I was very fortunate (thank you, God -- I got in thanks to near-subprime-standards at the beginning of the crest of the R E boom) to find a small duplex in a modestly high end infill project, and this just before the developers realized that they could get much more for their lots than they charged me. Just shy of $145 in fall, 2003; appraised at $251 in October of '08 when I foolishly but very fortunately refinanced (1/4% higher!) to live off cashout while getting out of insurance (gag) and into resumes (smaller gag) -- and this area has maintained most of its value despite the real estate slump. I have all my commercial needs within 1/2 mile (grocery, 1/4 mile, Starbuck's, 1/8 mile, gymn, across street, etc etc) but bosque within literally a stone's throw for hiking and major N-S bike path within 1/2 mile. I am also 8 miles from daughter downtown and 8 miles from age'd mother in other direction. When I commuted, I'd ride the 15 miles to work and bus 1/2 way back. Now I bike to Mom's (11 miles by bike unless I take the heavily traffik'd 8 mile route). Bikram's yoga is halfway (bike route) between Mom and Me, restaurants galore within 5 mile radius, etc. The key is river and trees, which the bosque has -- imagine a 1/2 mile wide ribbon of green on each side of the RG in a high desert landscape.
But even I put on about 4 or 5 K miles last year, mostly for daughter and mother -- ex has typical suburban ideas about location and transport. On Thu, Jan 27, 2011 at 1:18 PM, cyclotour...@gmail.com <cyclotour...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > On Jan 27, 11:02 am, bfd <bfd...@gmail.com> wrote: >> On Jan 25, 10:56 am, "cyclotour...@gmail.com" <cyclotour...@gmail.com> >> wrote:> Car-free and car-light are two different things, and both >> > commendable!!! I doubt I will ever be car-free, but every year I try >> > to drive less and less. It's fun, saves money, gives me great >> > "parking", a little exercise, doesn't fund Islamic extremists. All my >> > local errands are done on foot or bike. Luckily I live in a place >> > where I can do that. >> >> I think your last statment is the key - live in a place where you can >> do local errands, either by bike or walking. Unfortunately, most >> Americans don't live near places to do local stuff and have no choice >> but to drive. I know this is supposedly changing with the popularity >> of "density housing" and living near "transit hubs," but let's face >> it, most Americans believe in owning a home in the suburbs where they >> have a white picket fence, the schools are good and its quiet. Hard to >> get those things living in "the city." >> >> My buddy recently started a family and decided to buy a house out in >> the suburbs. He and his wife drive everywhere. He complains about >> "filling up" a couple of times a week. He also complains about not >> having time to "go to the gym," and don't even start about the "cost >> of parking." Of course, he goes on to brag about how quiet it is >> where he lives, the lack of "riff raffs" living in his area, and the >> greatest of the local public school. >> He knows I commute to work by bike and rags on me about "growing up," >> "being out in the elements," (while he's nice a cozy in his car with >> the heater turned up, and my favorite, that "the War is Over!" - >> implying that my riding is nothing more than being fugal, no make that >> CHEAP! I laugh it off as his being jealous as I am saving money ; >> being green - as I'm not using any gas and nor adding to the >> pollution; and basically the have a reduced stress level as riding >> helps burn it off. I'm probably preaching to the choir, but who has >> it better?.... >> >> Note, I do own two cars, including a 21 year old BMW that is just fun >> to drive and definitely have to use my cars as I have two young girls >> and an elderly mom to transport. But, my commute is for me and I'm >> glad to have the option to ride! Good Luck! > > Trust me, I know I'm lucky. But it's by choice, too. We have a > smaller, older house, without the modern amenities. Wouldn't change > it for a house in the burbs for anything (and couldn't afford a house > in the city). Tuesday the fam walked downtown for pizza and beer. > Tonight I meet up up with friends to do a bicycle kitchen at our > weekly farmer's market. But I work a half hour away by car including > drop off at school and/or daycare depending on the day. No getting > around that for me. The trick for me is finding an older town, > established prior to WWII. That gives you a walkable/living scale. > Not too big, not too small said Goldilocks. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en. > > -- Patrick Moore Albuquerque, NM For professional resumes, contact Patrick Moore, ACRW at resumespecialt...@gmail.com -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
