Yesterday I gave up on my original idea to take the train and then BART, to my meeting with the folks from Lucid Design Group. One thing led to the next, and before you know it, I had only one hour left before my appointment. Driving was the only way I could make it on time. To be honest, I was not too keen on this elaborate public transit scheme. I am ok with just taking the train, but ask me to transfer to another mode, and my interest drops!
Today, no such excuse. I had planned to bike to my hairdresser’s appointment. Several hours working, then swimming, and lounging around reading the paper, once again, I cut it too close. Driving the three miles became the only option, if I wanted to make my 4.15 date at La Belle salon.
What has happened to my green resolutions? Before I left on vacations, I wrote enthusiastically about my biking escapades. Since I came back two weeks ago, I have fallen off track. Rhythm, interrupted. Old habits, not dead, got the best of me, again.
More telling than all the green consumers’ surveys, is the reality of my tenuous commitment. Symptomatic of a much broader ill, I believe. While away in France and in Italy, I witnessed the same spectacle: never ending flows of cars covering up the freeways, just like in the US. We the people on planet Earth, have not yet reached the tipping point when our collective consciousness will dictate another way of living.
La Marguerite 
There are many conditions necessary for change People need to perceive a positive benefit as well as a low cost. Add to that a generally poor human ability to assess risk and a mixed message and belief structure on the role of technology and it is sometimes difficult to see how people get motivated at all.
I’m a strong believer in education and in making alternatives easy. The dramatic improvements in appliance efficiency that started in the mid 70s were almost transparent to the public and have made a huge difference.
Major tipping points are probably a ways off, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t hope and things can’t be done. Seneca said “luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity” I’m devoting a lot of effort to preparation these days.
Thanks Steve. I totally agree!
I am trying to be a link between “normal people” and greenies. This interesting thing happen for lots of well intentioned green folks. They tend to forget what it was like before they saw the light, and in the process fail to empathize with their intended target.
Marguerite,
One of the great things about your blog is its honesty and willingness to grapple with these tensions. Congrats!
Your observation shows many things, among them: the need for societal changes in transportation options, incentives, disincentives, and so forth; and (as you have mentioned) the social dimension of things. One person, even with good intentions, can’t do it all. Convenient options need to be available in society.
That said, might you consider halving the frequency with which you get your hair done? Or, perhaps, there is a much closer salon for you, where you could easily ride your bike or walk? One of the things, of course, associated with new ways of living, is choosing a place to live that’s close to all the necessities, and choosing necessities that are close to where you live. Could you pick your places (salon, grocer, dry cleaner, and so forth) so that they’re all close to you, within walking or biking distance? As if you were in a Parisian neighborhood, for example.
Cheers.
Marguerite,
Maybe the reason the majority of the people in North American haven’t reached that tipping point is because, as James Gustave Speth says:
“We are living a dream. We need to be reminded of the nightmare ahead. Here is the truth as I see it: we will never do the things that are needed unless we know the full extent of our predicament” –from his new book “The Bridge at the Edge of the World”
Of course, that dream is still the American Dream, the American Way of Life, and unfortunatelly many, many people in th USA are still saying “… our American way of life is not negotiable”
We need to understand that, what is really not negotiable is a change to a different way of living: a low consumerism way! We change or we collapse !
Jeff, thanks for your appreciation. You raise a very good point, that serves to highlight the tension you refer to, even more. Of course, I could switch to a closer salon. There are actually quite a few very good ones only a few blocks from my house. I could if I was not so emotionally attached to my hairdresser, and happy with her performance. Comes in the risk of switching and ending up with a lousy cut, which on the personal balance scale comes up pretty high . . . Most interesting to me, is that until your comment, I would not have even thought of considering such a switch!
Norberto, you are so right. Yes, the majority of us Americans are still deeply entrenched into the pursuit of the American dream. I see it every day. I live it all the time. And as you so justly point out, from dream to nightmare, the line is becoming thinner and thinner, as time passes.
