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Car

It is strange to me remembering how many cars I have owned as I don't think of myself as being as old as I am.  I've moved on to my next one after losing my previous one to a deer collision and renting a car (paid for by my insurance).

Because I have an hour commute I typically stow a good amount of gear that I may need during the day in my trunk. Because I often do road trips I stow things that I may need inside my car. While waiting to replace my car I felt the lack of those two storages; not so much that I needed them but more so that I am more materialistic than I like to think and draw security from these things.

I do not enjoy shopping and technology has made it possible for me to scout what I want on the internet pretty freely before making a purchase at my own pace without having to interact with other human beings. I am an introvert and while I enjoy the company of others it does drain me.

Once my insurance claim had cleared I shopped on Saturday for a commuter car, something compact and reliable. I started from the web and managed to test drive three cars that I could enjoy owning. Others like the cars that I like so I assumed that one or more would be bought by someone else before I could have my mechanic check them out on Monday; giving a Monday morning final exam just made it more interesting. Before I even shopped I made an appointment Friday morning for Monday afternoon with my mechanic to check out a car that I would bring in. I was pretty sure I'd have one but was willing to cancel the appointment as needed.

Sure enough one of the three cars was sold by Monday but my first choice wasn't, so I took it to my mechanic (it was "clean" was my laconic mechanic's verdict), drove it back to the dealer and bought it. There was some back and forth in returning my rental car and getting a Lyft back to the dealership but now I have a car of my own again.

We are planning some holiday travel but will use my wife's car until I build up a comfort level for long trips with my new car. I spent last evening loading my car back up and scanning the manuals. I need to follow up with my insurance company, get spare keys made, etc. but the worst is over.

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