Zoot, not having a car or ever having had one is an interesting lifestyle option in itself. What's the reason?Originally Posted by ZootHornRollo
Zoot, not having a car or ever having had one is an interesting lifestyle option in itself. What's the reason?
Poacher turned game-keeper
ah no particular reason DT: didn't really need one at uni, and have never seen the need for one living in London.
Admittedly, it would have made things easier the last year, would have allowed me to get to more races etc.
But I dislike the motor car - or at least the obsession with the motor car in this country and the damaging effect on both cities and countryside. Every time I see a traffic jam I see a joke being played on us all - by ourselves.
This country followed the US and bought into a motor car-dominated transport system from the late 1960s onwards, while more civilised countries on the continent made sure their rail and bus networks were up to scratch.
Even when the trains work well here - you get to the other end and there's little integration with buses for onward travel.
I am in a sense 'giving up' by considering buying a van. I hate the impact increasing traffic volumes have on places like the Lakes.
Old Man Wainwright was right to bemoan rising traffic in the place, and that was forty years ago. He should see it now!
Last edited by ZootHornRollo; 26-05-2010 at 11:38 AM.
Interesting post Zoot. Have you been to Yosemite in California? There are no car park and after parking out of the valley you get a bus in. Could be an option in Langdale?
Drifting back on topic this must be the best thread we've had on here for yonks and at a time when things seem quiet generally
I'm pretty happy with my Work Life Balance. It's very rare I have to work at weekends apart from when travelling abroad. In the week I can get to races in the summer or club runs in winter even with an hour's drive in the evening. I travel abroad probably ten weeks a year and get to some very stimulating places (I'm meeting a guy from the states for dinner in Saigon, Vietnam in twenty minutes) and I'm well looked after by my employees
Poacher turned game-keeper
Adrian, that's what I paid for my 3 year old Peugeot Expert HDI with just 30,000 miles on the clock. And there's nothing super-skillful about the way that I've adapted it, just a bit of ingenious/alternative thinking.
BUT if we are going to be realistic ( and I'm not intending it as derogatory criticism ) in order to turn your back on a "money centred life-style" you do need practical skills.....service the van when there isn't a bucketful of cash to throw at the local garage......plumbing and electrics around the house rather than throwing a bucketful of money at local tradesmen ...etc..etc. Without being prepared to get your hands dirty, "dropping out of the rat race" will remain just a dream.
Plus, I've always got a kick out of what mid-West ranchers refer to as "doing a lot with a little"
Ian.
Last edited by wheezing donkey; 26-05-2010 at 12:17 PM.
You're absolutely right there Ian, and those are things I'd be determined to do and learn. But starting with fitting a van out just seems like making things difficult for myself at the moment: I'd have nowhere to work for a start-off, it'd be parked nose-to-tail in a narrow terraced street.
I find this thread really interesting but I'm kind of flumoxed as to what my own perfect work~life balance is; like everyone I'm sure its full of compromises, checks and balances and sure as eggs is eggs if you spend you're whole life seeking perfection a) you'll never get there and b) if you did actually get there you wouldn't recognise it and continue to seek more and more. In many ways its often the crap or mundane parts of life that make the fun and exciting stuff that much more appreciated. Take me for instance...
I live in a truly wonderful part of the country --- hooray!
I work in Leeds, 42 miles away --- boo!
I love being out in the wilds, whether running a ridge line, swimming in a lake or wandering through a forest --- hooray!
I spend all my time at work either in meetings, in an office or stuck in a car travelling to meetings or the office --- boo!
I earn a pretty good salary and have a not too shabby company car --- hooray!
I'm still broke, still have a big mortgage and no longer like my car and want a newer/better one --- boo!
I totally adore my kids and am fantastically proud of both of them --- hooray!
I have a tough time with the missus --- boo!
I have a realistic/unrealistic (depending on your viewpoint), wonderfully, and probably naively, enthusiastic, slightly sarcastic, flippant and laxidasical outlook on life --- hooray!
I have a realistic/unrealistic (depending on your viewpoint), wonderfully and probably naively enthusiastic, slightly sarcastic, flippant and laxidasical outlook on life --- boo!
Oh and sometimes less isn't more; I also love reading, watching films, yes lounging about on settee watching TV, playing the odd video game, watching football on TV (yep the big TV is mine, all mine for the duration of the world cup) and even drinking the occasional beer and the odd glass of wine.
So sue me
Last edited by Stolly; 26-05-2010 at 12:24 PM.
Sat in woodhall services in back of my van, just brewed up and now have soup, peas and carrots on the go whilst the masses pour into eat that crap they serve up. Had a couple of funny looks as ive got the side door open. Nice and simple eh.
Top style, Darren. Sheer aplomb!
Getting thro a few gas bottles mind. Right back to work. Get me bowl out and do the dishes. Self sufficient , bliss
Sounds a pretty good balance of a bit of everything to me Stolly !I find this thread really interesting but I'm kind of flumoxed as to what my own perfect work~life balance is; like everyone I'm sure its full of compromises, checks and balances and sure as eggs is eggs if you spend you're whole life seeking perfection a) you'll never get there and b) if you did actually get there you wouldn't recognise it and continue to seek more and more. In many ways its often the crap or mundane parts of life that make the fun and exciting stuff that much more appreciated. Take me for instance...
I live in a truly wonderful part of the country --- hooray!
I work in Leeds, 42 miles away --- boo!
I love being out in the wilds, whether running a ridge line, swimming in a lake or wandering through a forest --- hooray!
I spend all my time at work either in meetings, in an office or stuck in a car travelling to meetings or the office --- boo!
I earn a pretty good salary and have a not too shabby company car --- hooray!
I'm still broke, still have a big mortgage and no longer like my car and want a newer/better one --- boo!
I totally adore my kids and am fantastically proud of both of them --- hooray!
I have a tough time with the missus --- boo!
I have a realistic/unrealistic (depending on your viewpoint), wonderfully, and probably naively, enthusiastic, slightly sarcastic, flippant and laxidasical outlook on life --- hooray!
I have a realistic/unrealistic (depending on your viewpoint), wonderfully and probably naively enthusiastic, slightly sarcastic, flippant and laxidasical outlook on life --- boo!
Oh and sometimes less isn't more; I also love reading, watching films, yes lounging about on settee watching TV, playing the odd video game, watching football on TV (yep the big TV is mine, all mine for the duration of the world cup) and even drinking the occasional beer and the odd glass of wine.
So sue me
There must be some truth is the statement "you can have too much of a good thing" I reckon - would we start to appreciate the good things in life less if we could have/do whatever we wanted at any time. (Or would we all be as happy as pigs in mud all of the time! Maybe!
My work/life balance is weighing too much on the work side of things this year.
I work in London, live in Nottingham & spend a hell of a lot of time on trains and not enough time with loved ones and doing things I enjoy.
But I like my job, I am good at it and proud of my work achievements, so at least I am not dragging myself out of bed every day to go somewhere I hate. I WANT to be here - just not quite so much as I am and without the overheads on my time (and drain on my energy sometimes). Hopefully what I am doing now lead on to better things, closer to home, which will bring with it a more equal balance, with enough money to be able to afford somewhere nice to live and come home to.
So I am not complaining.
Well no actually yes I am complaining. I need an extra day in the week to fit more good stuff into. Or maybe 2. Or maybe a teleportation machine. That would work
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