Don’t just have your eyes open. Be alert -- process what you’re seeing.
Earlier this week I passed a woman on a bike on my morning commute, though it's not unusual to see a woman on a bike.
It was a street bike not a … I think they call them cruising bikes or comfort bikes now. She was not wearing sports apparel. She had an attractive messenger type bag over her shoulder. She wobbled a bit as she pedaled her way out of the town center, toward the office complex were I work. Clearly this was a new experience for her.
This morning I saw a man in a white shirt and tie on a scooter. He rode with traffic on my street down to the light, but then rode in the shoulder on the main road to down toward the highway. I hope in his heart he felt proud and not belittled.
These are not rich people who tend to jump in making these short term grandiose changes because its chic.
These are not poor people who I have heard are now abandoning their cars when they run out of gas.
These are folks like me. We are working for a living, and the money we make goes to our living expenses.
Things are changing, people.
Look for it, you will see it.
Participate.
You don’t need to get a scooter or ride your bike to work. But – you would be wise to think twice about your discretionary spending. Do you really need a new blouse, new shoes? Examine the word ‘need’ with new fervor now.
Even if you can (or think you can) afford these new things – is it wise to buy now?
That’s how you should be thinking.
Yes, we need to save the planet.. so why not save some money while you are at it?
8 comments:
Absolutely -- couldn't agree more.
Our world is changing a lot faster than our paychecks can understand.
Amen Weese!!
I want a scooter to get to and from work. I cringe every time I hit the gas pedal.
Yes indeedy. Granted, things have been especially tight in my household (I lost my f/t job in January and have been working as a temp ever since)...but I can count the number of times I have eaten out this year on one hand. No fast food. No coffees at any place except Cafe' Home. :)
My fella and I carpool every day, with me dropping him off at the bus station. We are growing a garden. We installed a clothesline.
This is how it's gotta be if we'd like to keep a roof over our heads. Thank goodness I was raised as a frugal New Englandah.
I just got a fancy bike over the weekend that I will be doing all of my errands with it. I can't afford the gas anymore.
Scooter...yes...edit your post to instruct eb that her wife needs a scooter for going to work. I like it...
The gas at one of the stations in Avon went up TEN CENTS between 8:00 this morning and 2:30 this afternoon. That's just crazy.
Fran and I try to carpool at least one day a week and have cut back significantly on the kind of spending we used to do; paying more attention to sales, using coupons, and really evaluating whether or not something out of the normal budget is needed. If it's not needed we discuss how much it's really wanted, and what's worth giving up instead. We've also cut back on one of our favorite weekend things to do, hit the road for a drive. This past Sunday was the first time in a couple of months, but we didn't go as far, and this time we brought our own food instead of stopping off someplace.
The scary thing is, it's only going to get worse. I think we'll be seeing $5 gas before the end of the summer. It scares me to think about what heating oil will cost during the winter. We're trying to save every dollar we can now so we can stay warm in the winter.
I like you, and what you have to say. You are so right, and a lot of folks wouldn't be in the mess they're in today had they used the same logic even well before now.
Very good points made in this post. I used to commute by scooter when I lived in Boston. Great way to save on gas.
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