Thursday: Me Today
A busy weekend ahead, and a week away on business-related travel next week, but for tonight, I'm hanging out at my cafe, relaxing with an espresso, and thinking about the week, and what lies ahead. I love my Thursdays. I also love it when my better half isn't working on Thursdays, but most of the time, he is, and that's cool because I have a great backup plan.
I'll be in Los Angeles next week for work, staying at a hotel in Hollywood. Anybody else but me would probably think it was pretty cool, but I've never been excited about Los Angeles. I love cities, but I like my cities less sprawling, less star-studded, more gritty, and with a subway that goes farther than a few token blocks. In fact, I can't think of a city that I like that doesn't have a subway. It's not a deciding factor, but it's a commonality.
I've not yet lived permanently in a city with a subway; if I did, I'd probably have a much less-idealized view of them. But with a gas prices so high, it's less a fantasy and more just plain common sense to think about what it would be like if I didn't have to own a car. This is the cherished dream I have and I might be able to make it a reality next year.
It won't be simple. I live about two miles from work in a city well-served by buses. But my morning commute is at 4:20am, about 45 minutes before the first bus. Walking isn't perfect because my route would take me through some areas that are a little unsavory. It can be done; I'm just a little nervous about a 40 minute walk carrying a $2500 computer, wearing a dress shirt and pants. The kind of look that says, "Mug me, won't you?" I might get a scooter or a bike. Hell, taking a cab to work every morning and riding the bus home would be cheaper than the monthly lease payment, insurance and gas for a car. My lease runs out in May, so I have time to make my gameplan. But I'm 95% certain I won't be getting another car. Currently, we drive it about 300 miles a month. You can't even justify the lease payment on usage that low.
This weekend will be a mix of hurricane-watching, trying to get some work done ahead of next week's trip, trying not to obsess over politics, and the usual mix of sleep, workouts, eating and farmer's marketing.
