Vancouver BC offers abundant transport options to support exological living. I bought my first car in Vancouver when I was 18 - an Austin - after my father taught me to drive. Now I am living life without a car and digging it!!! The Vancouver transit system is occasionally slow when returning from downtown at rush hour however in 6 weeks since my return I only hailed a taxi on a busy Friday night after seeing Angels & Demons and another time when I was exchanging a small computer table.
When I saw Ravi Shankar my friend rented a Coop Car! My dear sister, Thais, devoted her Toyota to my move. Now I am on my own with transport and enjoying not having a car and every time I think of how much I don't have to spend as well as not having to drive and park I am grateful. Walking is my new passion and some days it is miles and I love it. Soon my bicycle arrives and I can bike the miles of Vancouver bike paths.
The bus system works - they stop 2 minutes from where I live - one direction taking me to downtown resources and the Seabus if I want to go to North Vancouver and the other to Cambie and Broadway to Wholefoods and my bank and other buses that wing me quickly to the fun and creative life of Main or Commercial to the east or the Broadway, Dunbar, Alma and University areas and beaches to the west.
I have yet to ride the Sky Train. That is on my list as well as a visit to MetroTown. The sky train straight to the airport is nearly finished as well as other ultra green efficient transport for the coming Olympics.
Walking a few minutes takes me to False Creek and Seawall walks, Granville Island Market, 4th street and Burrard shops and buses and the harbor Aquabus.
Outside my building in parking lots are Zip cars and Coop share cars each with fleets of minis, volkswagens, prius hybrids and vans to choose from. Simple membership and low fees has any car needed at my disposal whenever I need to drive.
There are many shops selling bamboo and organic cotton clothing, bedding, and towels where I purchased all I needed for life and work. Following through with my preference for minimalism, I inherited a small round balcony table and leather sofa from the landlord, bought two chairs and a eco-organic mattress with a wood frame and that is that. Space to dance and multi-changable functionality appeals. My only decorating project is two curtain rods yet to be accomplished.
I choose to practice contentment and simplicity as my offering to the world. I am fascinated with offering a light carbon footprint and a conscious presence on this planet. Thankfully my building is devoted to abundant green growth gardening (the plant is back in the planet where I live) as well as aware trash ecology. Even in a busy city the sea and mountains refresh the air and rain falls to nourish a city of gardens on both earth and rooftops. The old railway track running outside my building is filled with community gardens. YES!!!
When I moved back to Vancouver I made a choice that is better than I imagined. Thank you Vancouver - home of my birth!
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