My Car-Free Adventures

On Monday, September 16, 2019, I was in a traffic accident that totaled my car and changed my life! I came through the event in good health but decided I would no longer drive.

Once I made the decision, I experienced a lot of doubt – How would I get to appointments? Go shopping? Visit fun places? Would I lose my independence? Was my entire life going to change?

I knew the time had come to turn in my car keys.

But I definitely did not enjoy how I felt — anxious and worried.

After a few days, it hit me – maybe I couldn’t change the situation, but I could change my perception about it. Instead of viewing non-driving as a prison sentence, I was going to view it as an ADVENTURE!

WALKING

One of the first things I noticed when I stopped driving was a greater appreciation of walking. For years I convinced myself that I’d rather be on wheels then on foot because walks were boring and pointless.

But suddenly, neighborhood walks took on a greater appeal. I noticed the weather, nature,  houses, and the people in them. I found inspiring examples of beauty all around me!

ERRANDS AND GROCERIES

The next thing I noticed was that daily errands took more planning. For years, I’d always driven to stores and appointments. But that wasn’t possible anymore. I had to rely on walking, riding my adult trike, using volunteer or public transportation, or calling friends to get from point A to point B and back again.

Fortunately, I live near several stores I can reach on foot.

I remember the first day I decided to walk to the grocery store. First stop was Mc Donald’s for my 79-cent Senior Decaf to keep me alert. While I sipped my hot coffee, I worked on a crossword puzzle to get my brain focused and ready for my shopping trip.

Then on to King Soopers. I brought my own little cart from home to carry my purchases. No more big shopping cart. Everything had to fit in that cart. Plus, I had to make sure things weren’t too heavy. After all, I was going to pull that cart all the way home!

After I bought my groceries, I headed to Whole Foods for something tasty from the deli. Sitting at a table in the outside eating area, I relaxed and enjoyed my treat, and a little people-watching.

Finally, a short jaunt back to my apartment. Was I proud of myself when I arrived home and put away the groceries!

WAITING AND PATIENCE

Most of my appointments and non-grocery errands are inaccessible on foot. Thankfully, I live in a city with two organizations that offer rides for non-drivers: Dial-a-Ride (DAR) and Saint Volunteer Transportation (SAINT). Without them, I would not be able to travel farther than I can walk or trike.

I learned by experience that using volunteer transportation services involves occasional long waits before and after pickup. I sometimes felt like I spent all my time waiting for my ride to take me to and from my appointment. A 20-minute doctor appointment could take 2 hours total, and appointments that used to take a couple of hours often took more than half a day!

I eventually learned to better schedule my appointments and use my waiting time for something pleasant and productive. I began carrying reading materials, a crossword puzzle booklet, and a notepad.

I was delighted to find that waiting provided me with more time to think and write. Waiting also gave me time to do yoga stretches and to breathe deeply IN and OUT whenever I felt frustrated with waiting!

My writing, stretching, and breathing activities are important because they prevent me from letting pain or anxiety take over while I wait. I’ve also learned to dress for the weather, depending on whether I am waiting inside or outside for my ride.

WONDERFUL PEOPLE

Over time, I have come to appreciate the services offered by Dial-a-Ride and SAINT. The drivers are very helpful and knowledgeable.

I find I don’t really mind being driven to places where I used to drive myself. I see things around me that I never noticed before. Being a passenger gives me a different view of the world!

Interestingly, I met a woman whose experiences were just the opposite of mine. She told me, “My husband died just two years ago. When he was alive, he did all the driving. I never needed to learn to drive, so I didn’t. Since he’s  been gone, I learned to drive and even bought a brand new car!” Her eyes twinkled when she mentioned the car. Seems like she’s now on a “Car-Full Adventure.”

I feel fortunate to have wonderful people in my life who offer to drive me places. For example, a new student in one of my Chair Yoga classes offered to pick me up every week and take me to class! This lasted a few weeks and then another student volunteered. Some students even took me shopping on the way home.

A long-time friend told me she wanted to attend the same Saturday morning class I attended and said she was more than happy to pick me up every week. She added, “This isn’t about your dependence on other drivers — it’s a matter of interdependence!”

SAVING MONEY AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Yes, Dial-a-Ride trips incur some cost: $5 for each round-trip. But being “grounded” has some money-saving aspects: no car insurance, maintenance, or gas costs.

And even if people are not available to drive me or I don’t want to wait for volunteer transportation, I am not tethered to my home. I am still exploring our wonderful public transit system where an annual bus pass costs only $25 (much cheaper than individual bus trips or SAINT rides.

So far, I have used public transportation to visit the Senior Center and travel to Old Town to window shop. I still hope to visit my daughter in Longmont and travel to Denver!

LESSONS LEARNED

All in all, my new car-free experience has taught me several important things:

• I am capable of using my own two feet, my trike, and public transportation to get me around Ft. Collins.
• Life’s about interdependence – if I cannot get somewhere on my own two feet or with public transportation, there is always someone who can help me . . . and I can help them in return.
• And finally, there is more writing ahead for me. My writing output may be different from what it used to be, but so what.

This is my first article since I started my car-free adventures and I am sure there will be many more!

Norma Glad hails from Cleveland OH, but has lived in the southeast and New England, and now resides in Ft. Collins, CO.  She is a Mother and a Grandmother who has been teaching Lakshmi Voelker Seated Yoga since 2010. She heard Rabbi Zalman Schechter-Shalomi speak in Fort Collins CO in 2003 and was vitalized by his inspirational words. But it wasn’t until 2019, when she was 90 years old, that she read his book, From Age-ing to Sage-ing. She quickly realized she had been doing her own sage-ing for many years! Since then Sage-ing International writings and classes have been of great help for her.