Writer Dad is a sublime site about family and fatherhood with well written tales alongside helpful hints and strategies to help render our children into remarkable writers. Please subscribe (for free) by RSS or Email. Thanks! Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time. ~Steven Wright It made me sad. No, not because of that, though I did pay with a fifty, and couldn’t tip the tank of the Toyota. Back in early June, Daisy and I made a bet (with ourselves). Mia’s Immersion program is on the other side of town, as is Max’s pre-school, so our schedule requires us to burn a bit of fuel. With only two weeks left of schlepping, we decided to see if we could go the summer without gassing up a single time. Well we certainly tried, and we almost made it. We left the house nearly every day, but Max can count the number of times we got in the car. From a variety of reasons, here are five: Our children also see these things. I know because we discuss them. The walking is wonderful. We hold hands, and look both ways. We ask questions, and wait for answers. We anticipate our arrival, and feel reward when it happens. I’m glad we did it. It made me wonder why we need two cars. We travel in a tribe, and the rare use of both at the same time melts a necessity into a luxury. If you enjoyed my words, please subscribe. I promise I’ll be back tomorrow. Barbara Swafford was kind enough to select Writer Dad as the New Blog of the Month. I feel really lucky. Check out the wonderful things she has to say. Also, Writer Dad has a guest post over on City Mama today. The theme is the Eighties. If you have a couple of minutes, it’d be awesome if you dropped in. If you liked these words, you’ll probably love, “Catalina Island,” “Adios,” or “Sink or Swim.“ No related posts. Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
I had to gas up yesterday.
Maybe eight dollars of gas wouldn’t be the end of the world. Maybe it’d be some kind of new beginning.
Writer Dad
Life is better with the right words.
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CONGRATS to the DAD of BLOG! I have seen your site a few times, but I see now that you made it into Blogging Without A Blog’s HALL OF FAME for BLOGGERS. Thanks for writing and offering your gift to the world. Your little girl loves your big hands holding hers as much as you love the feel of her small fingers gripping when the traffic is rushing by.
Harmonys last blog post..IF YOU HAD A CHOICE WOULD YOU SUCK LEMONS
Quite a few people have been wondering why I haven’t learned how to drive. Now I’m happy I haven’t.
Matthew Drydens last blog post..Confusion
Writer Dad,
Over in the UK I’m paying over 140USD to fill up the Voyager, and it has to be done all too frequently. We’ve managed to get our kids into a really good school but as it’s miles away, there’s no other (realistic) way to get there, other than by car.
I’d happily move closer to the school but we can’t afford the property prices in the area.
I’m not complaining though. I’m lucky to have the house I have. I’m lucky to have a good school for the children, and damn lucky to have a big car to carry them all in.
Unfortunately the British government is determined to tax people like me of the road - Whereas, I’m determined to do the best for my family, despite the government’s efforts to stop me. Oh, actually, I am complaining.
Loved the writing today!
Dave
When I was a kid, we walked everywhere.
The part of town we lived in was built for that. There were sidewalks everywhere — and on both sides of every street.
Today, in many newer neighborhoods, that’s one of the things that is missing. There are few — if any — sidewalks. In a way, that discourages walking. Many people don’t want to walk when they have to share the road with cars — it can be very unsafe.
It’s not feasible for us to walk everywhere these days. We live several miles from the nearest town and almost ten miles from any decent shops…. And there is no public transportation available. Plus we live in the south…, where it is often hot and often humid.
When Karen and I got our first car, we used to save change so we could buy gas. I’m not kidding. Regular was 35 cents a gallon — just before the oil embargo.
Mike Goads last blog post..From Our Porch
I’m a big walker, Writer Dad. Whenever I can walk - I do. It seems many lament over walking - but they miss the beauty of it. When you walk you see. When you drive… well… You drive.
Walking is about experiencing life. Walking is an experience.
Driving is industrial.
Bamboo Forests last blog post..Wikipedia: The Holy Grail
Hi Writer Dad,
When I read lines like “We want our children to feel the distance…”, I know why so many nominated you for New Blog Of The Week (NBOTW). Your words move me as I envision each step you take along the way. Kudos to you and your family for making a difference.
I appreciate the link love, and hope you enjoy your reign.
