When you live in the country, 25 miles from the freeway or major shopping, you learn to make every trip count. I already do many of the things people recommend to save gas: I drive a vehicle that gets ~30 mpg, keep my car well maintained and my tires inflated. As for combining trips, I have done that for 11 years, ever since I moved here.
These days, I am looking for other ways to conserve, thus the weekly ban on driving. My newest trick is to turn the car off instead of idling in drive-through lanes and at long red lights. If I know, or presume, that the wait will be longer than 30 seconds, I put the car in park and turn the key off. Am I saving much gas? I don't know for sure, but it feels good.
What do I do on days I don't drive? I stay home -
Doing laundry
Vacuuming
(If you own a pet with hair, you really need a Dyson)Preparing food for the week ahead
Glazing a piece of pottery
Watching a old movie
Checking my e-mail for a long-overdue letter....
and checking ...
and rechecking. {sigh}
Sitting by my pond, drinking a glass of wine
Reading your blogs, and blogging to you about my quiet day.
Time to check the e-mail ...
7 comments:
More of us should leave the car in the driveway one day a week. I've been doing it several days a week recently. They are re-paving our only road down to town. I can't stand sitting at a dead stop for 15 minutes each way.
It has made me realize how many unnecessary trips I have been making. If I can drive less when inconvenienced, then I can drive less in the future. And I'm going to do just that.
A drive-less day is a great idea.
But, truthfully, I like the glass of wine idea even more!
I could go for a glass of win by the pond. I just need to get a pond...
I agree on the Dyson. I should be using mine a lot more than I actually do. (I keep thinking about getting a Roomba, but I think it would be overpowered in seconds - I can't imagine it would be any match for the dog and cat hair in my house!)
STOP CHECKING THE EMAIL.
I believe I will join you for a snort of wine on the pond.
DITTO WHAT SUSAN SAID!!!
Gotcha. What did Susan say say about the e-mail???? Huh?
I enjoyed your quiet day. I crave them! We were offered a day or two to work at home and I'd love it but I have students that call and visit - darn. I plan to make it happen and stay home a day a week real soon!
Great post, Kathi :o)
OK, OK - I will stop obsessively checking the e-mail.
BUT - then I would miss all the comments from you.
~Kathi
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