I am, by nature, a planner.  I’ve gone off from time to time about living my life according to “you never know” and planning accordingly.  I like to plan and I like having a good plan but I’m also very cognizant of the fact that no good plan goes unbroken.  I like to consider my plans a fluid framework to act as a guide when I can’t think of anything better to do at that moment or my motivation eludes me.

Well, this whole CarFreeBrad thing has created a whole new dimension of planning.  One of my main goals, is to live my life as close to the same as I would otherwise just without a car.  As with most everything else in this experience, that is much easier said than done.

When your entire life has been based around having a car and 90% of the people you associate with have one as well, things can get complicated.  I still want to do all the things I used to but now the planning of each activity is just a bit more in-depth.  I can no longer just hop in the car and shoot wherever!  Don’t get me wrong, I can and will get there, the process is just a bit different.

The most difficult aspect of this whole thing (sometimes) is not my personal struggle with planning my days/night/weekends but working with those that live in my old car world.  In no way do I begrudge them as not too long ago/deep down still am one of them and I made this choice.

The struggle I have is that I’m treated in one of two ways by the majority of friends from my Car Life. One, as if I’m bed ridden and can’t do anything anymore.  Two, as if nothing has changed and my repeated requests for details on important events are ignored.

So how does one address a person who is newly CarFree?  That is a good question and one I struggle with.  In many ways, the best way to address it is as if I have a handicap where I can still do everything I once did, the process is just a bit different.  This is a two-way street and I must get better at letting people know what I can and can’t do but more importantly be vigilant about my extended planning timeline and find ways to impose it upon the Car having world in a non-threatening, easy to digest manner.

So if I’m ever annoying or get frustrated with you as we try to plan a meeting, outing, or just drinks after work please refer to this video with CarFreeBrad in the role of Step Dad!