Barbara Swaffords last blog post..Self Promotion - From The Archives
Another reason is that you are offering your kids and yourself a more healthy lifestyle.
And from a young perspective, you are fostering independence in a way, or how often do kids argue about not being able to do such, or attend such only because they can’t drive?
Miguel de Luiss last blog post..Dulce símbolo (a lápiz) de victoria.
Another great, thought provoking post. I agree with Barbara about the line of wanting your children to feel the distance.
I enjoy walking with my son. In addition to getting some fresh air and exercise, I find that every time I go for a walk, my brain kicks into high gear. Each time I walk, I come back with either a new story or comic idea or I have figured out a new creative solution to something that’s been stuck.
Blogger Dads last blog post..Mmm crunchy
I have a friend who’s a teacher and lives in the heart of Toronto. During the school year she has to drive to school because the transit option would add another 2 hours to her day (at least). But in the summer, she only gets in her car to leave the city (which isn’t often).
I live in the heart of my city and got rid of my car in February. When I need a car I borrow a friend’s and always give him more gas than I started with, so it’s a win-win for everyone.
Alex Fayles last blog post..Are you a Pooh-Bear?
I agree with Dave Fowler. I too live in England with ridiculous taxes on our cars and yet I couldn’t get my son into the school we could walk to, only the one that is a 10 minute drive away (with no public transport to speak of). I would dearly love to walk or cycle to school but it’s just not an option. So we do what you do and walk everywhere else and the children love it. You see so many more things when you walk, notice the little things about where you live that you so easily miss when you drive by. Plus my children are learning how much fun it is to be healthy and fit. When I was a kid I cycled everywhere. Miles. Now I hear children complaining because they’re having to walk, tagging behind their parents and whining about how tired they are and why couldn’t we bring the car. Tsk!
Tara@From Dawn Till Rusks last blog post..Things that make me laugh out loud #2
You know, I wish our city was set up where we could walk everywhere. That is probably the biggest thing that I miss from over seas, the ability to walk wherever you need. With different suburban neighborhoods poppping up everywhere, like those pesky little bumps on a teenager’s face before prom, it is almost impossible to walk. From our neighborhood, it takes at least 10 minutes in a car to get anywhere.
“I had to gas up yesterday…It made me sad” - that was classic!
Sals last blog post.."Daddy" - What Does it all Mean?
Congrats on joining the family of Blogging without a Blog Bloggers! You are a very good choice! I have been reading for about a week now and you are wonderful!
The gas thing is crazy. We walk as often as we can. Uptown on weekends for coffee and for the farmer’s market. But in the midwest suburbs everything is stretched far and wide and walking to everything isn’t a real option. My husband’s daily commute is one hour each way IN the car. I try to save all of my comings and goings for one day a week and only take the car out once. The rest of the time I stay home or walk.
Wendi Kelly- Life’s Little Inspirationss last blog post..Wide-Eyed Walking
Harmony: Thanks. I’ll be sad when I can no longer fit her whole hand in mine.
Matthew: Keep on walking!
Dave: You’re not complaining, you’re exchanging.
Mike: City’s are built with a lot more sprawl nowadays. The only thing that makes it possible for us to walk as much as we do is the amount of things in close proximity.
Barbara: Thank you, I am enjoying my reign, and you gave me the love first.
Miguel: Fostering independence. That is precisely correct.
Blogger Dad: Me too. I write in my head while I’m walking. Often.
Alex: That’s the key, right? When we live in the heart of the city, we have no excuses.
Tara: That’s because they’re probably used to sitting in front of the TV, and now kids are watching DVD’s from the back seat as well. (In zombie voice) Must have constant entertainment.
Sal: Yeah, there’s definitely too much suburban sprawl.
“Walmart (yeah, yeah, boo, hiss)”
No WAY. Walmart has almost everything I need and is open at 3 in the morning. Also, I can keep the Tompkins house on a budget without sacrificing my GreatValue Almond Sweet-N-Salty Bars. (Only 10g of sugar and is better than a candy bar!)
I am totally with you on this one.
Hayden Tompkinss last blog post..How to Be A Man
what you are saying makes sense. They cost you have to pay to drive there is like a cheap tuition considering it is free for you guys. You can probably get a lot of other stuff in while you drive there and back and it still is like you’re only paying a cheap tuition.
