Automobility

In Vermont, everything is an hour away. Its not quite that bad where I live, since groceries and a small pseudo mall are available locally, but throughout most of the state groceries, entertainment venues, clothing--all around an hour's drive away. With the exception of the Burlington area, public transportation is nonexistent. Owning an auto is an essential part of life. My own car is finally legal again, after having an out-dated inspection sticker for months. It still needs a new driver's side door, thanks to agent who hit the side of my parked car, and with the new door, a new side mirror, but for once I didn't have to sink several hundred dollars into it to get it to pass inspection. The exhaust had blown out, but I was fortunate that it chose to blow out whilst on its warrantee, so my total repair came to $30 for the labour.

My two eldest children both have designs on my car--the eldest because she's stuck at school some 6-7 hours away, and my son because he wants a job and will need transportation to get there. That translates into two more cars to purchase, register, insure, and maintain. Aren't I lucky? I do need a newer vehicle, or at least one with less wear and tear, because the loooooong commute to and from work is beating my car to death. If I actually get a tax refund this year, I'll have to sink it into a car. With the cost of gas, I'm seriously thinking of purchasing a diesel and converting it to run on used veggie oil. Once the conversion is done, it'll pay for itself in less than six months. One other major money saving measure would be to find employment closer to home. Right now its costing $22/day to go to work--it was alright at $9/day when I started, but now its a serious budget breaker, not to mention the brutal wear and tear on my car. Too bad no one has a car to donate to the cause. Oh well--a car is a necessity, so I'll just have to suck it up and do what I have to so that we still have mobility. Not having a car is unfortunately, not an option.