something to think about

Finally got around to watching the Story of Stuff tonight.

Man, we need to make some changes. I think we may be headed back to our not-buying-anything-new experiment.

easy peasy green thing

Alright, who hates junk mail? (You should all be raising your hands right now.) Does anyone actually respond to those multiple credit card offers that come almost daily? I mean, really, the last thing I need is another credit card. And that online store from which I ordered Joel some quick-dry boxers for sink washing during our trip to Italy ? That was over 3 years ago and they are still sending catalogs. How do they find me? I mean, we've move 4 times since that trip! (The fact that we've moved 4 times in 3 years should be a subject for another time.) And really, I've never ordered anything from the Costume Outlet or Oriental Trading Company or Crate and Barrel or Pottery Barn (though I won't deny I would like to) so why the hell am I getting all these catalogs? It drives me batty. Such waste. Did you know that the average person receives 560 pieces of junk mail a year? And that each year 100 million trees are used to produce junk mail? That's right, MILLION. Oh - and and it costs $320 million (there's that word again) of taxes to dispose of all that junk mail. Really, it's right here. And here. And here.

Enough ranting. Here's the best part. Did you know you can fill out 2 simple online forms to get off mailing lists? Genius! I did it tonight and it took less than 5 minutes. Go here to stop credit card offers and here to get off mailing lists (it costs $1 per name). It's so easy! I mean, how many of us signed up for the Do Not Call Registry? Why not this, too?

And those catalogs? I'm going to start calling customer service when they come and ask to be taken off the mailing list. I got 6 catalogs yesterday. Where's my phone?

one less car

During our first 10 years of marriage, Joel and I got by with one car. It was actually pretty great because it meant that we carpooled to work and spent more time together. (Sometimes I miss driving up Airport Road in the early mornings.) Then we moved Far Away from Joel's office. Far Away = up to two hours on the bus. Each way.

Enter car number two.

Having two cars made life much easier. No more buses. No more figuring out who needed the car when. No more bumming rides from friends when one person couldn't pick up the other. But, it also meant one more car payment. One more car to fill up with gas every week. One more excuse to not take the bus or walk or ride a bike. A few months ago we started talking about selling car number two. But, it was such a nice car and a great convenience to have at our disposal. So we stalled.

Moving to the island has been a great impetus for us to change our lifestyle. We walk to school and around town and Joel now bikes to work. I guess it helps that we live in a neighborhood where it's easy to do these things. I know people who would have a hard time getting by with just one car. But, we discovered we were barely driving one car, let alone two, so it was time for the sedan to go. Joel sold it this week. We feel a little bit richer (no more car payment), a little bit freer (one less "thing") and a little bit greener.