Ultimate Blogging Experiments last blog post..4 Reasons to Create Your Own Product for Your Blog
I live in a city now where I can walk or bike most places and do so. But most suburban Americans don’t live near anything walkable, leaving no choice but to drive. Public transportation is sorely lacking except in very urbanized areas. Lifestyles and living situations are going to have to change radically to create any semblance of feasibility for real communities that move beyond the forced isolation that suburbia fosters.
Hi there! I’m a first time visitor! Great post. My son and I haven’t had a car in 2 years now, so we walk or take the city bus everywhere. Sometimes I can relate to the niceness, but most times I can’t. Maybe that’s because my car is not back at my apt waiting for us!lol
My son does NOT see any good in walking EVER! He’s 10. So I try to have a good attitude about it as much as I can. IT CAN be fun ..S.O.M.E.T.I.M.E.S.
R.L.Scovenss last blog post..God Moves Strangers’ Hearts For Us!
What more can I say…
Chriss last blog post..The First Step Out
We own two cars too. Most people from where I live in will find owning two cars a luxury, considering that we also stay near the heart of town and should have no problems taking public transport.
Yet, one of the most pleasant things I look forward to each day is the walk that I take when I pick my little girl from school in the afternoons. I try to practice awareness in my steps along the journey there. It’s something that I do to practice being in the Now. After I pick up my daughter, I undertake to listen to her fully as she tells me about her day at school. Almost every moment is well spent in this 10 minute walk each day.
Evelyn Lims last blog post..Planet Of Dreams
Hayden: Thanks. In my neck of the woods, if you say you like Walmart, it’s kind of like saying that you like to eat deer… that you killed yourself… for fun.
Ultimate Blogging Experiment: It works out well, but it’s a lot of shuffling.
New Age Bitch: You’re correct. It’s easy for me to say this because I live downtown. My father lives about twenty minutes away from me, but in his neighborhood, you have to walk for half an hour, just to see a city street.
R.L. Scovens: You seem like a wonderful mom and you have a sweet blog.
Chris: Thanks, Chris.
Evelyn: The trip home from school, even though it’s in a car, is also one of my favorite times of the day. I love to hear about the school day and all the playground and classroom adventures.
You said, “Seated, I could never see the steam ascending a coffee cup as it loses it’s thick to clear air, sailing from the lips of a quiet man who looks too old in his solitude.”
I said, “You’re on a role, WD. Thanks for giving me a much needed break from the sameness of my job. Just don’t tell my boss :)”
Ryans last blog post..Victory is Mine
Hey there, love the blog, so I’ll be checking it out a lot now!
Todd Andrewss last blog post..The Most Infamous Girl in the History of the Internet
This is a good reminder to consider when I actually need to drive. We are considering moving across town where I can walk to my children’s preschool and walk to our favorite park.
Stacey / CreateaBalances last blog post..Arriving at the Moment of Your Dream (Wordless Wednesday)
I’m inspired! But what’s your breaking point? I mean, what is the distance that you would drive instead of walk?
katys last blog post..Is playing computer/video games that bad?
When I was younger, I used to walk to school every day (up until high school, which was about an hour away if I walked). I recall in kindergarten telling one of my friends that I walk to school every day, and she was completely shocked… I guess she got a ride to school every day.
In elementary school, my little sister and I used to hang our backpacks on my baby brother’s stroller and run and skip around on the way to school… I remember always enjoying those walks to school.
Allisons last blog post..Taste and Create 11, A Little Foodie Love
Ryan: I’m hear whenever you need a lift. See you tomorrow.
Todd: Thanks Todd. Your blog made me smile.
Stacy: Yeah, this summer has made me re-calibrate how I feel about sticking my keys in the ignition.
Katy: The furthest we regularly walk is to our city’s main library. It’s twenty-two city blocks round trip. That’s about as far as we’ll go. On the weekend, walks are early, long, and leisurely. When we return home, we collapse in bed and take a nap. It’s awesome.
Allison: Your memories might sing in a different key if they were shot from behind a window. Thanks for the comment.
Wise Writer Dad. I really like the last paragraph you wrote, “You seel things through a different lens…”
What are we all rushing towards anyway? Some pretend happiness in the future? Well, last time I checked I found we are all going to die so why have all these rushing moments?
