Baby, you can drive my car.

I am going through a phase in which not driving drives me crazy. Sometimes I resignedly accept my self-imposed pedestrian status. Sometimes I even revel in it, justifying impulse purchases (think of all I save on car expenses) and cabs to the airport and lovely pedicures (ooh -- need one now!). But really, unless you live in New York (or Washington, or Paris, or perhaps Chicago), it's a drag.

By the time Sunday rolls around, I will have bounced from Denver to Golden or Boulder and back again over and over and over. Because of bus logistics and time constraints and the fact that other people do not exist purely for the purpose of schlepping me around, I will have lost hours of both sleep and productive time, had to tote ridiculous loads of crap to the office with me, and crash elsewhere than my own cozy bed. It's not terrible, and I'm going to those places to do fun things with great people, but I'd like to be able to get there on my own schedule, to throw all the accoutrements of my various activities in the trunk of my very own vehicle, and to go home whenever I'm ready.

In case you are wondering, I am still licensed to drive. But I haven't really driven since law school, and it has been more than a decade since I drove on a regular basis. During the year I lived in Boulder after college, I found myself increasingly frightened while behind the wheel, as objects and people and other vehicles seemed to appear out of nowhere in the corners of my vision and driving at night became almost impossible. So I took myself off the road, which was a tough decision but really the safest thing for everyone concerned.

I'm lucky to have my parents nearby, and they regularly go above and beyond the call of duty to assist me with my transportation needs. Steve's put hundreds of miles on his car in the time we've been together, and has willingly assumed the role of designated driver. My friends, too, are generous and accommodating, and make sure I have rides to parties and meetings and gatherings even when I'm too shy to ask or simply don't want to impose.

But there are times, and this is one, when I just want to get in a car and drive. Or at least to have my very own car at my disposal whenever I want to go wherever I feel like going. I've looked into car services (but this is Colorado, where the SUV is king) and into establishing some kind of standing arrangement with one of the local cab companies (nope). And I've thought about hiring one of my laid-off friends to be my on-call chauffeur, but I can't really afford to pay a living wage.

Then again, I make a mean double-chocolate-fudge brownie.

Any takers?

Comments

[UCL]

Maybe a move to Paris is the next step. ;)

[mad]

Been there. Done that. :)

[Scheherazade]

You move to Maine; I'll drive you wherever you like.

[monyca]

double chocolate? fudge brownie? sundae? You said the magic words.

[Sarah]

I own and operate SafeRiders, Inc. in Wichita, KS. We provide personal chauffuers for individuals and their vehicle. We spent our first year in business concentrating on people that had driven themselves to the bar and then need a ride home in their own car. With our second year upon us we are expanding our hours to serve medical patients that have driven themselves to the doctor and then undergone a procedure that they aren't allowed to drive home from. I'm not sure if there is a similar service in your area but I wanted to pass along the idea to you--maybe one of your good hearted friends can get it started. You can get more info on us at www.saferiders.net or email me if you have questions.