” A car payment isn’t even factored in as debt. It’s just like a house payment. It’s a given.” This is what a co-worker said to me during a discussion about my goal to get out of debt. Basically, America tells us that to dream about getting a car when we’re kids. Then when we’re of age we rush out and get our license. From then on out a car is “a given.” I think it’s an idea left over from the roaring ’50s. Car ownership is a sign of ones status. In Orange County girls won’t talk to you unless you drive a fancy car (OK that’s not entirely true).

You get my point. Car ownership is ingrained into our society. I never realized just how ingrained until I dared to sell my car.

It seems that I have met the most resistance from baby boomers, especially my parents. My parents care about me. That is why they are so adamant against me selling my car. They came to visit me last night, and we had a 20 minute discussion where my parents tried to talk me out of selling my car.

“I just can’t fathom living without a car,” my dad said. That’s OK. I’m not you.

My mom said, “what if you need to get cough syrup in the middle of the night.” Again, I love my parents, but is this the best you can come up with? Cough syrup in the middle of the night? Then she said, “you can just count us out of your life then.” I reminded her that I can rent a car and visit her or that the Harrisburg bus system has a bus that goes 11 miles from their house. I plan on riding my bike down there once or twice this winter.

I think this is going to be particularly difficult for my dad. When I visit my parents I have a bet with myself to see how long it takes my dad to talk about my car. I stick the the standard five minutes. Usually I’m over. He always asks how many miles are on it. He checks to make sure I’m getting my oil changes. He is very involved with my car.  Yes. I’m twenty-seven. He just loves cars. More than that I think it’s his way of showing he cares. He keeps my vehicle in shape.

Honestly, I don’t know what he’ll talk about if I don’t have a car. He’ll probably start talking about cars I should get.

I have given this a lot of thought. I have thought of all of the variables. It’s like I said to try to assuage my parents; I can always buy another car if this experiment doesn’t work!