I’m glad you can put it in practice. I still drive quite a bit but I agree with your sentiments. In fact, I should get off my ass and get on my bike!
Ellen Wilsons last blog post..Freelance Business Burnout
Hi Writer Dad,
This is frickin’ weird: Just as you were perusing Baboon of Magnesia, I was checking out your blog for the first time, thinking, “I LIKE this guy!” Thanks to City Mama, we have found each other!
Actually - I will be a guest poster on City Mama some time in the next week or two. She & I go way back to, like, 2005 or 2006.
I have subscribed to your blog, too. It’s very good (and funny)!
Best,
Twizzle
twizzles last blog post..Friday Night
That’s awesome - well, not that you had to fill up — but that you went almost all summer without having to!
I enjoy biking, and do this to get to work regularly. It feels good, it’s good for the environment, and it saves money at the gas pump. It’s a triple win - for you the win is even bigger - time spent talking and teaching your children. Way important.
When my wife and I go on walks in the nieghborhood, our youngest son loves to hang around and join us (the other two are too old and too cool I guess!). It’s just a fun time to be together - and that’s one of the beauties of walks. Heres to many more for you and your family!
Lances last blog post..Dreams For Our World
Ellen: I only started these new habits because of circumstance, but I would like to change my circumstances so that I might maintain my new habits. Thanks, also, for your words earlier. They were very kind.
Twizzle: Yay, City Mama! It is nice to have met you.
Lance: All of a sudden, the car feels a lot smaller.
I love walking too. It puts everything into a new perspective. And I always think of lots of stuff to write down when I get home! Your kids are fortunate that you have exposed them to this walking thing, WD.
Jennys last blog post..Chow Time
Hey Writer Dad,
How big is your town, anyway? You mentioned that the school is across the town but you walk there? Just curious.
I prefer “extreme walking” (running) on a daily basis. If Heaven is headphones on my ears, a cool morning breeze and a jog through a quiet subdivision every single day for eternity…well that’d be just fine with me.
Thank you for adding so much magic and grace to a post that could have simply been about saving money on gasoline.
I was browsing the killer titles at ProBlogger and came across yours. I really enjoy your style and voice. I have subscribed. Thanks.
millar prescotts last blog post..masturbation means never having to say you’re sorry
Jenny: Yes, I rarely walk without juggling children and thought.
Andy: Thank you for saying that. I hadn’t thought of my post in that way, but I really like it.
Millar Prescott: I am very glad to have you.
I hated living in the ‘burbs because nothing was within walking distance. It was a 1 hour walk to Walmart (yes, I did do it once). Then I moved downtown and I walked everywhere. I did everything by foot and I loved it. Where I live now is a bit in the middle. I can walk to the grocery store and drug store, but anything else requires driving. The Lion and I have two cars, but one car leaves the driveway maybe once a month. At least it is paid for, so it doesn’t cost us anything to have it available for the rare occasions we do need two cars.
Urban Panthers last blog post..Cut and run
I think it’s great that you teach your kids they don’t have to drive every place they go. I don’t drive. Never have. And as a kid, my mother didn’t drive either. So I learned young about walking and public transportation. Many folks about drop dead of shock when I tell them I don’t drive, but honestly, I have no desire to. Great post.
Amy Derbys last blog post..What’s Your Dream Gig?
WD,
I used to live downtown, but have since moved to the suburbs. The problem is that the closest grocery store is 8 miles. Not a horrible walk, but carrying items might be a bit prohibitive. There is a close convenience store, however, within easy walking distance (a mile or so). Of course, the difference in prices there might be about equal to the savings in gas.
I admire your attempt, and if I still lived close to downtown within easy walking of all of my needs, I would do the same. I think I will try minimizing my car use anyhow. I’ve already trimmed quite a few miles off of my normal summer binge of driving, so I might as well see if I can take it further. Perhaps it is time for a new bicycle. Then again, winter is not far off. Be well.
Ian
“Miles are like dollars; sometimes they should be felt. ” True on so many levels. That’s going to stick with me for awhile. Thanks for the food for thought this weekend….
Sara at On Simplicitys last blog post..Three Things You’d Save in an Emergency