I've been enjoying the cost savings that come with living car-free. 

• No Car Payment
• No Car Insurance
• No Gasoline Costs
• No Parking Fees
• No Car Maintenance

These, of course, are the obvious savings, but I came across a video by a prominent YouTuber from Canada who explores the benefits of commuting by bicycle from a new perspective, The Housing — Transportation Budget Paradox. After watching the video, please leave your comments below.

I've lived in the Boise, Idaho area for many years and have been car-free since July 2021. Boise and the greater Treasure Valley have challenges regarding the cycling infrastructure.  The Boise greenbelt and Hill Road are wonderful cycling areas, but other parts of the valley are less than adequate (In my opinion).

You may have heard the expression, SHTF which stands for when the "Sh*t hits the fan". Often when watching "prepper" videos or reading their blogs they can be referring to world war or a nuclear disaster. While events like this would certainly qualify for the SHTF definition, we can all have our, unique SHTF event that we must deal with. Without having the necessary tools and community support system, these events can have a devastating impact on our lives.

As I've shared on my website,  I've been car-free for three years this month! I was flattered when I was recently contacted by a USA Today reporter that was doing a story about American's going car-free. 

​Two years ago, I had to say goodbye to my faithful friend, Ace, and the void left by his absence is still palpable. The bond between a pet and their human is a special one, and the passage of time does little to diminish the fond memories and profound sense of loss. 

With the forecast calling for highs between 105 and 110 this weekend, I took an early morning bike ride to take care of some errands before it got too hot.

My first stop was the Post Office to check my mailbox. While there, I had a lovely conversation with a gentleman cleaning the lobby.

Spring fever has definitely hit me! It's been around 70 for the past 3 days and riding my e-bike has been such a blast! 

I sold my truck in July 2021 and have been car-free since. I used my bicycle for transportation until I injured my foot in June 2023, and I purchased an e-bike in September 2023. I love my e-bike, and it's made my life much easier. Still, I've always been an adventurer, and I've been missing taking drives to other areas away from my home. I've been researching vehicles and have even applied for financing got approved, and ordered a new car.

Rand, my childhood friend of 50-plus years, died on November 13 after his battle with cancer.
I was already planning on visiting him over the Thanksgiving holiday when his wife called me and suggested I change my flight because his condition was not improving. Unfortunately, he passed almost precisely 24 hours before I arrived. This is another reminder never to take a single day for granted.

I took my e-bike to the Boise Greenbelt today for the first time. The Greenbelt is a treasure to the "Treasure Valley". You can go to Lucky Peak Reservoir, seldom having to go on city streets. According to Google Maps, the distance from Boise via the Greenbelt is about 11.3 miles, depending on where you get on the path. 
I didn't go to Lucky Peak but enjoyed a nice ride of approximately 14 miles (round trip).