Combatting global warming, one gas guzzler at a time

Susan and I own five cars. This is, by my count, three more than the maximum we could be driving at the same time. OK, my eldest daughter is driving one. And they're all eight years old or more. But still, five.

None of them are in Italy, nor do we have one. We plan to rent for some trips, our friends give us rides, but in general we get around on foot, via public transportation.

So, instead of driving to the Big Box three times on a Saturday to try to get the right size shower handle (Yes, I am quite the repair man), every trip requires a good degree of planning. The local hypermarket (Fred Meyer in Bend would be the best equivalent) is a mile or so down the road, which is near the operational limit of a baby-enabled stroller with parental units. Fortunately, we live right on the bus line and it goes right to the store. Even more fortunately, a very good grocery store is next door.

Of course, we're living the way most of the people in the world (at least those that live in cities with busses or subways) have lived since the invention of the bus. We're adjusting surprisingly easily.

If you do a careful analysis of Costco Bend's parking lot load factor you should see a decline of about 2.736 car hours per week.