1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

This month marks the 1 year anniversary since we downsized from 2 cars to 1. I first blogged about this change in the 2 Bikes, 1 Car Couple post. Considering that there are about 1.8 cars per household (source: Governing the States and Localities) in our area, we consider(ed) ourselves ahead of the curve!

Although it was super exciting at first, we found the transition pretty uneventful actually. We didn't have to adjust our habits or plans that much as a result of this change. It did and continues to require some coordination, but the fact that I work from home and my SO works within biking distance makes daily commuting quite simple, easy, and stress-free. If anything, we found ourselves wondering if we needed a car at all. It might be possible to go car-free if we didn't live in suburbia and so far away from our family. Unfortunately, the public and alternative transportation infrastructure between Maryland, Washington, DC and Virginia is pretty limited. We even have trouble biking to some of the towns nearby because of the highway jungle that surrounds us.

Either way, I'm happy to report that even in an area that is dominated by cars we've been able to function just fine with only 1 car. If anything, we're benefiting from it. We're healthier, wealthier and happier as individuals and as a couple, because we're living our values and improving our ability to live in harmony with our wonderful planet Earth each and every day.

Happy downsizing!
~Modern Akhmatova

2 BIKES, 1 CAR COUPLE

Yesterday was a big day for my SO and I. We sold my car on craigslist! We're now down to 2 bikes and 1 car as our main source of transportation. This is something we've wanted to do for about 6 months now and finally the time was right to take this huge step forward toward our dream lifestyle. In a way, we're already living our dream lifestyle. We may not be 100% there, but we've done a lot over the last year to change our habits in order to live in a way that's -

• good for the planet,
• cheaper, and
• better for our mental, physical, and spiritual health.

Selling my car yesterday was one more step in the right direction and a really important one, given the amount of CO2 emissions we will reduce as a result of it; the money we'll save not having to pay for car maintenance, gasoline, and future health care costs related to sitting on our butts for long periods of time confined to a small space, surrounded by metal, smog and unpleasant noises coming from other similar machines; and finally, the extent to which we'll enjoy our daily life that will be slower-paced, mindful, and more connected to the life around us as a result of this sale.

happy biking!

~Modern Akhmatova