all depends on where you live. Not everyone is in the suburbs!

Edited February 8, 2006 by hockeygal

[ddurkin 0]

My guy just moved here yesterday (MY GOD!!!) and that was a huge consideration for us too. So, the last time he was here to visit, we looked at apartments together and chose the place he would be most comfortable. We are on the canal in Indianapolis, it's a great place because the canal is all pedestrianized, and he will be able to walk to all different places downtown using sidewalks.

I know that this will vary based on where you are, but i think the least the USC can do is consider how the non-USC will feel in terms of being able to get around anywhere until they get a license/car (cuz that can take some time!)

Try to find an agreement and locale that works best for both of you. both sides really have to make concessions in this area.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I love driving!

[almaty 19]

me too...especially in rural areas..very relaxing

[hockeygal 0]

I hadn't thought about it that much, until he kept bringing it up as a concern.

He lives in a small city, in a suburb type area. A nice place, and I'll be very happy to be there with him. I am just not used to the concept of not being able to walk everywhere... I guess I'll invest in a treadmill or something!

And congratulations ddurkin - on being together finally!

[Lou Lou 1]

I too hate driving everywhere and avoid it like the plague. I'm not sure what kind of area it is, but have you considered bikes? We live in a very small city and it's over a mile away to get to a decent store so we cycle there. Of course, when it comes around to the winter and a couple of feet of snow we can't bike, but if the mood takes us we ski there, on the sidewalks and cross country!

[de_sjiem 0]

I love driving too! I dont know what i'd do without my car even though it is 20 years old.. lol.. I'd probably go crazy... But i grew up in the middle of nowhere and going anywhere meant taking a car, so i'm pretty used to it now.. and we still live miles away from anything.. and on a busy road that i'm not sure i'd dare bike down!

[allycat 0]

This was a huge adjustment for me too! I lived in Toronto my whole life and never owned a car. Fortunately we were able to buy a second car after I moved. Now I drive 40 minutes each way to work, which is the same time it took me on the subway in Toronto. I miss being able to walk to stores, but I don't mind the driving as much as I expected to.

City living was not an option for us, and we love where we live but we definitely need 2 cars here.

I have learned to enjoy driving, but I prefer being a passenger when I have a choice.

[ktun 0]

This is still something I HATE!! I'm from London so walked, took the tube, or got a bus everywhere. Here there is no public transport at all and it is impossible to get anywhere without a car. At home I could walk to a supermarket, bank, bakery....pretty much anything I wanted. You just cant do that here. Drive thru everything!! Drive thru tobacco store, bank, deli...you name it. It's so unhealthy, no wonder I've gained weight.

I guess I'm a city girl at heart & hubby LOVED London and our recent trip to Chicago, so perhaps I'll get the country boy out of him yet and haul him to a big city to live.

[Jaylen Brit 0]

ktun and OP - agree with the sentiment - that worries me as right now I walk all over the place - even not bothering with a bus for some journeys under a mile (and when Im not in lazy mode, lol).

I'll be living on the backside of nowhere (in comparison to being RIGHT on the doorstep of London), where there are no buses, no taxies and in many cases, no sidewalks..

Walking is part of the way I keep in shape so yeah I'm dreading it as well..

[Anja_and_Henry 0]

We are going to live on a farm in nowhere land - no way without a car. I like riding my bicycle with Henry in the trailer behind me and will go on little rides to the dam and woods whenever I can. We are glad they closed the woods up there for cutting this year - no huge wood trucks on the road anymore. Going to "town" is 11 miles down the road, maybe to fare with the bike for the foodstore. We just go with the truck and buy stuff for two weeks at a time.

I will miss the rides and walks for sure...

[Euro 3]

I have been driving for 20 years in the UK, cant say i love to drive, its ok!! but i prefer to walk, in england people walk all over the place i prefer to walk, where i live in Michigan the shops are about 400-500 meters away and people are like she walks to the store..................well yeah its across the road, my brother inlaw stopped me the other day as i walked to the shop to get bread, he said where you going, i said to da shop he said, get in i'll give you a lift!!....................hahahahaha um i said NO its just there , Mark my hubby drives to the shop!!!!

[Kajikit 65]

It's something that you'll get used to... it's easy to get fat and lazy! One of the reasons I like this apartment is because our church is three blocks away and the library is opposite it. I've told my husband that if/when we move from this apartment it HAS to be to some place where I can walk to the grocery store - I don't drive and it's hard to be dependent...

[Inlove_tx 0]

This is still something I HATE!! I'm from London so walked, took the tube, or got a bus everywhere. Here there is no public transport at all and it is impossible to get anywhere without a car. At home I could walk to a supermarket, bank, bakery....pretty much anything I wanted. You just cant do that here. Drive thru everything!! Drive thru tobacco store, bank, deli...you name it. It's so unhealthy, no wonder I've gained weight.

I guess I'm a city girl at heart & hubby LOVED London and our recent trip to Chicago, so perhaps I'll get the country boy out of him yet and haul him to a big city to live.

I TOTALLY understand!

I'm from a small beach town in Italy and I'm used to walking all the time, everywhere...and I miss it SO much here!

I took my driver's license in Italy 5 years ago and only drove twice! I really hate driving and I'm dreading the moment I'll take the test here in the U.S!

Luckily my husband loves walking too, so when we looked for apartments it was a "must" for both of us to get one that was a walking-distance away from the most important things (mall, shopping centers, etc.). Where we live I can pretty much walk to go groceries shopping or just take my dog out for long walks and I love it...I just don't wanna drive!!!

[Tobester 0]

I'm from Holland so...

I bike.

A bicycle is a form of transportation for me, not a sports attribute.

I bike to work (15/20 mins)

Grocery store (10 mins)

the only thing is... it's more hazardous here, there is no real infrastructure for biking like seperate lanes and such. Also a lot of motorists don't expect you, so you gotta be extra careful...and wear that STUPID helmet!