Small Change: One car family

Okay, this may not be considered a 'small change,' but rather a 'big change.'

Recently, Nate and I went from a two car family, to a one car family. Since I am still working graveyard shift and he works days, one car seemed to make sense for us, and was really working out.

And then.....

Nate got a new job. He started this past week at a new building in Portland (with the same company). Let's just say he no longer has a 5 minute commute. We are still making this one car thing work, but it leaves us scrambling in the mornings and evenings when we are each leaving for our work shift.

But I love days like today.....I have the day off from work. Nate always says how he feels sorry for me because I don't have a car anymore and can't go anywhere. What he doesn't know is how much I have grown to be thankful for that! It might sound like a mundane life to stay at home and catch up on laundry, dishes, and housework, but I need this time at home to focus on all of that stuff because it is my only chance to.

Plus, Oliver and I go all over the place with no car. Everyday I have off, we go to the park, and the local coffee shop where there is the cutest play area for him to run around in. I'm able to steal a chapter or two out of my book too, during this time. And it gives me a chance to get some fresh summer air and a walk in.

My only real complaint about having one car is the morning and evening scramble when we both have to work. Needless to say we are still working the kinks out, and a new routine will soon fall into place for us.

The biggest surprise about only having one vehicle is the quality time it affords us. It isn't very often we get to sit down and eat dinner as a family together for quality time (does anybody do that anymore, anyways?). Even the 10 extra minutes Nate and I spend in the car together on our way to drop me off at work has given us a chance to "catch up," and have some great conversations, and reconnect as a family again. Even with the big "scramble" having one ride has been a blessing in disguise in more ways than one.