5 Ways Amish Get Around (Without a Buggy or Car)
We all know Amish travel by horse-and-buggy. Most ride as passengers in cars, and pretty much all Amish will take the bus or train when need be.
But how about shorter trips? Here are five more ways Amish get from point A to point B:
1. Bicycle
The bicycle is a standard, especially in larger Midwestern Amish communities. Amish bicycles can be pretty fancy. In places like northern Indiana, Amish ride them to work and on errands along busy roads. So comfort and safety features such as rear-view mirrors are valued. Recumbent bicycles (the kind that looks like you are leaning back in an easy chair) are sometimes seen as well.
2. Scooter
Like the buggy, the Amish scooter is something of an icon. They are typically made from welded steel, with a foot brake and basket, and come in primary colors red, green, and blue (though pink frames have been spotted). There are at least a couple of scooter manufacturers in Lancaster County, including Groffdale Machine Co. Scooters are seen in some other communities, for instance, among the Swiss Amish of Allen County, Indiana.
3. Foot power
Foot power never goes out of style. And the type of shoes Amish wear reflects the amount of time they spend on their feet. Some might think Amish prefer only the plainest shoes, but as in other things Amish are practical. Keds and Skechers are popular brands known for their comfort. Good’s Stores, among others, sell shoes to a Plain clientele in Lancaster County.
4. Rollerblades
Donald Kraybill’s Riddle of Amish Culture features a pair of rollerblading Amish girls on the cover. It’s one of those striking images, like photos of Amish strolling on the beach or talking on a cell phone, that seems to somehow show a contradiction of Amish life. However rollerblades are considered a useful and mostly harmless form of transport in some communities. Rollerblades are more often used by youth, and are probably most popular in Lancaster County.
5. Horseback
It’s true you’re more likely to see an Amish person galloping down the road on horseback than bouncing along on a pogo-stick. But not much more. I include it here because occasionally Amish do ride horseback, both with and without a saddle. I’ve seen adolescent Amish girls riding recreationally in both Holmes and Lancaster Counties, for example. People wonder why horseback riding isn’t more common. Donald Kraybill has this to say: “Although farmers will occasionally ride horseback to and from fields, horseback riding is generally discouraged because it borders on a worldly form of sport” (The Riddle of Amish Culture, p. 70).
Read more on Amish transportation.
Photo credit: Amishman on rollerblades in Adams County, IN – S.I.
I have seen some in Holmes county drive tractors. I saw an Amish man driving A tractor with A trailer, and he had A couch on the trailer with his wife sitting on the couch. Probably New Order Amish.Marcus Yoder London,Ohio
amish do rent some one to drive them to places that they need to go, for long distance and even short distance. they pay other people about 50 cents a mile. ( jim knapp avoca mi. )
Greetings everyone!
I have never seen an Amish scooter so I will read more about that. Sounds interesting. Roller blades kind of surprised me, but why not? All sounds very interesting to me. I had never given it much thought before.
Blessings, Alice
good morning …… alittle snow and ice my way today. hey alice, in my little picture ive put in a amish scooter, if your able to see it?. i see these alot in lancaster. heres a good web site to check out (www.lappscoachshop.com) there you will see a few amish made scooters, as well as some other really nice things. ive been going in and out of this place since i was around 7 years old. so everyone check that site out, and let me know what you think………. ill be back on later, alittle early in the afternoon……….. Richard, pa
Richard,,, thank you for including the picture. it is hard to see but I will check out the web site as well. Thanks so much for sharing.
I hope the snow and ice is not too bad out there. We are having a bit of a thaw and all the snow is melting and turning into a muddy mess. I am not complaining though, the warmer temps feel good on the body.
Hope you have a good day my dear sweet friend!! 😀
Blessings, Alice
New Order Amish in Holmes County have tractors for farming. They use them for transportation on roads as well. Most of their tractors are pretty fast on the road. Usually you will see them with a trailer attached. Local people refer to them as “Amish pickups”.
As well, the increasing number of people that work away from a farm need transportation. Employers will hire a van to make the rounds and pick up a load of their employees. Some Amish women working at local restaurants come from quite a distance. Bicycles are used by a few as well. Bad weather makes this less of an option.
I have lived 7 years in America without a car and now 7 years in Europe without a car. I am not Amish by the way. Not having a car is not for everyone as I live in large cities. But I am living proof that a car is not a necessity on par with bread.
