Wasn't New York City More Grimey In The 80s & 90s In Constrast To Now

This man knows.

Every NYer I know is trying to go for that suburban life, but in the DMV all the young people are flocking deeper into the city.

Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Downtown Silver Spring, Friendship Heights, all these places are basically DC and that's just the Montgomery County part (the best part).

Out here you can basically live in what's technically Maryland or Virginia, but really you're blocks away from downtown DC for way cheaper than DC prices.

Like I said, I do agree with Ninja that young people who are establishing themselves nowadays are getting married and having kids way later and instead choosing to live in the city in their 20's-30's.
...the crappy part tho is that these walkable areas come with a price so what you arent spending on a car, you are spending on location. MD tax rates are also steep for single filers, and DC taxes arent much better either. ive heard VA rates arent as high... 

...the entire area is a crapshoot for someone like me because im a saver so ill seek out cheaper areas to live so i can put the extra cash away (401k, investments and such). id much rather pay $5-600 for a room in PG County instead of $8-900 in MoCo or $1k+ to live in NW DC or Arlington. most of the people my age i know that live in the city budget for three or four things rent, food, bills, party/fun/travel, making decent salaries too, but dont put much money away. i couldnt do it. im hoping i can find a job in Chicago b/c i also know the city and def not as expensive. 
 
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Guess NTers like to get that cardio in more than I thought...I for one enjoy the comfort of my car, having the choice of public vs driving depending on day, location and time of travel...I shoot weddings and portraits all over NY...last thing I want is to commute with all my photography gear, I like being able to leave my house 5 minutes before my shift and still make it on time, ninja you have accessibility to alot of things, which to be honest I do as well, but we have complete different views on things...I like to go out and explore new neighborhoods, restaurants, parks, etc....I like being able to google or yelp some place and hop in my car and drive for a bit...as opposed to getting so comfortable in my own neighborhood that I only go to places my feet can take me, I sued to do that at 17 with my boys, just walk aimlessly around the hood...not about that life no more.
 
Real talk I'm tryna move to the city mostly because of the car issue.

Nowadays i feel like it's a big scam.

Registration, tickets, inspection, emissions tests, insurance, on and on.

I might as well drop a couple hundred bucks a year on public transportation in a big city where no one needs a car so it's not even a status symbol.

That influenced my decision to work in and possibly move to Baltimore.

That influenced my decision to enroll in NYU and hopefully find permanent employment in NYC after i finish that program.

That influenced my decision to most likely live in Downtown Silver Spring if i end up staying in the DMV.

PG County is not all that cheap unless you wanna live in the slums. A nice place in PG is the same as a super regular place closer to DC in a more "hip" and "urban" setting.

I don't often agree with Ninjahood, but I'll admit that he's right on that account.

BTW I'm a Black dude but if I move anywhere I'll probably be gentrifying because I'm a young professional and I'll more than likely move to a hood-ish area that's cheap but filled with hipsters.

I can't live in the city man. Not anymore. I grew up in the burbs, then moved to the city during school, and now I'm back in the burbs.

PG County definitely isn't cheap unless you want to live in some sketch neighborhood with feds out every damn night. But If you get into a nicer area (Clinton, Fort Washington, Bowie, Upper Marlboro, etc) you'll be good.

I would definitely take living in one of those places (which is where I live now) over some smaller efficiency apt or an overpriced 1-2 bedroom apt just to be closer to the city.

But I guess its just different tastes. I like a lot of space and privacy.


Plus, I can't stand hipsters :lol: ****** always riding their bikes in the street.
 
 
both areas have their advantages and disadvantages and not all suburbs are created equal...ive lived in the suburbs and the city and while i can def say i like the city, many suburbs immediately surrounding cities are not bad at all.

i grew up in a middle of no where suburb (Columbia), moved to the the city for college and now work in the suburbs (Bethesda). Montgomery County (the areas ive gotten to see Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Wheaton, Silver Spring, and Takoma Park) are close enough or immediately adjacent to the city so its really easy to get around with the Rideon and Metro buses, and Metrorail. you get the piece of mind that lots of people are looking for along with the urban aspects because Bethesda and Silver Spring have urban centers. granted Bethesda and Chevy Chase are arguably the wealthiest places in MD but you get decent diversity with Wheaton, Silver Spring, and Takoma Park. also spent lots time in CP and Hyattsville and think both are nice and really good location close to the city, from what ive seen.

if i had children and could afford it id still pick the city but at least with suburbs go Montgomery County, followed by northern/Western PG County (CP, Hyattsville, Mt. Rainier, adelphi, Greenbelt, dont know much about the rest of the county).

i wouldnt/couldnt raise any children in a place like Columbia though. dat middle of no where life would probably get to them like it did to me at some point
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This man knows.

