Living without a car for a year was something I thought I could never do.
I love the freedom I get from having a car, I love to drive, and it makes me feel incredible.
I sold my old wreck of a car that was bad for the environment because I was working in the environmental sector at the time. I was 24 at the time and had had my licence for a few years and enjoyed driving and owning a few different cars.
I never thought that selling it for $300 just to get rid of it would have felt so good. I was living out in the suburbs at the time, about 25km from the city. My office was in the city and I spent a lot of my free time enjoying Melbourne for what it had to offer; the pubs, the restaurants, the cafes, the shopping. The public transport system was not great, but I could get around. I love to walk, and without a car that meant a lot of walking! My closest supermarket was 4 kms away from home so I got my fair share of strength training just to get food supplies.
Winter time was particularly tough, but I felt great and that is what is important. Living without a car for a year was a way for me to get creative resource wise, enjoy my surrounds and find out what my city and suburb really had to offer.

© June 2011. Brandi Jefferson. All Rights Reserved.