For this I give the Amish two thumbs up.
When the world runs out of oil the Amish be blowing by the rest of us in their buggies.
Those Amish that have tractors on the road with a pickup bed trailer behind are using the trailer’s axle to drive the rig. The tractor’s pto output is hooked to the trailer’s axle. See the post here on AA from Dec 14, 2010, the Nat. Geo. video starts with a tractor doing this. That tractor moving fast! The operator gets the tractor up to speed using the tractor’s gears, then engages the pto while putting the tractor in neutral. The tractor then takes off going 45-50 mph, instead of the normal 16-18. I am told Amish may use these things to go 150 away from home in a day. I am a farmer with tractors and I really would not want to go that fast or that far away from home on any tractor. Tractors do not have a suspension like cars to cushion the bouncing from potholes, train tracks, etc. Hit the wrong bump and the tractor may be going solo!
In northern Indiana, Amish driving tractors on roads is becoming rather common. I have seen a well drilling rig installed on a tractor, it is quite the contraption. Also a Amish pulls a trailer with a backhoe excavator and skid steer to his work sites. There are also several contractors using tractors and trailers to move their tools around. I have seen the same near Shipshewana, and I am told that is where it started in N Ind.
An Amish friend told me that he remembers his Grandmother going to a quilting, driving a tractor with a road gear with her prayer cap strings flying in the air! That was in Gutherie, KY where they have had tractors for a long time.
Lance: The pto driven trailers are an exception an not the norm. In most communities the “Amish pickups” are not allowed to be driven at speeds faster than factory specs.
Very interesting…I have seen the Amish in Lancaster on the scooters, but not on bikes. Really love this site as it has so much info and I have learned alot from it. Thank you.
i think the amish are pretty smart, and i think most would agree. the amish seem to be always punching out the seams of the envelope, and yet their churches seem satisfied, smart, very smart. and if i were amish i would just ride in my buggy or just walk, those scooters seem pretty useless to be honest. scooters would be ok going down a hill , but sooner or later your going to have to make that trip back uphill. a bike on the other hand, especially a 10 speed or more would do nice, like my collection of schwinns maybe, that would work for me……………… Richard from snowy penn
Lanore, so glad to see you here. This has become my favorite hang out place, LOL.
Richard, how much snow do you have there now?
I’ll take the buggy or walk, my balance is not what it used to be.
Blessings, Alice
Rich, I agree that the high speed trailers are an exception. I was just pointing out that some Amish have figured out how to go fast without an auto. The Amish are often quite innovative at getting things done.
I have seen the Amish use a variety of tractors. In one community, restored JD putt-putts are very popular, even a status symbol (lots of pride here, just like the english). Elsewhere, I have seen a Farmall M with steel wheels providing belt power to a silage chopper. In another, I have seen tractors with concrete filled rubber tires. At Kokomo, Indiana and Oklahoma tractors are used for field work. I have never seen a draft horse on Kokomo farm.
Also I meant 150 MILES in the first post.
hey alice…….. we just recieved alittle sprinkle of snow in Lebanon/Lancaster late last night. i was outside this morning shoveling it, and it was on the wet side, so it was pretty heavy to pick-up. im more worried about tonight, when the temps go way down and it starts to freeze, which its supposed to do. did you ever check-out that web site, its pretty cool i think. when you walk inside lapps you would notice that all they have for lights are gas lamps. now i thought they were amish, with them having a web site im not sure now. maybe someone has set-up that web site for them, i dont know. ………… richard
Hey Richard,
We have had light rain on and off. Most of the snow is melted now but all this wetness will turn to ice when the temps drop tonight so I am in the same boat as you with that regard.
No, I was just getting ready to go look at that site. Was resting a bit today and now have got bread rising to go in the oven and have some time to sit down for a few minutes.
I know of some Amish out this way that have someone doing a web site for them so it is possible they are still Amish. I’ll let you know about the web site later.
Alice
Richard!! If I ever get to come out for a visit, I want you to take me to that shop,, it looks wonderful and the prices are very reasonable!! Gosh I wish I could live out there, LOL.
I hate to tell you this but we were just put under a winter storm advisory for Wednesday into Thursday. They are calling for 3 to 5 inches of snow. You know it will be heading your way after it hits here, so don’t put the snow shovel away yet!! Yukk, I am so tired of shoveling snow. 🙁
Got to get the bread in the oven. Be back later.