Every NYer I know is trying to go for that suburban life, but in the DMV all the young people are flocking deeper into the city.

Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Downtown Silver Spring, Friendship Heights, all these places are basically DC and that's just the Montgomery County part (the best part).

Out here you can basically live in what's technically Maryland or Virginia, but really you're blocks away from downtown DC for way cheaper than DC prices.

Like I said, I do agree with Ninja that young people who are establishing themselves nowadays are getting married and having kids way later and instead choosing to live in the city in their 20's-30's.
I can't speak on NYC. I was raised in a suburb in upstate NY and also went to college upstate. I got a job offer in DC when I graduated last year and I moved to Montgomery County. I've been living here for a year now and here are my thoughts...

NazDrowie is right. The Montgomery County suburbs that he mentioned have metro stations that will take you into downtown DC in less than 20 minutes (unless there's weekend track work
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). I live 2 miles from a metro station so I drive my car to the station every morning, park in the garage, and take the metro to work. I could take a bus to the metro station every morning but I choose to drive. It's $4.25 to park everyday but my job pays for my daily metro rail expenses ($10.10) so I don't mind paying for daily parking in the interest of time and comfort. My car is waiting for me there when I get off work so I don't have to deal with waiting for a bus then walking from the bus stop to my house.

One of the benefits about living in the suburbs and having a car is I always have a place to park at my house, for FREE. It's nice because I can go out just as easily downtown DC as I can locally in Silver Spring or Bethesda. I can also drive my car into the city, travel outside the city, and just get to places off the metro line outside of the DMV conveniently. Grocery shopping with a car in the suburbs is MUCH easier than in the city. The list of ways that having a car makes my life better goes on and on...

Now I can also speak on living in downtown DC (and having a car) as my girlfriend from college followed me down to the DMV and lives downtown now. If you are just starting out in the work force it's going to be nearly impossible to pay for rent, car note, AND parking living downtown. My girl pays three times as much as I do in rent for a studio apt. She pays her car note every month and that's money wasted because she can't even drive it (it's parked at my house) since there is no parking/parking is too expensive for her. She gets to and from her job quicker and easier than I do but she is stuck in the city on weekends unless she's with me.

I was displaced from my house for a month while it was getting worked on and moved in with her. I definitely enjoyed it more than living in the suburbs. More culture, just fun to be in the city everyday, quicker commute to and from work. BUT, I wasn't paying the rent, I was cramped in a studio apartment, I wanted to drive my car at times, etc...

It really is a matter of personal opinion whether you want to live directly in the city or on the suburban outskirts. With or without a car. And what you can afford.

My living situation is affordable and grants me access to wherever I want to go. I can sustain my lifestyle with my salary and it works for me. My girl can't afford to pay her rent now so her parents are paying it (only until the end of the year) and she always complains she's wasting money on her car note. She can't sustain her lifestyle on her own. So if you're going to live in the city I'd definitely say no to the car. I've seen the financial strain first hand. She needs to find a new place to live at the end of the year (without her parents financing) and she knows she will need roommates and will probably have to move further outside the city. It will be interesting to see what she does.

We're both yuppies btw and all of our friends are. I didn't grow up as well off as most of my friends down here. I'm an independent adult paying my own way now. I do it efficiently though. A lot of the yuppies in big cities with well off families aren't worrying about paying for a car, rent, etc... because their parents are paying for it.
 
