How I Save THOUSANDS of Dollars in Fuel Cost, and will Probably Live a Longer, Healthier Life than Most!

True Story:  In 1997 I had a high-paying computer job in Las Vegas where the company was flying me all  around the country to set up call centers, computer networks, and mainframe data-centers.

It was definitely a high-stress job, as I was on-call 24/7 and never knew where the next phone call would take me.  The job was also something of an American dream job: I lived in a 4 bedroom luxury condo, had a really nice car, a prestigious job and a terrific corporate income with all the bennies.  It was nothing to blow $500 or so at a casino.  I’d often hang out at The Rio until 6am, then show up for work between 8 and 10.  I was in a position to call my own shots, and luckily had no “boss” watching over me.  I was very good at my job, and my computer/data-communication skills were in high demand.

Around the beginning of my third year with the company I realized I was so busy that I had never taken a vacation, and was beginning to get a little “burned out.”  The human resources department offered me a compromise.  They would give me every Tuesday off.  On Tuesdays I started a routine of driving 200+ miles to La Jolla, Calif. and hanging out on the beach just to get away from Vegas.  Sometimes I would drive to Sedona, Arizona to get recharged.  My company tech center knew not to call me on Tuesdays… Ever.

Well, to make a long story short, they called me on the wrong Tuesday with an “emergency” that only I could solve.  At the time, I was sitting in the sand on the beach in La Jolla watching the sunrise.  I was contemplating what was important in life, and where I fit in.  Deep thoughts.  The sound of my pager was symbolic of the stark contrast between what I wanted in my life and the personal reality I had created for myself.  I needed to make a change for life’s sake.  As the morning surfers arrived on the beach and took to the water, I literally tossed my pager into the Pacific Ocean (just like the Corona beer commercial, only I did it for real).  I then drove back to Vegas, and promptly quit my job.

I then drove my 1997, fully loaded Mazda 626 to the intersection of Charleston and Durango, pulled into a parking lot, parked and walked back to my condo, leaving the keys in the car.  I called the auto loan company and told them to come and get the car, as I was through with it.   They obliged.  I signed the “voluntary repossession” papers.  I collected my severance pay from my employer and invested it in the stock market.  A short while later, I loaded my stuff into a van and drove away.  I moved to a small, quiet town in Southern Oregon and got a $7/hour job at a local juice bar.  THAT was the best, and most fulfilling job I ever had!  I was finally far, far away from Vegas and the high-stress lifestyle.  I’ve enjoyed life ever since.

The small-town life is great.  Minimal stress, good people, real community — and everything I needed was within eight blocks of my apartment.  In other words, WALKING distance.  Walking is great exercise.  Its interesting… You’re not inside an impenetrable tin box (a car), and you can actually connect with people!  Try it!  I know I’ll never get fat and lethargic as long as I walk to the grocery store and carry my bags home.  In my small town, the bus is FREE, so sometimes I take it when there’s too many bags.  Traveling around quickly in a car from place to place saves time and gives one a sense of freedom, but slowing down and touching the earth gives one a different sense of freedom.  I argue that that kind of “freedom” is more profound.

True… a hot, fast car with a powerful engine has been “sold” as a symbol of American masculinity.  I’m a living example of personal sovereignty, which tends to be more appealing in the long run.   I have no insecurities nor a need to impress anyone.  Granted, I have no family so there’s no need for a mini-van to tote a lot of family stuff around.  To each his own!

My auto expense is $18 to $20 a month, due to the fact that I often take a taxi due to rain or bad weather.  No insurance, no car payments, no speeding tickets, no parking tickets, no fear, no worries.  Automobile finances aren’t an issue: I either have cab fare or I don’t.  Since the cab drivers all know me, they spot me the $6 cab fare when I’m short on cash.

I understand this lifestyle isn’t for everyone.  Not everyone can quit their jobs and move to a small town and live a life of ease.  I’m like that Costarican native who spoke to the tourist lady.  The tourist lady says, “Oh… You people just have it made.  You live on the beach in paradise.  I would  love to just quit everything and move here!”  The native says, “So quit everything and move here.”  The lady says, “I can’t because I have too much stuff.”  The native replies, Yeah… You’re right.  Your “stuff” won’t fit in paradise.  Keep it.”

-GS for Excalibur Networks & The Formula Blog