The Ink-Pot and the Palette

Boy, I know what you mean! I adore my car--truly I do. I've owned only two cars in my life, and this second one is way, way, WAY better than the first. What's more, it's paid for and probably has a good 50,000 miles left on the engine before it even BEGINS to give me trouble.

I'd love to tell you that the decision (should I end up making it) is environmental and spiritual, but the fact is, my car's manufacturer just announced that it will cease all production of gas engines within seven years, and the writing is on the wall: get rid of it now or have a shiny black albatross forever.

And of course, I won't be able to afford another private vehicle for the foreseeable future. Can't justify a gas one, can't see a better alternative anyway.

I will miss my built-in bluetooth handsfree phone and the wonderful stereo and the moon roof. I will miss that amazingly insular feeling that you can only get inside a car.

But, adventure calls. Brave new world. Alladat.