10 + 15 != 2007

[Lord of Oats]

I'd never heard of these carsharing things until this thread. Not only do we not have that here, I had no idea this type of thing existed.

Is an "Ikea run" a normal and socially acceptable thing on that side of the country, equivalent to a grocery run? For me, a "run" usually implies, "Oh, hey, I need something right quick. Allow me to drive to the nearest acceptable store and acquire it with urgency." I couldn't imagine saying, "Shit! I forgot, I don't have an ottoman! And I really need one right now! Damnit! Hey, I'll be right back! I'm just making a quick Ikea run!"

Then again, we don't have Ikea here either. To be fair, I might make a run to Big Lots, looking for nothing in particular. But then I always feel like I've ruined the whole run, after I've spent thirty minutes looking at garbage I have no reason for buying.

Anyway, I'm not trying to pick on your diction or anything. I'm just curious about life over there. I have a feeling I'm going to have some pretty severe culture shock when I move to that side.

[anti-m]

I have a feeling I'm going to have some pretty severe culture shock when I move to that side.

What brings you to the left coast?

[anti-m]

Also, don't know where you are in FL. but hey!

http://www.flexcar.com/Default.aspx?tabid=445

[Billy's Little Trip]

The whole idea of not owning a car because it's too expensive, seem preposterous. But then again, I think mass transit is a hassle.
I like the security and comfort of knowing that I have a car sitting in my garage ready to go anytime I feel like going. I don't mind taking my dogs for a run, which I do daily, or going mountain biking, which I do weekly. But walking somewhere just seems so, ....I don't know, slow?
I'm not knocking others feeling about this, I'm just trying to understand how I could live without a car, with my spontaneous lifestyle, kids, etc. I can see how a long commute to work could be cool to take a train, but I'd need a car waiting for me at each end.

[fluffy]

If I had kids or a social life then I'd probably not be trying to sell my car (which, by the way, I already have an offer on, woo) but being a single person living in the middle of a dense urban area right next door to a grocery store, with pretty good mass transit nearby, and working about 5 blocks from home, makes the expense of owning a car not worth it.

I own a car and I have driven it once in the last month. I will also be driving tonight, to meet up with a friend for dinner. Given that the cost of ownership here is $450/month, that means that I'm basically paying $225/ride. It's not that it's too expensive for me or anything, but I also have a hard time justifying this pointless expense when there's a lot of other things that I <em>don't</em> do because $8/month seems "too expensive."

And, yes, when Ikea is nearby, Ikea runs do happen. If you have Ikea furniture then you also have a tendency to need to buy new Ikea furniture at any moment, due to breakage and/or whimsy.

Car ownership didn't use to be the default position to take, and I still don't think it should be. Obviously it depends on the sort of place you live in and the sort of lifestyle you have. Your environment and lifestyle require you to own a car. When I lived in New Mexico I needed to own a car. When I moved to NYC I sold my car. When I moved to Seattle I immediately bought a car since I thought I needed it again, but for the most part it's been a waste of money. Considering how much I'm getting for it vs. how much I paid on it for registration, taxes, insurance, interest, and dealing with crap like when it got broken into a year ago, I probably paid about $3/mile.

It has little to do with the environment (it's not like my car is actively damaging anything just sitting there), something to do with the opportunity cost (that $450/mo could be going to much more useful and fun things), and a lot to do with the hassle of owning something I never use but still have to pay attention to and give a crap about.

[wages]

The whole idea of not owning a car because it's too expensive, seem preposterous. But then again, I think mass transit is a hassle.
I like the security and comfort of knowing that I have a car sitting in my garage ready to go anytime I feel like going. I don't mind taking my dogs for a run, which I do daily, or going mountain biking, which I do weekly. But walking somewhere just seems so, ....I don't know, slow?
I'm not knocking others feeling about this, I'm just trying to understand how I could live without a car, with my spontaneous lifestyle, kids, etc. I can see how a long commute to work could be cool to take a train, but I'd need a car waiting for me at each end.

I think all of a society has to fall in together for mass transit/walking/biking to work. Of course, I just got back from Amsterdam where I walked all over the place for 3 weeks. We utilized the train and rented bikes. Of course, that really only works when it is a small centrally located place like Amsterdam... but some situations are better without a car... though I doubt it is much the case in the great expanse of the United States.

<b>In other news....</b>
I got a new website setup. I'm getting my AAW re-uploaded right now. If anyone sees any links to songs of mine that are broken and you want the song, PM me and I will get it uploaded.

<b>And here I am (finally) promoting SongFight! in Amsterdam:</b>
<img src="http://www.philwages.com/images/2007100 ... _small.jpg">

[Hoblit]

When I lived in Atlanta I had a car off and on but didn't really like the expense. My folks gave me their old Jimmy when they bought a more practical car. I hardly drove it. I drove it mostly to visit them. At the time I NEVER left the city and when I did I walked, rode a bike, took transit. I was way too close to everything. I could literally walk to the grocery store and back faster than I could (get in the car, get through three lights, find a parking spot, then walk from there into the store back out to the car, get through three lights...) drive there.