As hard as it will be this troubling economic time, pqarticularly the winter with heating costs, will make a big difference. Great story in the Washington Post today about the trend, and how oil costs will continue to escalate.
You stated that “If my interest drops, forget it.” This seems to be the problem. Nobody ever said that going green was interesting, or fun for that matter. After all, riding a bike can make you sweat. Recycling the pickle jar makes you take a few more steps. Going to the farmers market on Saturday morning means you may have to give up your cartoons.
Until we change who we are, we cant change society.
Marguerite, your post cracked me up. I had the same thought and almost wrote along the same vein, but focused on how you need to be punctual and organized to be green! (Maybe I’ll still do it!)
But it takes many attempts to shift behavior, so don’t be too hard on yourself.
Hi Marguerite. Your post highlights why I don’t own a car. I know that if I had one, I’d be in your situation, using it all the time. I have a problem with chronic lateness. Because of this problem, I sometimes end up paying for cabs or even renting Zip cars at the last minute when they are available. But I know that if I owned a car, I’d be in it much more than I’d intend to. And I’d get less exercise!
I know that the idea of living without owning a car can be scary. And depending on where you live, it might be impossible. For me, living in North Oakland right near BART, it’s pretty easy. And I choose my living situations specifically to be close to public transit. I really don’t want a car and all the accompanying expenses. Before I was even thinking “green,” I was thinking cheap. I’m sure one of the reasons I have no debt is because I have no car.
Zip Car is a wonderful and convenient resource in areas where it’s available. I don’t feel deprived of a car because there are several parked a few blocks away that are available to me if I just plan ahead a bit. And sometimes even if I haven’t planned ahead.
A couple of my friends who are weaning themselves from cars have used Zip Car as a substitute for their second car when they gave it up. Now, they are working on letting go of the first car.
Beth, you are echoing one of Kyle’s earlier comments on another post. (Kyle as Kiashu, from Green With a Gun). The truth is I am not ready to let go of my car . . . As I am sure millions of Americans. Why? In the absence of an economic prompt – as in no longer being able to afford a car -, the only incentive right now is internal. It then becomes a tradeoff between green conscience and convenience. So far, the freedom to decide when I want to drive is winning.
Goeff, I agree with you that economics are going to play a HUGE role:
https://lamarguerite.wordpress.com/2008/07/20/rising-gas-prices-helping-with-climate-solution/
https://lamarguerite.wordpress.com/2008/06/04/us-gas-prices-are-still-too-cheap/
https://lamarguerite.wordpress.com/2008/04/28/the-green-power-of-shrinking-wallets/
Adam, I understand your frustration with me, and all your other ‘lazy’ fellow citizens. My priority is to not gloss over reality, and to face with brutal honesty what is. In my mind, that is an essential step towards change.
Lynn, be reassured, I am not being hard on myself. I am pretty good at self-forgiveness . . . 🙂 Whenever I self- disclose, it is usually in the interest of being a voice for the ‘regular’ people. Can’t wait to read your post!
Hi Marguerite, – just found your blog – good work! But. Maybe you’re missing your role in life! Maybe you should forsake your car and take on all the inconvenience that will come with that decision. Maybe then your friends and colleagues (and blog readers) would see what you are doing and reflect a bit more and make changes themselves. We need to change – and we need to see people changing to give ourselves permission to change too. It strikes me you are just the sort of person to to take that leading role, and share the agonies, frustrations (and rewards) that go with it. As a role model you could achieve far more than the raving greens ever could. Please don’t allow yourself to hide as a ‘regular person’. You’re not. http://www.wanttoknow.info/060616ourdeepestfeartheinvitation (Our Deepest Fear)
Simon, thanks for stopping by La Marguerite, and for pushing me towards greener horizons. Your personal journey, as chronicled in your blog, is an inspiration to me, and I am sure, others.