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Guess NTers like to get that cardio in more than I thought...I for one enjoy the comfort of my car, having the choice of public vs driving depending on day, location and time of travel...I shoot weddings and portraits all over NY...last thing I want is to commute with all my photography gear, I like being able to leave my house 5 minutes before my shift and still make it on time, ninja you have accessibility to alot of things, which to be honest I do as well, but we have complete different views on things...I like to go out and explore new neighborhoods, restaurants, parks, etc....I like being able to google or yelp some place and hop in my car and drive for a bit...as opposed to getting so comfortable in my own neighborhood that I only go to places my feet can take me, I sued to do that at 17 with my boys, just walk aimlessly around the hood...not about that life no more.
I know ppl from all over, and dont know anybody that doesnt own/ want a car just to have that option instead of relying on public transportation only
 
I know ppl from all over, and dont know anybody that doesnt own/ want a car just to have that option instead of relying on public transportation only

That's my whole point....dudes hiding behind the idea that public/transport is the single most amazing thing about ny, you would think is some sort of teleportation device...at the end of the day, you still have to walk to the station, you still have to adjust YOUR schedule to theirs, you still have to jump in a crowded *** train, you still have to feel like you are being cooked in an oven waiting on the train in a summer month....YOU still have to be extremely aware of your sorroundings because you just never know what can happen sharing such a small space with so manyyyyy people....only time I don't drive is when I must head into the heart of manhattan during a weekday, which is rare, simply because of the parking regulations....weekends you are good on parking, I always find parking, lower manhattan which his where most of the nice spots are is usually good on parking as well, uptown is good on parking also...ya need to stop playing games, having a car IS NOT A BURDEN no matter how hard you wanna push that agenda Ninja....it gives you options, sure you can rent...but why go through the inconvenience each time?...imagine picking up a female you are into for a date in a car with "zip car" decals all over it, the jokes will be had by her and her friends behind your back.
 
That's my whole point....dudes hiding behind the idea that public/transport is the single most amazing thing about ny, you would think is some sort of teleportation device...at the end of the day, you still have to walk to the station, you still have to adjust YOUR schedule to theirs, you still have to jump in a crowded *** train, you still have to feel like you are being cooked in an oven waiting on the train in a summer month....YOU still have to be extremely aware of your sorroundings because you just never know what can happen sharing such a small space with so manyyyyy people....only time I don't drive is when I must head into the heart of manhattan during a weekday, which is rare, simply because of the parking regulations....weekends you are good on parking, I always find parking, lower manhattan which his where most of the nice spots are is usually good on parking as well, uptown is good on parking also...ya need to stop playing games, having a car IS NOT A BURDEN no matter how hard you wanna push that agenda Ninja....it gives you options, sure you can rent...but why go through the inconvenience each time?...imagine picking up a female you are into for a date in a car with "zip car" decals all over it, the jokes will be had by her and her friends behind your back.
Gotta agree with this.

ninjahood is on his #factsonly campaign when in reality, there is more to be learned from personal experiences than quoting articles written by others.

ksteezy, you seem to have actual first-hand experience living in a major city with/without a car the same way that I have (although I only lived a month in the city). When you live it, it's easy to see the advantages/disadvantages. I don't think ninjahood has ever owned a car and lived in the city. Just reads the articles and poses his one side arguments in favor of his current situation so he can feel he has a superior living situation to everyone else. I really can't take him seriously any more with the amount of housing/car related thread derails he has in general. His thinking is illogically warped to condone his ridiculous lifestyle.
 
I feel the same way.

It's funny though because that's like the #1 complaint that Black dudes between 30 and 45 have about younger Black people.

More and more young Blacks are going to college and not having to pretend to be some tough street dude even if they're from the city, and more and more young Blacks are growing up in the 'burbs, but this DMX-era of Black dude just wants to label everyone as soft and homersexual.

All this talk about the feminization of the Black man just strikes me as Papoose lashing out at Kendrick.

Especially when there's def not more gay Black dudes than there have been in the past or anything like that.

But this is a whole other argument for another thread.

Naw, I think boys being raised by single mothers without the absence of a constant male in their life has feminized black men.

The other extreme it's caused them to join gangs for a family unit.
 
The whole car thing for me is more of a "I will concede that I am not responsible enough to keep up a car" thing than a "I want to be a cool young hipster living the city life" thing.

