This is part of an ongoing series of what it is like to live a “car-free life”. Having recently sold my car and not having regular access to one, I’ve chosen to share my experience and thoughts on things that are relevant to this lifestyle. You can find the growing list of articles here.
When I decided to make the jump to live a car-free I did so knowing that my entire life could handle the change, this meant not only my personal and recreational lifestyles but my professional lifestyles as well.
I am not a pharmaceutical rep, going from business to business selling legal drugs, I do not own a driveway sealing business where I had to go from home to home, nor do I belong to a travelling carnival where I have to move my one man show from city to city. My professional life, for the most part*, does not require the use of a car on a daily basis.
For some people, however, this is not the case, they require access to a vehicle on a daily basis, perhaps to get to-from work, as they might be out of reach of the local transit system (both in terms of location or time of day) or they might make some type of “rounds” during the day that finds them driving around as part of their job.
A personal support work or a clinical home care nurse needs to have access to a car on a daliy basis to be able to see their clients. The owner of a video production company needs a vehicle to haul their equipment and staff to shoot after shoot and everything in between. I on the other hand do neither of these things and therefore do not need use of a car on a daily basis.
With all of that said, If you are a person who has a professional life that demands the use of a vehicle on a daily basis please don’t be ashamed.
Don’t Be Ashamed
Over the past couple of months I’ve had a number of people, when talking to me, make reference to them being ashamed, upset or dissaopointed with themself that they, or a loved one, has to use a car (or has recently bought a car) for professional uses.
For the individual who has gone without a car for so long he felt as if his life was moving in the wrong direction with the purchase of a car, for the other individual, who’s been using his car for his work for the longest of times, he felt that he just wasn’t doing enough.
But I look at both of these people and their situation and can’t help to think that they are living consciously, knowing what their needs are and even though they own vehicles they do so out of necessity to fulfill a purpose.
You’re Not Bad
Because you own a car doesn’t make you a bad person. It is as simple as that. Some people require the use of a vehicle to do what it is they love, others need a vehicle to serve the communities that rely on them. There shouldn’t be any sense of shame in any person for owning a car for any good reason. I do know some people that feel shameful for owning a car but this is a point of reassurance for them that there isn’t anything to be ashamed of.
Prior to thinking about the use of an automobile for work I looked at families owning a single vehicle and how this is one way to live environmentally consciously on the way to living a possible car-free life and the more I talk to people, hear their stories and their justifications for owning a car, the more I think we need to celebrate their stories, what they are doing and why they are doing it.
Upcoming
Next up in this series I will be looking at travelling without the use of a car and the subsequent costs and consequences of that, as well as taking a look at time, time management and what not having a car means in terms of time.
*The MugShot Lounge does require the use of a vehicle, but this is something I will address at a later time in this series
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