Happy Pride Month, day 9, car-free
Jun. 9th, 2024 10:38 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sonia9. I'm proud of not owning a car for 21 years and counting, getting around by bike and walking and public transit and the occasional ride from other folks. Acknowledging the luck/privilege that my body is strong and capable of biking and walking, and that exercise directly supports my sense of well-being.
Now that I'm off of exercise restriction, I hooked up my bike trailer and returned two 40lb bags of cat litter. I bought them in a panic before eye surgery when I was startled to learn my usual pet store had discontinued smaller sizes and I didn't want to change brands on the cat right then. I was surprised to realize that I can deadlift 40 pounds, but the large bags are awkward to store in my small place and would be awkward to use. I did already know I can pull 80 pounds and more in the bike trailer.
Meanwhile I discovered that another nearby pet store still carries the smaller sizes, and their prices are lower. Since I hadn't opened the heavy bags yet, back they went, and I'll stock up at the other store later.
Since I already had the trailer hooked up, I continued to the farmers market, and then to the garden store, where I bought a 2 cubic foot bag of potting soil, three coconut husk basket liners, and three flowering plants (plus some bonus basil) to fill in a small 2 foot high 3-level stack of baskets that I picked up from a free pile down the street. A neighbor was downsizing their garden art collection, so I brought it home last week.
I pulled all that home up and over the little hill between me and Grand Lake. I lined the baskets and added dirt and plants, and watered them in. The basil went in with the sage in a pot I bought last year.
Since the liners are meant for much bigger baskets, I only needed one of them, so back I go on the bike to return the other two. I figured out that projects always involve multiple trips to the store because there's a learning process in doing something for the first time.
It turns out that I don't have any trouble biking with the change in vision. The surgeon advised me to be cautious, but I was already riding around with double vision and depth perception issues. Post-surgery is easier and feels natural. I'm relieved to discover that I didn't lose too much strength during the exercise break, even if I get tired sooner than I expect.
Now that I'm off of exercise restriction, I hooked up my bike trailer and returned two 40lb bags of cat litter. I bought them in a panic before eye surgery when I was startled to learn my usual pet store had discontinued smaller sizes and I didn't want to change brands on the cat right then. I was surprised to realize that I can deadlift 40 pounds, but the large bags are awkward to store in my small place and would be awkward to use. I did already know I can pull 80 pounds and more in the bike trailer.
Meanwhile I discovered that another nearby pet store still carries the smaller sizes, and their prices are lower. Since I hadn't opened the heavy bags yet, back they went, and I'll stock up at the other store later.
Since I already had the trailer hooked up, I continued to the farmers market, and then to the garden store, where I bought a 2 cubic foot bag of potting soil, three coconut husk basket liners, and three flowering plants (plus some bonus basil) to fill in a small 2 foot high 3-level stack of baskets that I picked up from a free pile down the street. A neighbor was downsizing their garden art collection, so I brought it home last week. I pulled all that home up and over the little hill between me and Grand Lake. I lined the baskets and added dirt and plants, and watered them in. The basil went in with the sage in a pot I bought last year.
Since the liners are meant for much bigger baskets, I only needed one of them, so back I go on the bike to return the other two. I figured out that projects always involve multiple trips to the store because there's a learning process in doing something for the first time.
It turns out that I don't have any trouble biking with the change in vision. The surgeon advised me to be cautious, but I was already riding around with double vision and depth perception issues. Post-surgery is easier and feels natural. I'm relieved to discover that I didn't lose too much strength during the exercise break, even if I get tired sooner than I expect.
