When we moved here three years ago, we had downsized from being a two-car family to being a one-car family.  This wasn't too terribly difficult.  It was just me, my wife, and our one year-old son.  Three years later, and we're now a family of five (and holding firm at five, God-willing and self-control willing!).  We've remained a one-car family.  Which we're very proud of.  We want to do our part to be good stewards of God's creation, and we view this as one small step.

We're also proud that not only have we been a one-car family, but the one car that we *did* have was one of the smallest and most fuel-efficient vehicles available.  We had bought a new 2001 Toyota Echo back in 2001.  36MPG in the city and 40MPG on the highway.  Six years after we bought it, we were *still* getting that kind of mileage.  That's really handy when gas doubles in price on you.  And when you're making 3000 mile round trip drives several times a year to visit family and expand the family. 

We were proud that we fit all five of us and all the necessities of a young family into such a small vehicle.  Damn proud.  Probably too proud, which perhaps has something to do with why our vehicle has been removed from us.  But that's more idle theological speculation than I'm game for at the moment.  On our last trip, we even fit all five of us, all our luggage, and our 80-lb. pit bull mix, Marley, into the car.  Come to think of it, pride *must* be involved with the loss of our vehicle.  But it was good while it lasted.

So we're used to having just one car.  Normally, that meant that *I* had one car to take me to school, while the wife & kids stayed put at home. 

We've been without a car since Monday evening.  I expect we'll be without one for at least another week.  We really don't go anywhere other than school and the grocery store.  Yet there has been a very compelling internal push within us to get another car.  ASAP. 

We've done just fine this week.  I can take the bus to school without much difficulty.  No connections, and it's about a 30 minute ride and a 15 minute walk.  I think it's criminal to have to pay $2 for a bus ride, but other than that, it's really not a difficult situation.  Our neighbors across the street have kindly lent us their vehicle tonight so that I could go to the grocery store and stock up on necessities for the next few days, so we don't have to borrow their car very often and abuse their kindness. 

So why the rush?  If we never go anywhere, and we have our basic needs met, why the almost irresistable urge to go out and get another vehicle?  It's really rather disturbing, but also fascinating.  How deeply the automobile is ingrained in our personal and cultural psyche!  How difficult to wean a culture off of a product like this!  IT really is like an addiction.  But an addiction to what?  Freedom?  Independence?  Self-assertiveness?  Mobility?  Escapism?  Realism?  So many different and contradictory possibilities...