But the fact that I know I would rather not want that hassle means that I have to live in a city that does not require a car.

Just wanted to clear that up, because I think if someone wants to move to the city JUST to live in the city INSTEAD of have a place a little further out and have a car, then they're wasting their money.
 
Naw, I think boys being raised by single mothers without the absence of a constant male in their life has feminized black men.

The other extreme it's caused them to join gangs for a family unit.
I agree boys raised in female headed households are more feminine but I do not see why that is a bad thing. Of course it is more beneficial to have a two parent house hold. But being raised by one mother, two mothers or a mother and a grandmother is not a bad thing.

I think there is little corelation between gang membership and a lack of father prescence. Much of gang membership in old cities like new york chicago LA etc is generational. You have fathers uncles moms and grandparents who were involved with the gang because they had not choice since they lived in that community. Latino gangs are a perfect example it is really frowned upon to leave your husband as a result males are around but Latino make up the largest percentage of gang members. I do however agree fatherless children are more likely to join a gang but there are factors with much higher corelations.
 
hell no, I don't know why anyone does.  Why u think I live in LA and Vegas besides business.  And looking at miami for my 3rd residence.  I like year round warm weather.  No snow means my whips can be out all year too

I like to ski, but I just make a 3 hr drive from LA to big bear for that.  Or fly to Vail, Park city etc. during season

My dude doesn't waste an opportunity to drop that hunblebrag....lmao :pimp:

lol word to his SN to avy relation. all good tho.

As far as car ownership goes, I'd much rather drop a few stacks on clothing than on a car. I'm sure there's a lot of others that share my sentiment.

I don't feel like this generation feels that car ownership is anything special anymore, if you live in a town like LA, it's a necessity, but if you have subways and public transportation widely available to you, might as well take it instead. Of course, that's a deal maker for people considering moving to NYC and part of why it will remain so attractive to out of towners.

This kills me...people wanna hide behind the availability of public transport as if that makes it any more comfortable to commute through NY....I mean is cool if everything you do is in the same borough...the second you gotta commute from NYC deep into northern BX or the outskirts of queens/Brooklyn, that public transport is not gonna seem so good...sure it'll get you places, but take my sisnlaw's bf, homie is from Park Slope I believe, she lives by Yankee stadium, never felt he needed a car till they started getting serious...once dude started spending more time up in the Bronx with her, getting caught in 2 hour commutes at 3am after a night out with the family, falling asleep and waking up in west bubble **** wasn't so gravy....best believe homie got his own wheels now, all of a sudden it seems his world has expanded, travels north more, is able to move around quicker, spends more time with his girl...etc.

Public transport in VERY RARE ocassions will it ever be better than having your own wheels, ya need to stop that noise.


 
As far as car ownership goes, I'd much rather drop a few stacks on clothing than on a car. I'm sure there's a lot of others that share my sentiment.

I don't feel like this generation feels that car ownership is anything special anymore, if you live in a town like LA, it's a necessity, but if you have subways and public transportation widely available to you, might as well take it instead. Of course, that's a deal maker for people considering moving to NYC and part of why it will remain so attractive to out of towners.

THIS

Anyone who prides themselves on owning a car just to say they own a car and they LIVE in the city is kind of an idiot. I have a Metrocard and a valid driver's license, when I need a vehicle I'd rent something brand new fir the WEEKEND at a STEAL if I'm doing some driving outside city limits. Maintenance, parking, tickets, theft, street cleaning, tolls ...nah, I'm good.


I love seeing people flex, merking off with rims and loud speakers only to sit at a light for 3 changes :lol: .



Metrocard + Cab Fare or Bike in NYC =  :nthat:  

 


when it comes to cars in NYC, i find it comes down to two things. 1) do you need the car? 2) if you do, do you live in a part of NYC where keeping it isn't a hassle?

I live in the heart of queens. aka all sorts of free street parking. and i got a car, which i use frequently to travel to new england. (ill need it later on for a new job) otherwise it sits in my driveway all week, because i take the bus to the F train to commute to work in midtown. NYC is way too big to be getting round via bus/train. want to go to brooklyn from queens? you need a car. want to go to the bronx zoo? you need a car, otherwise you're *** is sitting on that train for a HOT MIN.

in the time it takes to get from queens to brooklyn (esp coney island) via transportation, i can hit philly from nyc in a 90min drive. thats how big nyc is.


