I have never been a good city driver, especially in parking garages. I do quite well on the Interstate between cities--but should I sell my car and use Uber or Lyft for shopping? I already use them to get back and forth from airport several times a year.
Your ability to look at the reality of some troubling incidents and take the bull by the horns to be safe AND still live your life by enlisting services available is beyond inspiring to me.
For all of us who have had to be responsible for dealing with “the driving issue”, this is a true breath of fresh air. After years of dealing with the opposite of you:), my DH and I have worried that - for all of our good intentions - we will let foolish stubbornness and pride take over and ruin our relationships and the goodwill we have with our children and friends. It has seemed inevitable to us. I am not sure if that makes sense. The years of 24-7 caregiving of 2 people who don’t feel like they should have to change anything to accommodate their growing limitations has been unexpectedly demoralizing. It is nice to see that others choose differently.
It gives me so much hope to know that I *could* make wise choices about driving, that I *could* utilize the options available to me, that I *could* be flexible enough as I move through the years to adjust to the changes I experience. (Of course, we already know this is possible. However, we haven’t gotten to see very many good role models in this regard, lol.)
So today, thanks to you, I am able to see a different model. It has helped greatly in releasing some of that fear. I know this is a hard time... please know I am not trying to minimize it or idealize it. Like most challenges in life, no one can quite walk the road with you. But, that is what makes you even more impressive. You are a person moving into another phase of life with such wisdom and grace.
I know this is beyond the scope of your question, however, I just had to verbalize the positive impact you had on me this morning. I suspect that there are many more on this site who will feel the same when they read this.
As far as moving to a new form of regular transport, doing it now gives you time to acclimate to it so that it becomes part of your routine. Also, you are completely bypassing family tension if there is concern for your driving. That is a whole lot more time spent enjoying family and friends than dealing with unpleasantness.
And, for what it is worth, my teenage boys think you are the coolest 80-year-old on the planet because you use Uber:)
Yes, I agree with you on Uber and Lyft. I also see other people mentioned Gograndparents or something like that.
My mother had a friend who used the city busses to go around town up untill she was in her late 80s. She walked to/from bus stops to the stores and friends' houses. It helped to keep her in good health and her mind sharp. And it cost very little because she bought the monthly passes which I think was less than $15/month at that time.
Since you can get on this site, you are internet savvy. And you know how to use Uber, you are app savvy. Keep up the good work. May you have many more years of good health physically and mentally.
Brava to you for being wise enough to know when your safety and others is a concern and you decided on your own to quit driving! We had to pry the keys out of mother's hand--and my 88 yo MIL is still out banging up everything in sight. My DH will NOT have the "you can't drive" talk with her b/c she will then expect him to take her everywhere, and that is not ever happening.
My grandmother lived in a condo after she lost granddad. She worked a few more years, then retired. Kept her car for a while but felt it was just kind of a nuisance. She sold it and took the bus everywhere, or got rides. She lived close to a grocery store and took a little wheeled cart with her, rain or snow. She walked every single day, kept up an active social life and lived life with gusto. I know had there been Uber's back then she would have used them!
Her independence made us WANT to help her when she needed it. She NEVER called me for anything, but if I called her and said "hey I am going"...she'd be saying yes, she wanted to come before I even got out the name of the place I was going.
She is my hero and the person I really hope to emulate as far as going gracefully into old age. She lived 37 as a widow, she was brave in the face of trials and she was funny and friendly (and kind of sass pants, to boot).
Bless you!! I hope you work out transport issues w/o using up your family, and remain their beloved grandma, not a burden!
When you add up tax, fuel, maintenance, parking, insurance and everything else that goes into running a car, that's a heck of a lot of Uber trips and even internet delivery charges. Make yourself a "regular" with one or two drivers and I'm sure that before the year is out you'll be pleased and relieved to be rid of your car.
I hope things work out. I'm not sure if you are interested in looking at Amazon or Wal-Mart as another option for deliveries to your area.
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