Blessings, Alice
i need to start making bread again, i have a bread maker. nothing like the smell of baking bread in the house. and glad that you enjoyed the site alice, there are a few like that in this area, and now you know what a amish scooter looks like. when ive been shoveling since i just got back up north, im just taking it as it comes, and take my time, why get upset at nature, right. some might think im alittle crazy, but i really dont miss florida at all. maybe sarasota alittle because i did love going there, right now i feel this is where im supposed to be, and penn has always felt like home……….. im not sure i could win abook around here even if i had the contest myself,lol………….. Richard, from soon to be sunny penn
Richard, a bread machine?? I shudder to think!! I do all my bread by hand but actually I must confess, I do own a bread machine, I just haven’t used it in years, LOL.
Normally I would not mind shoveling but with the fibro flared up the way it is, shoveling has become very difficult. Guess I need someone to do it for me, LOL.
I don’t really miss Florida either. I lived there one winter, and frankly, Christmas did not seem like Christmas with the palm trees decorated, and no snow, LOL. I am happy you feel you are where you are supposed to be, that is a good feeling.
Hmm, I think we are going to have to rig up some sort of book give away that only you win, LOL But you have to put a picture of you back up first, LOL.
I’m back and forth between computer and kitchen. I am going to have some chicken soup to go with that bread that is baking. Yummy, good hot supper on a cold damp day. 🙂
Alice
you wont believe this alice, but ive just won a book, i sent myself a e-mail in my other account, then i opened it and told myself i just won the book “amish America 2”.when i oppened the e-mail, i had a stupid look on my face, thats my reg look, so now all i need to do is order the book, so as you can see, im a winner. so what do you have to say about that Erik?…………………… Richard book winner from lebanon,pa
😀 Hahahaaa Richard you tickle me! Congratulations on your win, haha!! You are a winner in my book anyway Richard. 😀
Thanks for making me smile and laugh, I needed that. Now I need to walk the dog as he is doing his, “I gotta go now mom dance” LOL.
Blessings, Alice
alice….. you wont believe this, i just checked my e-mails before signing off, and found another e-mail that i had addressed to myself. in the e-mail, it says i wont be winning that book, and the deal is off, and it gives no reason. im not sure what to do, do i tell myself off, do i leave the house?. do i make some bread, then leave the house?. you walking your dog has given me an idea, ill get a paper bag, then go outside to where they walk the dogs, fill the bag up, then put it in front of my own door, and light the bag. then ill open the door, with that famous stupid look on my face ill stomp on that bag and put the fire out. that should teach me . thanks for the idea alice. good night folks and ill see everyone on weds…………… Richard, lebanon,pa
Richard!! That is just awful, don’t you do that!! You just took the smile from my face 🙁
Let’s change the subject, LOL. I was just looking online at real estate in your area. It is not as high as I thought it would be. But of course I do not know what is a good or bad neighborhood and that seems to be quite a big sized town compared to where I am currently living. Maybe you can give me some tips on the neighborhoods to NOT look in? Please?
Poop on the doorstep was NOT my idea!!
Alice
your not really looking to move, are you alice?. for myself, i looked at lancaster county, but found the taxes to be higher than lebanon county. that does not mean a person wont find a reasonable place to live in lancaster. when i bought this place, it was in late aug and thier was not alot of really good stuff available. now if someone is looking to rent, then they could go pretty much anywhere. i myself live in the country, so im not in a city thank god. from my deck i can see a few farms, and smell them too, if you know what i mean. about 8 blocks from me there is a mennonite dairy farm that sells milk fresh from the farm, they also sell ice cream and all of it is homemade. i try to buy some milk and eggs there when i can………… well im off line folks, good night alice and everyone else, now ive got a mess to clean-up in front of my door…….. richard,penn
Actually Richard, at some point I am looking to move. I have some things to work out first and it might not even be this year. Truthfully, I do not know where I want to move to. I enjoy looking at real estate online and have looked all over the country. Your place sounds like a slice of heaven to me being out in the country. I am not much of a city person any more and love the country.
I don’t know where God will lead me to, but I do believe I am meant to leave here at some point. Just as you know you are where you are suppose to be, I know I am not always suppose to be here.
Have a good night Richard! I am heading to bed early myself. Have a busy day tomorrow before the snow starts blowing in, LOL.
