Rorschach The Tiny Titan of Terror does not own a car. Thank Goodness!

The LA Times published an article this past Sunday on our nation’s growing unemployment rate.  Several people were interviewed about the hardships of long term unemployment. Most of these people talked about how they had depleted their savings and were worried about paying their bills and having access to affordable healthcare. Age worries were also of great concern since so many younger and older workers are having an especially difficult time in the current job market.

On the other end of the spectrum, a 33-year old man who had lost his $140,000 a year job in a Manhattan investment bank was profiled. He talked about how despite his MBA and law degree he was still unemployed. His situation had forced him to move back in with his parents in Malibu and trade commodities online from his home computer. Hey, if you’ve got to move back in with your parents, Malibu is not a bad place to be in my opinion. He stated this was not where he thought he would be at this time in his life. As I’m reading I’m thinking, yeah, I can relate because I’m not exactly where I envisioned myself being either. He then went on to say “I live with my parents and I drive a Saturn.” My first reaction after reading this was: “Are you kidding me? What’s wrong with driving a Saturn? And shouldn’t you have more pressing worries than the kind of car you are driving, like maybe getting a job?

After coming down from my high horse I began to put my judgment of him aside. He was only being honest about how he felt. However I still thought it sad that so many of us think our cars define us. Why is that? Well for starters, the car industry has done a big-time number on Americans. In addition to successfully making a large majority of our population dependent on cars for getting around, they have also talked us into the idea that our cars send out a signal to the world about what kind of people we are. If you buy (or in most cases go into major debt) for such and such vehicle, the car advertisers promise us we will be seen as successful or cool or sophisticated.

We have all at one time or another fallen prey to the “our car defines us” mentality. I admit that I have.  I’ve never been one to get overly enthused over cars and have been known to confuse a BMW with a Honda Accord.  However, in 2003, I purchased a used 2001 Toyota Hybrid Prius and boy was I excited! Not because I thought my car made me look cool or wealthy but because I thought it sent out a signal that I cared about the environment. Yes, I wanted to support this new green technology but I also wanted people to know I was a forward progressive thinker and doing my part to burn fewer fossil fuels. Ego is ego! I was still communicating some type of message about who I was and what I believed. So I really can’t fault Mr. Saturn Car Driver for wanting to send a message as well. His message may be different than mine but it’s all ego and if we’re really honest with ourselves-very silly!

I believe we are moving into an era where we are all going to be forced to lessen our consumption drastically. From the top down, downsizing and conserving will be the new norm.  We may not own as much and our possessions will be more of the practical kind and not for showing off.  When I lived in Manhattan in my younger years I did not own a car.  There were definitely times when I missed having one but looking back those years were pure freedom.  In many ways material possessions weigh us down and we miss out on life.

We are not our cars nor are we any of our other material possessions. Who we are has nothing to do with what we own but everything to do with what’s inside us. Are we compassionate people? Do we have love for our fellow human beings even when they are different from us? What we do defines us and I’m not talking about our jobs and careers either. Do we treat others with compassion? Do we help out others when they need us? What is our value system?

The next time you get into your car and start to feel either a bit cocky or “less than” because of what you drive remember your car has nothing to do with who you are as a person. Maybe you can let someone in front of you who is having a hard time merging into traffic. If someone does something really stupid that ticks you off give them a break. We all do stupid things from time to time when we are behind the wheel. Say a silent prayer that all those driving around you get to their destination safe and sound. Remind yourself that these kinds of acts of kindness define you a whole lot more than the big metal frame that surrounds you.

Paige and David at Sol y Mar

I read a book recently that said your money does not decrease as you spend it, but that the money actually loops back around and increases. If this is true, then I should have a boatload of money coming back my way any moment now.

In an attempt to lighten our carbon footprint, my husband and I have one car-a Toyota Prius. We love her and I think she loves us, although at times she can be a bit coy. Today she communicated to us (via the Santa Monica Toyota Repair Rep) that she needed a new inverter. We’re still not even sure what an inverter is, but the “Missy” has asked for a new one. And what Missy Toyota Prius wants, Missy Toyota Prius gets. The price tag-$6,000! Yes, you read it right, six-thousand dollars. After I recovered from the shock, I managed to call my husband at work (at least one of us still has a job) to ask him how in the world we would cover this. The miscellaneous category this month did not budget $6000, it was more like .60 cents.

Six-thousand dollars is a lot of money and who has that kind of cash sitting around? A friend of mine asked why we just didn’t get a new car to which I replied have you seen the prices of new cars these days. Where pray tell would I find a good reliable car for $6,000? I thought about the cash for clunkers deal but my dad reminded me that Missy Prius was way too superior with her gas mileage to even be considered. Besides, I love Missy Prius and have decided I will succumb to her demand. Not to mention the fact that we really don’t have much choice.

As much as we hate to do it, we will go into credit card debt for the Missy Prius. After all, she is worth it. She’s a friend to the environment and she saves us a ton on gasoline. I can maneuver her into tiny parking spaces and I don’t have to get smog checks. She is also safe and reliable. Missy Prius knows she is special and that all cars will use her technology one day. But she’s also special, because she made me realize that money comes and money goes. Getting all freaked out about a big bill is really small in the scheme of things. After all, my wealth does not come from the money in my bank account; it comes from what’s inside me. I’m wealthy because abundance just is and it has nothing to do with the crazy screwed up system we humans have created around the money game. And who knows-maybe the book is right and the money spent will find its way back to us when we least expect it. Wouldn’t that be nice? For the time being, I’m thankful to have transportation and the means to charge. Debt is the the American way after all, isn’t it? Oh well, if you can’t beat it, I guess I’ll join it.