Would-Be Car Thieves Prompt a Philosophical Turn
After work yesterday I went to drive my dog to the local park when I discovered that some lowly thieves had broken in and destroyed the car’s steering column (including the ignition) in an attempt to steal it. I was furious. My Boston neighborhood of Jamaica Plain has a good deal of crimes of that sort. Last fall my bike was stolen from here, too.
I immediately, thought: “I can’t stand this! I’m getting out of here.”
I have to admit that, after 30 years of living in urban/city neighborhoods, I am tired of being vigilant all the time — spending my energy on worrying and protecting myself and my belongings.
When I started complaining to friends a few years ago about the challenges of living in the city, some of them chalked it up to getting older. At first I denied it. But now I think they may be right. I have always loved cities for all the amenities and excitement, but I also want to be more carefree.
So I started checking the ads for RVs. Not a giant, gas-guzzling RV, but a compact van outfitted with all the necessities. If do get one this year, I will be part of a trend: People ages 35-54 are the fastest-growing segment of RV owners, according to the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA).
What do you think? Is it age that is prompting me to seek a simpler life?
April 6th, 2007 at 10:31 am
Rhea, I had my car stolen when I lived in Boston. It was outside my apt. in Backbay. It was less than a year old. I miss some of the amenities of big cities. But where I live now, out in the country, I haven’t locked my front door in the afternoon for 14 years. yourdrum I do get trespassers – wild turkey, chipmunks, squirrels, deer, all the neighbors cats, cardinals, bluejays – you get the idea. yourdrum – RV, baby
April 6th, 2007 at 10:40 am
I think you’ve just had enough!
April 6th, 2007 at 10:43 am
I don’t think it’s just age; I think it’s because you’re fed up with having to deal with an increased rate of crime and all that entails. We can all worry too much at any age – it just depends on how high your level of being able to handle crap like this is set! In your case, I think your level is topped out!
April 6th, 2007 at 11:34 am
Our needs and wants change over time. We recently moved from a small city (75 000) to a town (10 000). I like it fine and could go smaller. It’s nice to be near a fair-sized city, however.
April 6th, 2007 at 11:35 am
Rhea:
I think that, with age, we begin to realize that some things are just not worth as much effort and worry as we once thought. This is called wisdom.
Short answer? Yes, age is at least part of the cause, but it’s nothing to be ashamed of. As a matter of fact, I think it’s worth embracing.
April 6th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Well I think age is definitely a factor. I notice that as I age that I often tend to opt for simpler things at times. But I also went through a similar nasty experience to yours and I also had that kind of reaction ie why should I have to put up with this crap? So I eventually moved from a downtown setting to a more rural setting. But now I find my rural setting is becoming more urban every year as the city expands and guess what? I want to move again, maybe this time out of the country (I live in Vancouver Canada) to a slower paced lifestyle in a warm climate. So yeah, I guess it’s the aging thing because my mindset right now is ” I worked hard for what I have and now it’s time to relax and enjoy it. But I have about 15 years on you so perhaps your thinking hasn’t evolved to where I’m at now but thinking about RVs might just be the start. :+)
I don’t think I could ever do that RV thing. Traffic is something that really bothers me now and the thought of parking it in a glorified campground with thousands of other RVs is just not appealing to me.
April 6th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
Nah, the urge to run away from home can strike at any age!
April 6th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
Hubby and I have been living the simple life for 27 years.
We’ve never been into the “amenities and excitement”, but we have always loved camping and nature!
April 6th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
I’ve read (and re-read) everyone’s responses here. I want to thank you for your sincere views on the question I asked. I truly did wonder about this. Your comments help me think about it. I love the idea of living in the country, but can I leave the city and all the ‘city stuff’ behind? Time will tell.
April 6th, 2007 at 6:57 pm
Move to the sticks…they are just about finished with a nice little house near me. I live in a quiet little neighborhood in East Tennessee that sees little crime.
We’d love to have you…ya’ll come!
April 6th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
I think it may have to do with age, but consider that your predicament relates to the fact that you are growing tired from all the worrying. That in and of itself is not a consequence of age, but a consequence of experience. You have lived the life of a city worrier, and perhaps you are ready to move on.
I live in the heart of the city and I love it. I am in my early twenties, but I also don’t worry that much when I’m here. That being said, there are certainly aspects of city life that can be stressful and it is during my times of highest stress and distaste for the city that I consider acting prematurely on my plans to leave my job and travel the world, fall in love in the south of France, and return back to the city with the woman of my dreams. Haha, you can attribute those plans to, as you call it, my “ennui in America.” There’s my take on it.
Great site you have here!
