The City Mouse in the Country

These last few days have convinced me that I need to get off my proverbial ass and find a work from home position, or failing that; one that only needs me in the office two or three days out of the week. My 2012 Kia Soul (stock photo) The reason is that recently I "threw a rod" in my car.   This is basically the worst type of engine failure possible.  My starter also died at roughly the same time, which means that they can't even turn over the car to try to determine the extent of the damage or what exactly failed.  A new starter won't be in for a week.   Now this type of engine disaster can be fixed but it's going to take anywhere between two to three weeks at minimum even if I can get the parts in a timely manner. Living out in the "boondocks" requires that my wife and I have two cars.  We work in two different parts of the county and two different schedules, so it is just a requirement. There is no public transportation, no car sharing services,

       Recently their has been talk in the news of why no one wishes to return to office.   Part of that is due to COVID of course, the gift that just keeps giving.   Part of that is family, as various people are rediscovering the joy of just being together.        Others, and I am including myself in this bunch...really see no reason to return to the office.  I see no reason to drive the roughly 30 minutes one way that is the average commute.   Considering that I am more or less able to do my job from home with close to the same proficiency.  I am also looking at this as an environmentalist and as a frugal SOB.           Working from home simply means no commute.   Currently my car sits idle five or more days at a time.   I do take it out here and there to run it, just to keep the oil and gas moving.  As I've recently learned, going meatless just one meal a week is equal to NOT driving 320 miles.   Since the Average Joe/Jane drives 32 miles total just as part of there daily roun