Non-Drivers Cooee!!!!!! - Your Reasons And Will They Change?

[Bathsheba]

*hands up* I have never had a full licence... my Learners expired after 10 years. I can't remember the last time I drove a car... over 5 years at least. I used to drive a bit when DH and I did interstate car trips... I would drive for an hour at a time to give him a break... sometimes I enjoyed it... but often other drivers were quite rude... I never did over 110 and I think that annoyed people on the open country roads. And that's basically why I don't drive. Not because I don't trust my own skills but because I don't trust other peoples. I've had impatient people pass me on the left... fly through round abouts without even slowing or seeing me waiting there... the list goes on. So, I'm not putting my life at the mercy of other people's selfish reckless driving.... and especially not the lives of my children.... we're much safer on the train/bus/tram thanks. However... if we moved to the country I could reconsider. Only as a compromise. DH doesn't want to move to the country at all... I do.... to be closer to family. And this is the only thing I can offer to help change his mind

Our car sits in the drive way (mostly) between Mondays and Fridays. It gets driven for about 20 mins max on the weekends (on average). I rarely ask DH to drive me anywhere... out of pride I guess. Although ATM I am doing a Red Cross First Aid course at it goes quite late so DH drives me for that. I feel ok about asking him for this occasion because I am doing something that will ultimately benefit our whole family. DH relies on me to do first aid on a regular basis for him and the kids... and the neighbours etc! Once DH and I were the first on the scene to a terrible car accident... he freaked... I dealt with it... so he honestly doesn't mind contributing to Red Cross training. I would never ask him to drive me somewhere for my (for example) entertainment... or to buy a pair of shoes etc. And I rarely, if ever ask people to drive me places unless they are already going there or they offer first. I don't think it's fair of me to do that. I feel that I should take full responsibility for my decision not to drive. And yes I do feel judged. But hey... you can't please everyone.

At the end of the day I figure if we had to pay for the full upkeep and running of a car that was driven daily we would be in proportionally less financially comfortable for the "return" IYKWIM? DH commutes by train... I walk or catch public transport... our car did under 5000km in 2 years (we checked before the last service. I really don't feel that i miss out on much. I feel kinda proud of my ability to get almost anywhere via public transport.... and now that Melbourne has the new SmartBus service (each stop has an electronic display telling you how many minutes away the next bus is.... like at the train stations)... look out Chadstone here I come! Often getting to the other side of the city required going into the CBD (mostly)... making travelling a axel and spoke affair (ie picture a bicycle wheel... having to go into the middle... not being able to cross the spokes) but I reckon that public transport will keep getting better. Even over the past 5 years it's become easier to take your pram onto previously tricky busses and trams. I'm very optimistic that it will continue to get even more user friendly for parents with prams.

Anyhow... to sum up... I would consider driving... but most likley not in a major city... most likely only where I "had to" like a country town. Though... I know my body would show it if I drove. I would definitely gain weight. Sometimes I think the only reason I can add cream to my coffee, and basically never diet is the fact that I walk so much. Oh and my kids wouldn't be as fit. My DD is the fastest runner in her year level.... has been for years... she's incredibly fit... all from scurrying along next to fast-walking mum!