Found an interesting article when I was googling on daily grocery shopping.
The gist of it is, we fatties would weigh less if we walked to the store instead of driving. There's an Eckerd very close by, and the IGA would even be doable if I had one of those grocery carts. Post office, doable. Library, very doable. I don't mind walking, and the area is safe. So why don't I do it?
The answer is, "What would people think?"
If we lived in a city with good public transit and few parking spaces, where lots of people didn't have cars, no problem. If we lived in an upscale, intellectual town or a college town, people would just think I was being ecological.
But we live in an older suburban area with several seedy apartment complexes nearby. Everyone drives everywhere. Mothers are so worried about their kids walking, they drive them to the school bus stop. If you aren't a total loser, YOU HAVE A CAR, even if it's only an ancient Nova.
When you see someone around here walking with shopping bags, or you see an adult riding a bike on the main road through town, you assume one of the following:
They've had too many DUI's and have lost their license.
They haven't lost their license yet, but their insurance has gone so high they can't afford to pay it.
Their car was repossessed.
They live in one of the seedy apartments.
They probably don't work, because how would they get to a job without a car.
At the very least, they must be very, very down on their luck.
Now, they might be doing it for the exercise, or the environment, or their car might be in the shop. They might be highly disciplined financially, and are saving money for a house, or graduate school or a cruise. But that's not what's going to pop into most folks' minds.
Well, I've gotten used to going to Aldi's, and buying greeting cards at the dollar store. I've admitted to people we have the $10 a month cable tv. I suppose I could learn to walk more places and not care what people think.
This week, I'll try walking to either Eckerd's or the library.
May 31st, 2006 at 07:26 pm 1149100004
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May 31st, 2006 at 08:57 pm 1149105442
Do as I do...be a character. It's a great thing in my book. You're far more interesting by being one, and may even start a new trend in your town. (And at the very least, you'll save money!)
PS - From the sounds of it, Priceplus is miles ahead of us on the path of being a character. Wow, the Jackie Gleason/Huckle Buck aerobic dance - what a picture!
June 1st, 2006 at 03:27 am 1149128871
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