Good night my dear friend 😀
Blessings, Alice
Richard and Alice–you two are part of the reason I love to read these columns! Sometimes I think I’m going to jump in, but I don’t want to spoil the back and forth between you. Are you guys on Facebook?
And Erik, not to leave you out. Love reading and learning from this forum.
Loretta
I just looked at lappscoachshop. I love that dark colored bedroom set they have. If I were Amish I would use the buggy, walking or the bike. You can’t even sit on those scooters-I guess that is how you keep the scooter going-standing up and scooting.
I also am thinking of moving. I want some place that is warmer. What I am trying to find if it is my will or God’s will. I can’t do it right now anyway-but these winters are for the birds-as my Mom would say.
Hope you all sleep well tonight.
Marilyn
Loretta, feel free to jump in any time. Richard and I do have fun sometimes and I guess get a bit carried away. I have facebook but I do not know if he does. Would be cool if he did, then I could pester him on there too, LOL. Don’t tell him but he has lifted my spirits more than once with his posts. 😉 And he is such a sweetie,,,,, shhhhhh I didn’t say that! LOL
Marilyn, I love the furniture I saw on that site!! Warmer does sound better to me too, but then I think I would miss winter to a certain degree. I guess I just need to find someone to shovel for me and let me hybernate during winter if I stay up north, LOL.
I’m not really sold on one place at this time. Just looking and waiting for God to guide me where I need to be. I’m sure when it is meant to happen, it will and then I will know where I am to be. 😀
Sleep well and have a great night!
Blessings, Alice
Hi Alice,
When I first moved to Florida I did not like that there was no snow on Christmas. My brother was a history teacher and advised me that there wasn’t any snow where Jesus was born. He said Bethlahem doesn’t have snow. So I got kind of got used to there not being any snow. When I moved back here I liked the Christmas snow. I wish it would snow on December 24th and melt on December 26th-no more snow after that. LOL
I just want to be sure the moving is God’s will and not my will.
Hope you sleep well tonight, also.
Blessings to you,
Marilyn
Good morning Marilyn,
I know there was no snow in Bethlehem but I grew up with snow and sure do miss it when we don’t have any on Christmas. LOL Like you, I want to make sure it is God’s will when I move and where I move too.
I look at it this way, its a big country out there. I already believe God will be leading me elsewhere at some point. I think He is going to throw a dart on a map and say, there ya go,,, head that way, LOL. Well not literaly, but I am sure he will point me in the right direction when the time is right. 😀
I met a man traveling through town once, his name was John and he was traveling on foot. He had a dog with him and he pulled a cart behind him that had all his personal belongings on him. He was not a quack but I believe a great man of faith. He said he felt the Lord talking to him one morning and told him to pack up his things and head west.
That is exactly what John did! He signed his house over to his adult children, packed up the personal belongings he wanted to keep or felt he needed and started walking. At the time I met John, I was homeless and living in a tent. Boy was he an encouragement in faith at the time I needed it.
I had some food and fixed him a meal. He sat with me and ate and we talked a while then he was off again. God has a way of blessing people in the most unusual ways. I have no idea where John is now as we had no way to keep in touch. But I am sure God has blessed many people’s lives through John.
So, you see that is why I believe at some point God is going to tell me to pack your things and head this way. And he will you too. 🙂
Blessings, Alice
Good morning everyone!
Richard my dear friend, I just checked the weather forecast for here and we are to get 4-6 inches total of the beautiful winter white stuff gracing our lovely tree branches by tomorrow evening when all is said and done. It is suppose to start this evening here, end tomorrow evening then move on east in your direction. Enjoy sunny Penn while you can my dear, LOL. 😀
Oh and the worse comes after when the wind chills drop to the minus 16 to minus 20 range,,, brrrrr throw another log on the fire and cuddle up, LOL.
Need to take care of some errands this morning before the storms roll in. Hope you have an awesome day!!
Blessings, Alice
Greetings!!
Back from my errands. Where is everyone?? Don’t tell me I scared yas off, LOL.
It was a big slippery on the roads this morning. All that had melted yesterday froze up and gave us a thin layer of ice. But they are already out salting the roads so its not too bad once you get on the main drags.
Hope everyone is well today!!
