My ex owned the last car I drove. She did not have a license, so I was pretty much the only person to ever drive in the house. Now I’m out of her house, so no more car. I’m walking everywhere in an extremely car dependant area, there’s public transport it just sucks ass. However, I’m liking the walking. The more I do it, the less I even think about it. My ass is gonna look great, I can still get pretty much everything I care about within walking distance, life is good.

    • Chronicon [they/them]
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      11 months ago

      oh you sweet summer child, you’re assuming they even have sidewalks where she lives

      amerika is a cursed country

      • booty [he/him]
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        1611 months ago

        I really want to record a (45m+ long) video of me attempting to cycle to the nearest grocery store, paying special attention to the nonsensical sidewalks that start nowhere and lead nowhere. but I wouldn’t want to narrow down so much where I live lol

  • Angel [any]
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    1111 months ago

    When I put my earbuds in, and I’m just getting lost in the music while I’m feeling the sunny weather, I’m happiest. And these days, I’m not smiling often.

    • LeylaLove [she/her, love/loves]OP
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      811 months ago

      I think I need to get earbuds again, I lost my last pair. But being in the sun (no a/c) and listening to music were my favorite parts of driving, an activity that I hated. I should incorporate that into something I like

  • @[email protected]
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    1311 months ago

    Welcome to the club. I’ve been at this since high school when I didn’t want a car (much to the dismay of my parents) and didn’t feel like bumming my friends for rides. Ever since then I’ve lived all over the US without getting behind a steering wheel once. It’s harder in some places, but I’m lucky to live in an area with a long history and thus, more walkable layout. I haven’t even seen a suburb in months.

    I do recommend that you always have sunscreen and headphones, both of those will improve the quality of your day dramatically. I also would suggest that during summer you have some water with you.

  • bubbalu [they/them]
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    1011 months ago

    I’m really happy that you’re making it work! Consider buying some orthotic insoles if you can spare the money, I bought some on a lark and didn’t notice how often I was in minor pain because my shoes were not adequately supportive.

  • Infamousblt [any]
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    1311 months ago

    I live in a place with good public transit and I still walk or bike or skate everywhere I can. It’s great to get the exercise and I also get to just be in the community more by being outside. It’s definitely the way to go if you can

    • LeylaLove [she/her, love/loves]OP
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      1311 months ago

      Yeah I love meeting people on my way to things. Any idea how many times I’ve been asked for a lighter because I reek like cigs? I get to talk to so many people around me, it’s great

  • Wertheimer [any]
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    3411 months ago

    The moment you realize you’re happier carrying your groceries uphill than you were when you had to battle for a parking spot is truly liberating.

  • BoxedFenders [any, comrade/them]
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    11 months ago

    I don’t drive my car for anything under 10 miles and I live in a walkable city with every amenity close by so I walk or ride a bike most of the time. But I’ve gotta admit, climate change is making it miserable in the summer months. The oppressive heat and humidity just makes you instantly sweat and even the breeze from bike riding won’t evaporate it. Summers were perfectly walkable 10 years ago but those rare Heat Advisory days went from a week to entire months.

    • HexBeara [none/use name]
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      811 months ago

      Florida is like a combination of steamer and oven and I’m not a fan. Only about 2 more months and it’s bearable again. And then around April or May it starts to cook us once again. It’s a big part of why I’m such a hermit since 2020 and getting worse.

      • BoxedFenders [any, comrade/them]
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        511 months ago

        In some ways, places like Florida have it better off than more Northern climes that are now blanketed with heatwaves. The infrastructure and culture have already adapted to living under brutal heat so they are better prepared for it. Every indoor space is blasted with AC and everyone has relaxed dress codes. But now you’ve got regions in Europe that rarely ever saw 90 degree heat having to suffer through prolonged weeks of it and people are dying in droves. There were over 60,000 deaths attributed to heat last summer across Europe!

        • HexBeara [none/use name]
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          211 months ago

          I’m from massive two shits originally, so I kinda understand, but I didn’t remember the summers being that bad and I know it’s gotten worse but before I left in 2009 it was common to have AC, at the very least as a window unit and using methods like blankets to concentrate the AC in certain rooms, and I’m sure using plastic on the windows like we would during the winter would help too.

  • came_apart_at_Kmart [he/him, comrade/them]
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    611 months ago

    Ive lived in a couple of situations where I only had to drive once a week. it was for groceries, because I was technically in a food desert. but my work and hangout places were all like a mostly chill walk. it was dope. not having to get the behind the wheel is a beautiful thing.

    basically been spending the last 10 years saving and plotting and strategizing a way to have that again, but this time not to have a landlord and all it’s attendant insecurity, get a little kitchen garden situation going, to be not in a food desert, and even have some decent public transportation options for longer distance travel.

    the expansion of remote work has created a more potential.

    • LeylaLove [she/her, love/loves]OP
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      611 months ago

      Yeah, I’ve been split on bikes because I’m a smoker have have zero lung capacity, but I do want something to made things go by faster. I think I might finally get one now!

      • Grandpa_garbagio [he/him]
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        11 months ago

        Lung capacity goes up quick with even moderate activity from my experience, so the walking can lead pretty naturally into biking.

        I see these 40+ year old dudes smoking and biking over near Chinatown here so you should be good lol

  • Lerios [hy/hym]
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    11 months ago

    ngl i miss the bus… i used to write so much and read more and i texted people back in a semi-timely manner. now that my hour+ of commute has been replaced with time where i actually have to pay attention to where i’m going, life at large seems harder to deal with.

    i’m sure driving is WAY worse tho lmao

  • sharkfucker420 [comrade/them]
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    811 months ago

    I would too if it weren’t for this heat. Granted my car doesn’t have ac but atleast it is quicker. I love winter bc I can walk everywhere without being a sweaty mess