I lived in Tampa for a couple of years without a car because I found an apartment close to work and near enough to a grocery store to bike to. However, its DEFINITELY NOT THE SAME. Then I was moved to field tech where I finally broke down and bought a car. (I loved that Mazda) It died while I was in between FT jobs.

Now, I have two more cars and boy is it expensive. One four cylinder '86 Toyota MR2 which is GREAT on gas. And an eight cylinder '89 Lincoln Town Car which is HORRIBLE on gas.

[Spud]

Right now, I make two or three IKEA runs a week.

SPUD

[Billy's Little Trip]

We vacation on Catalina Island every so often, and they don't have cars on the island. You either walk, ride a bike or rent a golf cart. But everything is so close that walking is fine. But I love cursing the Island on mopeds and go to the uninhabited areas.
I couldn't imagine walking to the grocery store and carrying back bags of groceries. I don't even like carrying my groceries from the trunk of my car in the driveway, to my kitchen, lol.

[Ross]

QOTD:

Mr. Boffo

[Lord of Oats]

I have a feeling I'm going to have some pretty severe culture shock when I move to that side.

What brings you to the left coast?

I'm not really enjoying this state too much. I'm sure it's got a little more to offer in its cities, which I will likely explore a bit, before I take off completely, but I won't feel bad about leaving it behind. That said, I can't change too much at once. I'm looking for a temperate climate with moderate humidity. I'm not terribly confident in my body's ability to adjust to a totally dry climate. My mucous membranes are very used to a certain amount of moisture in the air. I think they'll adapt, but I don't want to freak them out. Also, too much snow will probably ruin my life. I've never had to deal with any, ever. It might be nice, once in a while. But I don't need it all over all the time. So the middle of the country is out. Water is nice to have around, I think. Not that I wouldn't be okay without it. But the Pacific seems fairly exciting and has greater sensory appeal than the Gulf of Mexico, on many levels. If I'm going to move at all, why not just go for the opposite corner of the nation? There are a few things tying me to where I am right now, but soon enough, there won't be.

I've been to some places over there. I've liked them. I like a lot of music that comes from your region. Maybe they'll like mine. I think I'd fit in better, culturally. I've been very into coffee, lately. I eat natural foods and things and I have disdain for big corporations. I drive fuel efficient vehicles and I read and think about things, and pay attention to what's going on. I'm hoping to find like-minded people, I suppose. There aren't too many around here. I'm sure there are idiots and assholes (totally subjective judgments) everywhere, so the focus is positive (Find some good people, as opposed to get away from the bad people). I've found quite a few people I like on here, but for some reason, everybody freaks out when I say, "Oh, hey, you're cool. Can I move to your city?" Which, okay, maybe that's kind of weird. But uh. I don't know. Me and this place have never really worked out. You might then say that maybe I'm not fit for human society, as I really shouldn't be having such problems getting by, but uh, I guess we'll see when it happens.

I'm not really near Gainesville, at all. It's quite a trip up I-75. So I'd have to drive pretty far to get to those cars. I actually discovered this during my initial research on Flexcar. Meh. This is an interesting concept. But not only is this not anywhere near me, but it would be completely impractical for me not to own a car. Stuff is way too spaced out here. Yummy, sprawl. I actually have two cars. A nice one and a beater for work. The first one is expensive, but it's probably worth it for the peace of mind that comes with it. The car I had before these was $1000 and cost me $90 a month or so to insure. But it was awful. And then it broke. I got a new car. Payments are a little under $300 a month for five years. Insurance is a ridiculous $240 or so a month, since I have to have full coverage. I bought a car for work, so as not to destroy my expensive car, for $400. It costs an extra $30-40 a month in insurance. I've had to do some repairs. The most expensive was a new battery for $60. It costs about $200 to register a car in Flordia, if you need a tag. A transfer is a lot less. The annual fee to renew your registration is about $40. So the total expenses to operate my work car, not counting fuel, has been well under $1000. My new car has sucked, let's see...over $8000 out of me since I bought it. That's gross to think about. The point is, if you're willing to drive a piece of crap that breaks all the time, driving is not that expensive. But ugh. You wouldn't believe the differences in how people treat you, based on what kind of car you're driving.

Okay, I think I'm about done.

[Lord of Oats]

Phil...speaking of broken links. Your picture isn't working.

[Lord of Oats]

Last night some friends and I started a band. We're really fast metal/hardcore and we're called Dickfist. We are working on songs to play shows. I am the guitarist. My middle finger and thumb bled all over my guitar from playing too hard. That's what kind of band we are.

qotd: I read Toothpaste for Dinner, Married to the Sea, and White Ninja.