Blessings, Alice
Alice you didn’t scare anyone off 🙂 was enjoying the conversation too. Looks like you are hunkering down out there. I still have a love/hate deal with snow. Love it when I’m inside watching it come down, hate it as my legs are flying up from the ice beneath me and just before I land on my tail with a thud.
And Richard, sounds like my kind of contest! 😉
Erik, that sounds like me. Kind of starting to hate the shoveling too, but especially when I am falling. I’m getting too old for those falls.
Yes, it looks like this storm will be wicked. More the aftermath of it. Expecting high winds with well below zero wind chills.
Of oourse I will still have to make sure I get my dog Rusty out when he needs it but other than that, I will stay in as much as possible. I always have plenty to do in the house to keep me busy and never get cabin fever. 😀
I think I need to rig up a contest for Richard, just not sure what yet. 😉 Maybe you can help me with that behind the scenes, LOL.
I finally sent that very long email to you yesterday and believe it or not, I left out a lot of the gory details, hahaha.
Blessings, Alice
hello folks…… just got back in, thought id pop-in for a min. looks like a slow news day on here i see.being on here has made me want to work on my own blog, and promote it. the sad part is, ive had it for i think 9 mos when i lived in florida and ive yet to really put any work into it.so one of my goals this year is to work on that and then promote it, i even have a domain name for it. i really need to get a digital camera to put my own pictures on there, along with topics of the day. my blog is amish related, and ive learned alot by just being on this site and watching how a really good blog should be. since im orig from new york, i like to talk out-loud alot,lol so bare with me folks. maybe my blog can give some folks who would like to continue a topic from amish america when that topic is done to do so on mine.and i want to talk with amish folks face to face, and write about them and their familys.im not fooling anyone, im no writer, but i do have the passion for understanding and sharing what ive learned from watching and in talking with some of the plain folks. now that im out of florida, and pretty much living among the amish from my backyard, i need to now take advantage of that .man did i write alot,lo, and id better get used to it if im going to do this…………. richard, lebanon,pa
before i sign-off folks, i thought some of you might like this recipe. i for one love meatballs, and i love cabbage. im getting it from the magazine “Reminisce” so here goes……… CABBAGE AND MEATBALLS……. 2 cups of chopped cabbage…..1 cup of tomato juice…..1 egg ,beaten…..1 small onion, chopped…..1 tbsp, chili powder…..1 tbsp, cider vinegar……1 tbsp, chopped dill pickle…..1/2 tsp ,salt….. 1/4 tsp, pepper…..3/4 lb, lean ground beef…………………….place cabbage in a large saucepan, add tomato juice. cover and simmer over a low heat. meanwhile, combine the eggs, onion, chili powder, vinegar, pickle, salt and pepper. crumble beef over mixture and mix well. shape into 2-inch meatballs. add to cabbage mixture. cover and cook over low heat for 15-20 mins or until meat is no longer pink, stirring occasionally. makes about 2 servings………………………. this looks and sound so good, ill be making this myself. it looks easy to make even a pretty bad cook like myself can swing this. let me know how this turns out if anyone should give it a shot and make this. its the perfect winter meal, nice and hot and should stick to ya bones……. well my work here is done, so good night miss alice and the rest of you folks…………………… Richard from im about to make a pretty big mess in my kitchen with the cabbage and meatballs, lebanon,pa
Richard,
Let me know when you have your blog going again and I might even share my blog with you, hahaha. My blog is a mix of thoughts, you never know what is going to come out of my mouth, LOL.
Your recipe sounds good and I will have to try it someday, but not today, no cabbage in the house, LOL.
The snow looks like it will start blowing in here within the next hour or so. So I am about to head out the door with Rusty for his last walk of the night and then watch the snow blow, LOL.
You know how to keep me smiling and I sure have missed you all day. 😀
Have a great night Richard. Enjoy your meatballs and cabbage and don’t make too big of a mess, you will have to clean it up!!
Blessings, Alice
There is an Amish fellow near here who frequently drives his little Bobcat dozer to various places like the grocery store. It is kind of funny, although locals get aggravated because they think these modes of transportation are “hypocritical”. Where I grew up in Stark County (when it was still Amish), my father used to get so mad when an Amish neighbor drove his tractor to town almost daily to talk over coffee at the local fast food place. It was about a 5 mile ride!
