The Name of My Blog

I walk just about everywhere I go. I've never owned a car.

 

During college, I had no money. After college, I had no money. Once I had gotten myself out of debt, I still didn't feel financially secure. When I thought about a car payment, the gas, and the insurance—not to mention the parking fees (I lived in Chicago)—it was just too much money to spend. I had public transportation to get me where I needed to go.

 

I also didn't have money for a gym membership. Also, I didn't know how to use any of the equipment even if I'd had the money. And I was too self-conscious to go into a gym anyway. Plus, it wasn't just the gym membership, it was the workout clothes. I didn't have the money for all that. So instead, I walked home from work. Once I started that routine, I realized that walking took just a touch longer than public transportation.

 

That's how I started my life as a ped—completely a result of my pecuniary circumstances. After many long years, I finally could afford a car, but I decided I liked to walk. I try not to be a burden on my car-owning friends, but I sometimes wonder if I am. I don't hesitate to rent a car when I need one, and I'm a Zipcar member (big fan). But if it's 3 miles or shorter, I definitely walk. It's only at 5 miles that I start thinking about other modes of transportation. Because here's the thing: walking makes you slow down. Yes, I could complete lots more errands if I had a car, but to what end? I'd just spend money more quickly and I'd always be focused on the next thing, instead of what's right in front of me, one foot in front of the other.

 

I don't mean to wax superior on my walking habit. Especially because it never developed due to virtue, but vice (too much spending). But I do like it.

 

Now, my fiancée has a car. He is generous with it, giving me rides and such. But I still walk whenever I can. I like my independence, I like the space, and I like the exercise. And that's where I have a lot of the thoughts that will probably find its way to this blog. Hence its title—though I realized after I registered it, it should really be called "Ped Walks and Thoughts." Painful grammatically speaking, but catchy, no?