For most of our married life, we've had just one working car. There were a few years in there where we had two working cars at the same time. But for the most part, we had either one non-working plus one working or just had a single car. Currently, we have one car that we share between 4 drivers.
A lot of the time, we don't really think about having just one car. That is unless you're the one walking a mile each way to the bus in the pouring rain.
Despite trying to have a positive attitude, there have been several negatives to the just "one car" thing.
- Sometimes, my plans to run errands or pick-up groceries conflict with another family member's plan to use the car.
- When the car needs repairs, we don't have a back-up car to use.
- When the car has broken down on the road or a driver locked themselves out of the car, there was no back-up car to go help. This actually happened. My daughter locked the key in the car while paying for gas. A couple of us took the bus up to the gas station so we could break into our own car. We also don't have a second car to jump a dead battery.
- One of us invariably plays chauffeur in order for the car to be free for another driver.
- We've each had to pass on at least one opportunity that would have helped our respective careers.
All that said, we've also found several up-sides to the just "one car" situation.
- We've really had to learn to be considerate of one another's needs. In that respect, having one car between all 4 of us has been a good thing. I think especially, this has helped our daughters learn that valuable lesson at a time in their lives when they might have become self-focused.
- We tend to do more as a family, I believe, than if we each had our own vehicles.
- We are more inclusive with all of our family members. If one or two people want to go out to the beach, we tend to invite all of the family.
- Because one of us often plays chauffeur, there is more one-on-one time for conversation.
- We save money on maintenance, insurance, gas, and purchase price with just one car.
A big however, though -- when it becomes the right time again to buy a second car, we will jump at the chance. We live in the suburbs. Stores are not at a walkable distance. The nearest bus stop is just over a mile from our door. We need our sleep. Some of those early morning chauffeur jaunts can be very early for more than one party. And I think all of us would appreciate being able to go where we need to go on our own schedules.
I know there was once a time when practically all households had just one car. My parents had one car when I was small. My father's commute was about one hour, making it difficult for my mother to have the car for her use. They managed. But when the time came for a second car, I'm sure they were relieved.
These are my personal reflections on sharing one car between multiple drivers. I don't know many families these days who are in the same situation. So I thought I'd write a bit about it.
How do you think your life and relationships would change if you found yourselves as part of one-car families?