You often see Amish drivers tractors pulling flat wagons with people in lawn chairs, soft chairs – anything you can imagine. We especially notice this on Friday nights in the summer and fall, which locally is Amish shopping and busy social night, and for some reason especially around the Mt Hope area
Loretta–forgot to add earlier–thanks!!
Kerry great stories. Have seen the flat wagon on many an occasion in the Midwest. Always looked like a lot of fun on a Friday evening. And Stark Co. must have been an interesting place to live. I am trying to recall when the Amish presence disappeared there, I believe sometime in the past decade..? I guess I ought to check 🙂
I get around quite well without a car. I don’t use scooters or things like that, but I do bike, and I walk quite a bit. Luckily, I live in an area were buses run quite regularly. Recently I was reminded about how much money one saves without a regular car, “a cab ride is a drop in a bucket compared to the prices of keeping a car.”
In my area, I find it is easier to come home from work by bus because I find myself so tired, and driving may be a safety risk.
I’ve been a pedestrian on principle, but I’m not against the car.
SHOM I have been thinking about getting rid of my car for almost a year now. The only thing that holds me off is the craft shows I do that are out of town. But the thought is still there in the back of my mind and more than likely as I move to more of an internet business and less doing the craft show circuit, that car will probably go.
You are so right on the expense of keeping a car today. Gas, insurance and just general maintenance is quite costly and getting worse.
Unfortunately, we do not have buses in this small town and the taxi only runs part time,,, but most things are within walking distance and the others I could always get a friend to take me if need be.
Of course if I wind up moving that might be put off for a while too, LOL.
Blessings, Alice
My wife lived in Dover, Delaware (she is originally from PA) and many amish paid her to take them to the Chiropractor and even drove some all the way to Canada for vacation.
Her Dad had a dairy, and since he had a truck, he picked up the milk from all the Amish Dairies in the area.
We have offered car rides to Amish on occasion and they have always acccepted….once it was raining, and another time we noticed a couple getting off a bus with suit cases. They were very appreciative.
You have the right idea Alice. I remember so many times my Dad saying that of all the investment you will make in life, a car will always be the worst investment you will make.
Bob, I don’t own a new or expensive car either. In fact the last 3 vehicles I have owned I purchased from the local auto auction and have done quite well. I have never paid over $1000 for a car, LOL.
The first time I bought from the auto auction was out of necessity. I paid $300 for a van, put no major money into it and drove it for 3 years. It was far from perfect but it got me where I needed to go.
You’re gonna love this one, LOL. The second vehicle I bought was a station wagon. I paid $275 for it. Drove it for 4 years. Again not perfect but got me where I needed to go. When I felt it was going to need some major work soon I took it back to the auction and auctioned it off for $350 and put that towards the station wagon I have now.
I have actually paid more out in insurance on these vehicles than the vehicles themselves.
I have had this station wagon almost a year. Prices have gone up like everything else so I paid total $750 for it. When I decide to get rid of it, it will go back to the auction. I will not put a lot of money in it for major repairs. If it gets to the point I need them I will auction it off.
A lot of people go to the auction and buy these old beaters for scrap metal. I see life in one and that is what I go for. The guy at our auction house seems to be pretty honest. If he knows there is a problem with the car he will announce it before the auction and you can go test drive them before the auction. I have been pretty lucky with them.
The man I take care of with the heart condition offered to buy me a brand new car last year when my other station wagon starting having problems, I said no, lets go to the auction. He thought I was crazy at first but now he just giggles at the bargain I found, LOL. We have been all over the state with this car and to Indianapolis a few times. I take care of the fluids and getting the oil changed and general maintenance but will not put high dollars into it. I know people that are making car payments each month higher than what I paid for the car. What a waste of money!!
Just my thoughts anyway, LOL.
Blessings, Alice
Erik, I don’t know exactly when the Amish “officially” disappeared from Stark County (Hartville area). But it was already more Mennonite than Amish (although more conservative Mennonite than now) when I was in high school in the mid 80’s.
When I was in in elementary school, it was still very much Amish. I’ll never forget when I was in 4th grade, a new girl from Columbus moved in and to my class. We were looking out the windows one day, and she suddenly freaked out and kept yelling “what is that thing??!!!”, “that black thing, like a funeral car but weird looking??!!”. The rest of looking outside and couldn’t figure out what in the world she was so worked up about. After several minutes and her getting more nervous, we realized she meant an Amish buggy! It had totally creeped her out as she thought it looked spooky. We laughed, which I think made her feel bad, but we couldn’t help it, we were so used to buggies. Alas, not many buggies left in Hartville anymore…
Alice A! There are days when I wish I had a car. Mostly they are days when snow is coming down, rain, or freezing rain. I sometimes hate the wait for the bus, but I often remind myself that, currently at least, I never take the route that only runs once every half hour. So really, it isn’t bad. Waiting 10 minutes isn’t so bad, I always try to follow the rule, get to the start point early.
