Libertine: On the Prowl

Vidi, vici, veni -- I saw, I conquered, I came. _______________________________________________________________

One Car Families

12:11, 2008-Jul-24 .. Posted in personal .. 7 comments .. Link

When I was growing up, one didn't usually see as many cars per household as is common today. Many middle class families had just one car, even when another car could have been afforded.

I'm not sure of why this was so, but I would imagine the fact that more women were stay at home mothers back then, plus the fact that people simply stayed at home more had something to do with it. I'm guessing that the biggest reason was that people had a different yardstick of what they really needed as opposed to what was a luxury back then.

And this many times turned into a reasonable amount of inconvenience for many families, particularly the at home mother. In most one-car families, the husband took the car to get to work each morning, leaving the wife stranded at home until he returned, even in areas where public transportation was readily available. This meant that the mother could not go grocery shopping, take a kid to the doctor, or pick them up from school if they got sick there during the day.

We had only one car when my mother was still alive, though I know my Dad could have afforded a second car. However, as a thoughtful husband, he took the bus and later the high-speed commuter train to go to work, leaving my mother with the car for the day. She simply drove him to the bus stop por train station each morning, then picked him up again in the afternoon.

I remember one time when I was nine or ten that I went with her one afternoon to pick him up at the bus stop but he never appeared at the right time. It turned out that he fell asleep on the 20 mile bus ride back home and had ridden past his stop. I don't remember exactly how we sorted it out, but I imagine we just went home and waited for him to call.

I can't imagine one-car households where more than one licensed driver lives anymore -- even poor people now usually have more than one car, even if both of them are old bombs. But if gas prices continue their upward spiral, I imagine we could see this phenomenon again one day soon.

I'd be curious to hear about the experiences of any of my readers who grew up in one-car households.

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12:15, 2008-Jul-24 .. Posted by Chica
I grew up with a two car family. Both junkers, then eventually both decent cars. The family that I have now though, well we only have one car, always have, most likely always will. It's an inconvenience, but if you can't pay for it, you can't have it.

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12:22, 2008-Jul-24 .. Posted by kinnigurl
I grew up on a farm, 20 miles from the nearest town. We actually were a several vehicle family, not because we were "rich" but just out of necessity. We had 3 trucks, and 1 car, the trucks used for farm work and the car was used to get back and forth to school, town etc. My mom worked full time as did my father so all vehicles were necessities. Now, I have one vehicle, and probably only drive it about once a week and that is only when I have to take Donna to an appointment that I need to make sure to be on time. I have started walking to do all my other chores, even groceries, and only buy as much as I can carry. I often have to make 5 or 6 trips during the week, but it saves gas and I am getting in better shape.

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01:56, 2008-Jul-24 .. Posted by slayerbarbie
My parents both had cars. My mom had a Chevette and my dad had an Escort. My sister and I walked to school and later rode the bus.

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04:55, 2008-Jul-24 .. Posted by logis
One car household and it was never a problem. My dad didn't mind driving around in the weekend to do the groceries and other needed things. I guess it's how you make the rules.

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11:14, 2008-Jul-25 .. Posted by littleMissConfused
My dad was an auto body repairman. At times we had more cars then drivers! He was always working on one in the garage. All my siblings had cars by the time they were 16. (I didn't get my license until I was 24)

With my mom being blind by the time I was 6, she and I took the bus to go to doctor appointments or shopping. My sister would drive us to the grocery store once a month and my dad was the one to stop and pick up things like milk and bread when needed.

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02:10, 2008-Jul-26 .. Posted by texican
We were a one-car family until Dad remarried. During both of my marriages, we had two vehicles. I don't know how we could have managed without. I'm sure we could have, but I'm glad I never had to find out.

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09:33, 2008-Jul-31 .. Posted by grimfairy
Single car for us. My dad has always been the driver, although my mom takes it out in rare occasions. She's not licensed but definitely drives well. Hell, I've let her drive my car!