April 6th, 2007 at 7:41 pm
Oh man, that sucks! I can remember a long time ago my car was broken into and my stereo was stolen. It is true what they say, you feel violated for a while.
Western Massachusetts, the place that spawned ME…that’s the place to go!
April 6th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
I want the same: an RV big enough for me, a laptop and a fishbowl… I don’t know if it’s age (midlife crisis? Saturn Return?) or not, but once mobile, I intend to continue pretending to be 17, if only to myself. Mind you, that’s rather simple, since there IS only myself. But it IS age that makes me nervous about my whole life being packed into a small, movable space; will I be safe? Will the world be safe from ME?!
April 7th, 2007 at 5:38 am
I made the move from city to rural living. It’s a true blessing to be able to enjoy that type of peace and quiet. I haven’t locked a door in 5 years! Keys stay in the car. How simple is that?
Life is a trade-off. No deliveries (except Fed Ex and UPS) in my next of the woods. My change may have had something to do with age. (Check out the Crone Chronicles link on my website.) I just don’t want the unnecessary stress anymore.
April 7th, 2007 at 7:25 am
Happy Easter!
April 7th, 2007 at 8:05 am
Possibly it’s age, but it’s more likely the invasion of self. It’s a horrid feeling.
I obviously am a city girl too, but will say I don’t necessarily love the neigborhoods you would be in with an RV. I would do a heckuva lot of research before that decision was made.
And I’m sorry that happened to you.
April 7th, 2007 at 10:29 am
Mr. Fab: I like Western Mass. and am considering it!
LisaB: I would not likely be in RV-type places. Just use a small RV to get around (it would look like a simple van from the outside!).
April 7th, 2007 at 10:47 am
I hope you know that with every RV sold comes a gift certificate to a funeral home of your choice.
The perception of those under 50 is that anyone who buys one (see movie About Schmidt) has essentially given up on life.
I’m a boomer and personally think that if you want an RV, fuck what others may think. You’ve earned it. You will look vulnerable in one, but who cares?
April 7th, 2007 at 11:01 am
Gary: You made me laugh. But what’s that thing about looking vulnerable?!?!
April 8th, 2007 at 9:41 am
I loved living in NYC, but soon realized that having a CAR in the city was both unnecessary and frustrating. I replaced the little triangle back window on my Honda Accord three times in three months.
I’m not sure I could do the RV thing, but hey… it might be fun!
April 9th, 2007 at 7:29 pm
I think it’s a great idea. You have a home that’s mobile…and less to clean!
April 13th, 2007 at 9:58 pm
I am 41 and just took the RV Plunge. I have not given up on life at all. In fact I am looking forward to the rest of it outside of my own little comfort zone. We have to go with something a little bigger to take the 2 kids, 2 dogs and 1 wife with.
I own my own internet business so as long as I can get a connection I am good to go. I have always lived in the city or at least very close to one. There are so many places to see and people to meet I don’t want to wait until I am older to do it.
I know people that waited until they retired and then had so many health problems they couldn’t even do it.
We bought ours to find the next place we want to live. I say go for it. It’s just like buying a house, getting married, changing jobs, ect… There are always reasons not to do it right now. If you wait until tomorrow it might be too late.
I am not getting old. I am just figuring out that enjoying quality time with the wife and kids is much better than dealing with the rush hour traffic or spending an hour at the park down the street with the kids. The park is great but there is so much more I can show them.
July 4th, 2007 at 8:56 am
I am late on this comment, hope you see it. I am an boomer, barely (born 1946). We have lived very rural for nearly our entire married life as well as both my husband and I grew up on a farm. I am not entirely sure it is a lifestyle someone would want to enter in their later years. With rural usually comes more responsibilities such as keeping up additional land and outbuildings. We have thought that down the road when we no longer are able to keep up our place, we will move to a small town where we can walk to the store, library, church, etc.
We have a Roadtrek 170 RV also. I love it. We do one night roadtrips as well as longer vacations. Since I am still working, we do not use it as much as I would like. The gas mileage is around 15 mpg is you keep the speed down. Here is the link to our travel blog because it is different from my daily post. Feel free to read about our travels in our “Trekker”
http://wildlifewaterfalls.blogspot.com/
August 15th, 2007 at 9:11 am
[...] The vandalism that happened recently made me think twice about keeping the car [...]
August 18th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
I saw this post following a couple of links from my friend David McMahon’s blog. I feel your pain about the vandalism and attempted theft. At the same time I commend your restraint (and of many of your visitors) in talking about the criminals who damaged your car.
I remember how enraged I was when my car was broken into some years back and wondered why punishments for such crimes are so light here in the US… Anyway, good blog you have going here.