After living on a campus known for its seven miles of bike trail and 14,000+ bikes, it's sort of a weird feeling driving to school here. UC Santa Barbara was best known for its student community adjacent to the campus, Isla Vista, where I happened to live for the three years after I moved out of the dorms. I took for granted not having a car and walking/biking no more than 15 minutes from my house to the farthest part of campus.
But now here in Stockton with temperatures in the high 100s, I can't do that anymore. First, because parts of this city are not "pedestrian" friendly to put it nicely. Secondly, I live about two miles from the campus. It took me 30 minutes to ride to work once and I was drenched in sweat by the time I arrived. No leisurely rides for me here.
This is all great news, considering gas is over $4.50 a gallon right now.
I sort of also took for granted my 12 Euro bus pass in France. But do not miss all the billions of strikes that occurred on a weekly basis. If I could walk 25-50 minutes to get to my elementary schools in torrential rain.... never mind, I refuse to do that again.
It is nice to have a vehicle again, even if it cuts in to my future children's college funds...
But now here in Stockton with temperatures in the high 100s, I can't do that anymore. First, because parts of this city are not "pedestrian" friendly to put it nicely. Secondly, I live about two miles from the campus. It took me 30 minutes to ride to work once and I was drenched in sweat by the time I arrived. No leisurely rides for me here.
This is all great news, considering gas is over $4.50 a gallon right now.
I sort of also took for granted my 12 Euro bus pass in France. But do not miss all the billions of strikes that occurred on a weekly basis. If I could walk 25-50 minutes to get to my elementary schools in torrential rain.... never mind, I refuse to do that again.
It is nice to have a vehicle again, even if it cuts in to my future children's college funds...
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