We finally did it. The 110 mile (3 hour) a day commute gave us the incentive — a cruel shift from public transportation for me. I hate filling up the tank, and doing it twice a week was a bear and cost me an arm and a leg (no Ahab jokes, thanks!) And then there was Thanksgiving day when the dear old Chrysler lost its vroom on 495 in heavy traffic. We’re donating it to NPR on Monday.We checked out small pick-ups to complement the very safe and child-friendly Volvo station wagon — I’m always planning for the day we have to make a fast escape with both dogs, the cat, and all 13 chickens, as well as the comforters, my laptop … and John, of course.
But one test drive of that sweet little Prius and we knew we had to walk the talk. I pay extra every month on my electric bill to support future green energies, but we don’t have solar panels and we’re gobbling oil daily to heat the house. Our neighbor is setting up hydro-electrics on the creek next to our house, but we’re very bad. Our coop is heated with electric lamps and we’re running filters in the dog pond, and we water the garden and lawn, so we’re not exactly green-living, self-sustaining types, much as we would like to be. So despite the 2-month wait list we scooped up a 2005 Prius from our nearby Toyota dealer, and a week later I’ve only depleted half the tank and haven’t refilled once! 55mpg highway, 60 mpg city — nice! (Although I’m currently averaging only 49mpg – maybe bc I ride 80 mph up 495 and on the Mass Pike.)Oh yes, that particular Prius we found available right now? Black, of course — that’s what really sold me: it is just so pretty.