Today, as promised, I walked to work. I don't mind walking to work - it's only about 7 blocks away. It is one of the reasons we chose this apartment - so I could walk or ride my bike instead of drive. But usually I'm lazy and I drive anyway. Oh, don't narrow your eyes at me - you'd probably do it too. If it's rainy, or cold, or you're late. Or tired. Or just don't want to walk. But I piled on my jacket, hat, ear muffs, and gloves. I put on my Pumas (they're really old... and where I'd previously have thought to myself "these are too old, time for new ones!" I haven't). And I walked. Walking is great. I don't know how I could possibly be too lazy to walk 7 blocks. It takes me about 10 minutes, it gives me some sunshine and exercise, and I usually read while I walk, too. I got to work feeling awake and fresh and ready to start my first day back at work after my recent vacation. The whole day I was full of energy and gladness. I carried my lunch to work today - the egg salad pitas, left over potatoes and butter beans, and a tea bag (for hot tea).
At the end of the day, Steven and I made spinach lasagna with the homemade noodles we worked on yesterday. We used the spinach lasagna recipe from the "Animal, Vegetable, Mineral" website. I think in the future we won't boil the lasagna first - the fresh spinach made the whole meal a bit runny. However, still tasty, and still incredibly satisfying knowing how much work we put into it ourselves.
Finding alternative modes of getting around town isn't hard. Even if I worked on the other side of town, I'm fortunate enough to have a great bus system at my disposal. And if I did have to drive to get to work, there are always other things that don't require a car. A walk to the post office, or to a neighbor's house, perhaps? America has turned into the Land of Convenience. Time is money, we say. But think again: isn't gasoline, too? Driving when it isn't necessary isn't just bad for our purse (gas costs of money!), but it's generally bad for our environment. Walking or riding bikes also helps you soak up some Vitamin D and exercise. Obviously these haven't been enough of an incentive for most people. But here's some food for thought:
- Of each 1,000 units of pollution in urban areas, 560 come from cars, and just seven from buses and coaches.
- According to the Department of Health (of the U.K.), up to 24,000 early deaths a year result from poor air quality in our cities, much of it caused by exhaust fumes.
- In 6,000 miles a car will produce roughly its own weight in CO2 emissions.
- Cars induce us to be lazier and unhealthier. Over a third of car journeys are less than two miles in distance. Research in the US has shown that people who live in the suburbs, where car ownership tends to be highest, weigh six pounds more than those living in the city centers, where the use of public transport, as well as cycling and waking, is much higher.
Facts from "A Good Life: The Guide to Ethical Living"ISBN 9781903919897
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