HOWEVER, sometimes a metrocard comes in handy. maybe u wanna save on gas and bus/train wont be a hassle, or you aren't going that far. i get it. because ill be honest, NYC is big, so driving sometimes can be annoying lol.

just my thoughts on the matter. i def cosign steezy. but if you live in manhattan (except harlem and up) and other crowded areas like williamsburg, and u want a car, good luck :lol:
 
I know ppl from all over, and dont know anybody that doesnt own/ want a car just to have that option instead of relying on public transportation only

That's my whole point....dudes hiding behind the idea that public/transport is the single most amazing thing about ny, you would think is some sort of teleportation device...at the end of the day, you still have to walk to the station, you still have to adjust YOUR schedule to theirs, you still have to jump in a crowded *** train, you still have to feel like you are being cooked in an oven waiting on the train in a summer month....YOU still have to be extremely aware of your sorroundings because you just never know what can happen sharing such a small space with so manyyyyy people....only time I don't drive is when I must head into the heart of manhattan during a weekday, which is rare, simply because of the parking regulations....weekends you are good on parking, I always find parking, lower manhattan which his where most of the nice spots are is usually good on parking as well, uptown is good on parking also...ya need to stop playing games, having a car IS NOT A BURDEN no matter how hard you wanna push that agenda Ninja....it gives you options, sure you can rent...but why go through the inconvenience each time?...imagine picking up a female you are into for a date in a car with "zip car" decals all over it, the jokes will be had by her and her friends behind your back.

While you are very much entitled to your opinion, and it's obviously based on your experiences, I'm going to disagree.

Having a car is a burden. My wife and I have one because she needs it for work like 2 days a week (she has to travel to vastly different parts of the city and can't be stuck on trains with no phone/email access).

The other 5 days we don't even touch it and you need to be concerned with parking.

Otherwise we are on the subway unless we go to her parents house. They have a garage.

You're going to extremes in terms of dates with zipcar decals. Walking to the station is the same as walking from where you park to your destination.

NY is the most convenient city in the world, partially because of it's extensive public transportation system. You do not need a car to traverse NYC for the most part.

It is a luxury, not a necessity. And it can provide some additional convenience. But I lived in NYC most of my life without one, as did most of my family, with no problems.

EDIT: sreggie101 makes a good point. I live in Manhattan and get everywhere no problems. If for some reason I needed to get from Queens to BK, I'd just take a cab.
 
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I never said you'll have a problem without it, in NYC you have huge train network so yes you'll get around...however people who don't drive also go to extreme to defend this claim...a car that's within your means is not a burden, it can be a messessity and a luxury to have one and it gives you far more options than a line of trains can...like I said if you are content staying within the City limits, you can ride a bike all through manhattan...if you can afford to live in the heart of manhattan where parking TRULY is a burden then I'm sure your last concern is an extra 300$ a month on a parking garage or a car insurance...but hey everyone is entitled to live their life as they see fit, but saying a car is a burden is a HUGE REACH if you are smart.

A car can be a burden if

A. You buy a used lemon sucking your pockets dry.

B . You live passed your means and finance a ridiculous luxury car you can't afford.

Only time I are a car being a burden...all this driving in the city sucks, parking sucks, I get tickets, blah blah...is just BS...I've owned cars for over 10 years of my life and lived in NY, drive all over the city and 90% of the time have no issues with parking.
 
I've lived in NY my entire life and have owned a car for several years. If I need to get into the city during the week I'll hop on the express train closeby, but anything else I'm driving the car (screw the bus).

I like to leave NY any chance I get and having a car gives me that option without dealing with a bus or crowded places. I travel up/down the East coast on my own terms and drive anywhere I want, go shopping conveniently without lugging bags all over the place. NYC public transportation is a mess especially during the summer, and I don't like to feel trapped in this city.

Glad I've never had to wait for a bus for the last 10 years.
 
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I've lived in NY my entire life and have owned a car for several years. If I need to get into the city during the week I'll hop on the express train closeby, but anything else I'm driving the car (screw the bus).