Dickfist is the best band name I've heard so far this month. I hope you guys record and get a Myspace, or maybe even do some fighting on here. Also, I have never bled from playing guitar. I always thought people were exaggerating when they said they played until their fingers bled. But then again, I can only play for about twenty minutes before I get bored and leave. In a band, it might be a different story. Also, I never understood why you have to play so hard just because it's metal. I mean, the electric guitar doesn't get louder when you pound on it. It just goes out of tune. But then, maybe that's what your after. But honestly, your MAXO METAL DEATHGORE pedal should take care of that stuff for you. If you need any more gain, you can even use the dirty channel on your amp. And you can throw a couple fuzzes in your chain. And a POG.

I also read Toothpaste for Dinner and Married to the Sea. Top-notch. My friend reads Dinosaur Comics. I have yet to find any of those funny. I believe there was one that a few other friends liked called Cyanide and Happiness. Which I stopped reading. Because of the awful name. And I think I said this last time, but I hate all the newspaper comics. Back when it was in our local paper, Raising Duncan was absolutely the best comic, because it always completely lacked a punchline. It was the worst attempt at humor I've ever seen. It was funny, but only in a surrealist way. Any successful attempts at humor were totally tired, cliché, or plagiarized humor. Other times, they simply omitted it. Go read some. They're available online now. UGH.

[Lord of Oats]

And, yes, when Ikea is nearby, Ikea runs do happen. If you have Ikea furniture then you also have a tendency to need to buy new Ikea furniture at any moment, due to breakage and/or whimsy.

Right now, I make two or three IKEA runs a week.

SPUD

In light of this, I'm never setting foot in an IKEA, ever.

[Lord of Oats]

Now, I have two more cars and boy is it expensive. One four cylinder '86 Toyota MR2 which is GREAT on gas. And an eight cylinder '89 Lincoln Town Car which is HORRIBLE on gas.

Why do you need so many cars? Would not the compromise of one compact car suit you better than a two-seater and a big ass luxury sedan? Oh, wait. You have an '89 Town Car!? I'm going to come up and visit, and after we rock out, we're going to go out and run shit over in your Lincoln.

[Spud]

And, yes, when Ikea is nearby, Ikea runs do happen. If you have Ikea furniture then you also have a tendency to need to buy new Ikea furniture at any moment, due to breakage and/or whimsy.

Right now, I make two or three IKEA runs a week.

SPUD

In light of this, I'm never setting foot in an IKEA, ever.

I don't think that these two posts add up to something, in the way that you think. I do not make these runs to replace stuff. I have just built a new house, and there is stuff that I can get at IKEA for so much less than anywhere else that I end up going there. I do not share fluffy's Q.A. issues, but them perhaps I am a bit more careful about what I buy. I just bought my daughter a chest of drawers there, and it was solid wood. SOLID WOOD. Are you listening, fluffy?

Stuff that we have bought at IKEA includes kitchen cabinets, mattresses, legs for our bathroom vanities, a desktop that I cut up to make a bathroom counter, light fixtures, dressers and desks, napkins, light bulbs, free-standing lamps, a desk chair...the list goes on.

[Billy's Little Trip]

I just bought my daughter a chest of drawers there, and it was solid wood. SOLID WOOD. Are you listening, fluffy?

I bought my sons computer desk at Ikea, and it is solid wood. SOLID WOOD. Did you hear that, Fluffy?

[sausage boy]

an Ikea was built near here some months back (8 months or so) but I have never been. Not out of dislike of the business, but just because I am a lazy jackass.

I have bought nothing at Ikea, and it gives me a SOLID WOOD. SOLID WOOD. Did you hear that, Fluffy?

[Lord of Oats]

Well, if you just built a house, okay, fine. And solid wood? Maybe I will try it out. But something about making a run for furniture still sounds weird to me, so the store that causes people to act this way must employ some kind of black voodoo or something. Er...isn't IKEA a Swedish company?

I don't know. It just sounds increasingly less like a store and more like some kind of weird furniture cult.

[fluffy]

I was actually only kidding about the need for replacing stuff. I know, I don't use enough smilies to make the jokes obvious. (Though the whimsy bit is totally true.)

Though I HAVE had one Ikea piece break on me. It was a sofa frame. Made of SOLID WOOD. You hear that? SOLID WOOD.

[Lord of Oats]

This is like that time we all did this.


Steve

[Reist]

QOTD: I don't read a lot of comics, or books for that matter. If I do read comics though, usually it's Garfield, Dilbert, Luann or Archie. There's an internet comic I read once, and it was pretty funny (I can't remember the name though). For a couple weeks I was big on Achewood, but nobody I know understood the humour.