New Ride

you may remember this post about us thinking about getting a second car.  some of you may even think that we did in fact actually purchase that car.  well, after a few months of deliberating we concluded that we should not purchase the car, but instead score a better bike for jon.



"why would we do that?," you might ask.  well, adding on a new car, even a super duper inexpensive one, is adding on an expense.  we really enjoy the simplicity of our one car life in colorado.  we know that if we got another car we'd both bike a whole lot less, and, let's face it, we need to exercise.  we are in our 30's you know.  yikes.

buying a new car isn't just buying a new car.  it's gas and oil changes and repairs and insurance and registration.  it's complicating life.  how much better to simply be content with the one we have.

so we decided on a new bike instead.  a good one that won't cause back pain (we're getting old remember), but not so good it'd get stolen on campus.

a couple of years ago, when i was first pregnant with rowan, we were thinking about getting a bigger car.  a wise person suggested that we consider keeping the car we already owned free and clear and just reconfigure how we use the car on long trips and day to day.  know what we've discovered? our car is plenty big enough, and our kids are perfectly fine to squeeze across the second row so we can load down the back with all of our stuff.  even on multiple 21 hour long car trips.

so, is it wrong to get a new car or have a second car? does everyone live in a bike friendly community where having only one car is possible?  no, of course not.  but there is wisdom in evaluating if getting one is the best use of the resources that God so graciously provides, and to consider how else you might be able to give that same amount you'd be spending to advance the Gospel and further God's kingdom.  and having only one car isn't as hard as you might think it'd be...