I like to leave NY any chance I get and having a car gives me that option without dealing with a bus or crowded places.

Glad I've never had to wait for a bus for the last 10 years.

At the bustop...

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I'm sayin tho...dudes who don't drive in NY be like...

Preppin my winter gear



Meanwhile I can get away with just a leather all winter....ya can keep taking pride in public transport, that ***** sucks and can't EVER beat a car
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 But you see how much you miss in that car, IN THE BURBS? Winter is one of my favorite seasons in New York ...all the broke, aspiring fashionheads have to SPEND MONEY on REAL winter gear. 

I love strolling around the city in my warm coats, enjoying all the winter activities. 


I just can't spend my whole life in a car, I can't do it. You miss so much of the city driving around. Art, people, fashion, spontaneous phenomenons at parks and meeting places.


 
 
:lol:  But you see how much you miss in that car, IN THE BURBS? Winter is one of my favorite seasons in New York ...all the broke, aspiring fashionheads have to SPEND MONEY on REAL winter gear. 


I love strolling around the city in my warm coats, enjoying all the winter activities. 



I just can't spend my whole life in a car, I can't do it. You miss so much of the city driving around. Art, people, fashion, spontaneous phenomenons at parks and meeting places.



 

Thing is if I wanted to hop on a train to get the "experience" I could, alot easier than you can go out and rent a car...the MTA will be there for me wether I own a car or don't....
 
I never said you'll have a problem without it, in NYC you have huge train network so yes you'll get around...however people who don't drive also go to extreme to defend this claim...a car that's within your means is not a burden, it can be a messessity and a luxury to have one and it gives you far more options than a line of trains can...like I said if you are content staying within the City limits, you can ride a bike all through manhattan...if you can afford to live in the heart of manhattan where parking TRULY is a burden then I'm sure your last concern is an extra 300$ a month on a parking garage or a car insurance...but hey everyone is entitled to live their life as they see fit, but saying a car is a burden is a HUGE REACH if you are smart.

A car can be a burden if

A. You buy a used lemon sucking your pockets dry.

B . You live passed your means and finance a ridiculous luxury car you can't afford.

Only time I are a car being a burden...all this driving in the city sucks, parking sucks, I get tickets, blah blah...is just BS...I've owned cars for over 10 years of my life and lived in NY, drive all over the city and 90% of the time have no issues with parking.

:lol: at "it can be a messessity and a luxury". Those 2 things are similar to you?

Again, you're going to extremes to make a point. You're "pro-car". Ninja is "anti-car".

I have both and the reality is, for the use we get out of it, driving to Jersey or whatever, it's not even worth it. We don't go to Philly. Anything else we can hop a plane.

I don't know what parking in Manhattan you think you're getting for $300.

You missed my point entirely as well. Nowhere did I suggest the burden was financial. Yet you went that way. If she didn't need her car for work 2 days a week, we wouldn't have one.

I have a Hertz local location 2 blocks away from me and Avis/Enterprise and a few cheap local joints are within a mile. I can rent NO problem if I needed to.
 
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I've lived in NY my entire life and have owned a car for several years. If I need to get into the city during the week I'll hop on the express train closeby, but anything else I'm driving the car (screw the bus).

I like to leave NY any chance I get and having a car gives me that option without dealing with a bus or crowded places.

Glad I've never had to wait for a bus for the last 10 years.

At the bustop...

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The fact that this means so much to you that you need to be so extra about it is utterly bizarre.

YOUR car suits YOUR lifestyle. Congrats.
 
Thing is if I wanted to hop on a train to get the "experience" I could, alot easier than you can go out and rent a car...the MTA will be there for me wether I own a car or don't....
Not really, I have a ZIpCar account. And if I'm feeling like I need a truck, I can reserve a car for the weekend at Enterprise comes and picks me up and I leave with the vehicle.
 
Welp!...you fellas have it all figure out and it suits your lifestyles to not have a car as much as it suits me to have mines...all I'm saying is, A CAR GIVES YOU MORE OPTIONS.
 
If I did not have a car, I would have no fewer options. Period. I would be able to go where I want, when I want regardless.

If it gives YOU more options, congrats.
 
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