My (crazy but loveable) aunt has been trying to convince me to take a vacation across the country on greyhound - apparently she did this with her FIVE kids when she was a single mom. And my own grandmother, the closet environmentalist before her time, never even got her driver’s license. When she came to visit us she always took the greyhound and once every summer we would be sent up to visit her on greyhound. I think I must have been 6 years old riding the bus by myself. Times were different.

We are definitely planning a train vacation to Seattle sometime mid-summer. I will let you all know how it goes.

Michelle, I am also glad to hear of a fellow-non-driver! We are moving soon, too, and the thing I am most concerned about is the walkability of our new place. We turned down a few places because I just didn’t know how I would make car-free living work. It is difficult when you feel trapped. . . . what have you done to adjust?

Mamabird, thanks for the S-hook tip. I am amazed by how much I’ve carried with the stroller, even though the basket on mine is not large by any means! I’ve pushed it to the post office with huge boxes perched on the back and on the top!

Niki, good luck trying a car-free life when yours finally dies! Don’t worry, it’s great!

Amy, I had the opposite experience: I grew up in a more rural setting. We could walk all over the neighborhood and even mountains, but we couldn’t walk to the shops or anywhere else. (Although we did walk to school, now that I think of it.) I was amazed when I moved to various cities and towns and could simply walk everywhere I wanted. Now it’s a priority for me to live near shops, bus stops, etc.

Amy Q, you’re right. Most people are just not in a position to go without a car. Once you’ve become used to driving everywhere, it becomes less important to live near shops or public transportation. People move out to big developments nowhere near the heart of town, and then a car becomes a necessity. That’s great that you’re seeing more “mixed developments” where people can shop/live . . . it’s a start!

Thanks for all the comments, everyone! Keep them coming!

Thank you for being a good example!

My house growing up was in a very ideal location for walking (close to grocery store, library, community center, pool, school). I never realized how amazing that was till now. This worked out great for my mom because she HATES to drive. But now that I’ve grown, my own house is not in a very walkable location. Actually, my town in general is not very walkable (suburb of Nashville). It’s a considerable walk to the grocery store, library, etc. I’m often trying to rack my brain to figure out how I can making walking places more a part of my life with my child, but I just don’t know that will work. Especially since it gets so hot here in the summers.

I envy you. You’re a smart cookie! I wish we had thought out the location of our house a little more before moving where we did…