Another thing I like about my busing situation is the people watching. Sometimes people are strange and nasty creatures, but mostly, I see interesting and even funny ha-ha people in my travels.
I’m not in a hurry to do so, I do have alternatives (for instance if I had to move I have no objections to professional movers doing the work for me), but in the future I may look into a car. It depends on where I am in the future. I want to find a job where I can bicycle home instead of bus, after a while, I think I’d buy the swanky add ones so I could do big grocery trips and such.
Because I live in the orbit of Toronto, getting from a nearby point A to a distant point be across the big city isn’t too awkward given all the different systems. Plus, as the Amish may do (even though they may not call it this) there is car pool.
Hi SHOM!! I am sure there will be times when I miss my car if I get rid of it. But I sure won’t miss the expense.
I too enjoy watching people. It takes all types in this world, LOL. Living in a big city does have some advantages,,, but I am still pretty much a country girl.
I grew up in NY state about 90 miles north of the big city. The town was about 10,000 people but the city was just a train ride away. My grandparents homestead was about 15 miles out in the country. That town might have had 200 people at the time I was a child if they were lucky. I got a good taste of all worlds. The homestead sat on 26 acres, mostly woods but had some good fields for gardening too.
The city was my playground and I often took the train down to shop, see the sites and go to plays and museums. I must say, I grew tired of the big city atmosphere in a hurry. yup, I’m a country girl, LOL.
Of course the country has its disadvantages too. You certainly are not going to catch a bus or hop a subway to go where you want to go. There won’t be a taxi on every corner for you to catch a ride.
But ahhhhh, the peace, the quiet, the slow pace. The smell of grass freshly mowed, fresh baked pies and breads cooling on a window sill. The smell of laundry that was hung out on a line to dry and does not smell like gas or diesel. The sounds of nature. Yup, I’m a country girl, LOL.
Blessings, Alice
Alice, or I should say Thrifty Alice. Buying for $275 and getting $350 4 years later…….Wow.
There is a big car auction place near us in Lancaster (I think it is in Manheim, PA). I will go check it out this coming April. I would like to go electric or hybrid
Greetings Bob!!
I was really lucky with that one. And quite surprised. I really didn’t think I would get that much for it. But it hit the sale at just the right time. I was only hoping for $150 to $200 if I was really lucky.
It was funny when the auction guy called me to tell me how much he got for the car he was apologizing and telling me he was sorry he only got $350 for it. I said, hey don’t apologize it is more than what I expected. It was the owner’s son. I told him ask your dad, I bought that car at the auction 4 years ago for $275 he could not believe it either, LOL.
When I went the following week to bid on the car I wound up buying the owner was joking and saying, watch this lady she knows how to shop the auto auction, LOL. He was telling them how I check things out with note book in hand and set a price and I will not go over it, no matter what. All the men there had strange looks on their faces.
A couple of times, Lance, the owner would say, “Alice, you gonna bid on this car?” I’d shake my head no and 3 or 4 men would just turn and walk away. They were watching to see what I would do and what I would bid on.
Now its always, “here comes Alice, she will get what she wants at the price she wants or she won’t buy it.” Its kind of funny, LOL. I have taken a few friends to the auction and helped them get good inexpensive cars too.
Some people get carried away at auctions but you have really got to pay attention, set your limits and do not go over them no matter what.
Blessings, Alice
Alice A., where I grew up there was a mix of rural and suburb, so it was nice, it was easy to bike into the country and get to a more rural centre really quickly, and then get back in town easy again, at least in one direction. I think between 9 and 19 I lived on the edge of town, as it were. The best was and continues to be roadside vegetable and fruit stands run by locals, even if their crop on offer wasn’t from their direct backyard, it’s still cool to get out town, even 10 minutes away, and get something not from a supermarket.
I remember wanting to work for a local farmer, and asking him if could, when I was a young teenager, but he never took me on. Great guy I remember, he and his wife.