Over the years, I’ve realized that:
I don’t enjoy driving.
I don’t like sharing the roads with dangerous drivers (especially in my area with frequent accidents).
I don’t like the costs and financial burdens associated with owning a car.
Groceries and appointments seem to be my only reason for needing a car, but I feel like I can find ways around these with proper location and route planning. Right now, I currently live in the suburbs where it’s basically essential to own a car.
I’m looking for a way where I can live a life without the need for a car. It seems that by re-locating to a country with a superior transit system, it could be an option. Is this possible or am I being unrealistic? What am I missing?
How big or important of a factor was this for you when going nomad? How does it impact you?
Car free is a massive QoL downgrade personally. Wasting time waiting for pub transport, inefficient routes. And all the smokers and crazy people
Driving can be annoying and stressful, but I still keep a car in both HK and Tokyo to make things easier for hauling the kid around(and my golf clubs, scuba gear, grocery shopping, etc). The transit in both of these cities are world class, but you can’t discount the freedom that a car brings to the picture.
Yeah. Huge boost to QOL. Also makes dense cities more fun, rather than even worse
I totally understand this. Having lived and worked in a place with lots of snow, ice, and distracted drivers makes for a miserable commute half the year.
For me that’s one of the main reasons. I don’t like driving, it’s too stressful and walking is much healthier/calming.
I’m not a nomad, but I don’t like driving either. Luckily I live in The Netherlands, you absolutely do not need a car here. Lots of bicycle roads and good public transport.
Yes. It’s originally why I moved to NYC, but it’s so expensive that I now travel as much as possible to save money.
Not at all… I enjoy driving and have opted for a nomad lifestyle that involves living in an RV. So I will be driving quite naturally and quite a lot.
The trains and buses in my city are dirty, there are a lot of unpleasant people in them, and their service is infrequent. My car has leather seats, premium sound, has a spacious trunk and push button climate control. Plus I can drive my car any time day or night and it takes me where I want to go.
Yes driving is stressful but it is so much better than mass transit.
Contemplating this currently. My car was a victim of the Kia boyz recently, luckily wasn’t stolen since I got the software update but badly damaged. Thinking just getting rid of it would be the best option atm since I’m don’t even need it for work
I love road trips, and would never give up my car, even if I lived in an extremely walkable city.
Yes. Being car-free has drastically reduced my level of daily stress.
I’m in the exact same boat. Hate the thought of even owning one right now. Moving to Seattle next spring to continue my life without one
Unironically, if I could live closer to home without car dependence, my chances of moving back would skyrocket. Cars are a huge sink of money and time and they just make it unpleasant to live in urban areas. I like going in cars sometimes, and it’s great to have one available for a long trip, but when you can’t walk or take public transport to the grocery store, print shop, repair shop, gym, etc., it nukes your quality of life and makes it impossible just to get things done.
Sounds like women made this post.