Choices, choices . . .

Because we share a vehicle with 2 other families we have to get a little creative when it comes to getting around town sometimes. It wasn't really a big deal before Nathan came along, but now getting out of the house requires quite a bit of planning and sometimes A LOT of sweat!

We have good public transportation here. There are buses, taxis, 5 person taxi things. And for us, since we live in a small city and our apartment is not too far from downtown, there's the option to walk. I used to walk everywhere! And if I didn't feel like walking all the way downtown I would hop into one of the 5 person taxis and go. Then just about the time Nathan was born we discovered that we really like the buses (the bus stop is closer to our house than any other mode of transportation).

For the first few weeks of Nathan's life I pretty much went nowhere without Mark. So it didn't matter how we traveled - car, bus, taxi, etc. (and there was no walking because I was still recovering). He took care of getting Nathan, the car seat and/or stroller in and out of whatever situation we found ourselves in. Well, now that I'm getting out mostly by myself I've been experimenting with various modes of transportation. Earlier in the week I decided to carry Nathan in the snugli front carrier and take a bus . . . great in theory but after sitting on an unairconditioned bus, walking around in 90 something degree temps for a couple of hours, and riding another unairconditioned bus home I decided I would try to avoid doing that again this summer. Today I decided to walk . . . again great in theory. If you could only see the hills I pushed the stroller up and down today! This morning it took 30 minutes walking into town (Mark was pushing the stroller) and coming home took 45 minutes (just Nathan and me). Not only are there lots of steep hills, the sidewalks here are a nightmare! I don't even know where to begin trying to describe them! Anyway . . . I have decided that making walking downtown and back a regular thing may be too much until the weather cools off.

So what options am I left with??? Taking the stroller on the bus . . . possible, but definitely would need someone else to hold the baby while I lug that heavy thing onto the bus and often there's no one else getting on or off at our stop. Taking the stroller in the 5 person taxi . . . might work if I always get on at the beginning point and always get out at the stopping point. I might try it next week. Carrying Nathan in the snugli and riding a 5 person taxi . . . but sometimes you have to crawl over people to get to the back seat. I wonder if they would give up a front seat so I could avoid dumping Nathan into the floor? No to mention I'd still be carrying him around in the heat like that - yuck! A regular taxi is too expensive. I could just hold him the whole time, but how would I get any errands done?

Anyway . . . I never dreamed that one of the biggest choices I would have to make daily would be whether or not to use the snugli or stroller and whether or not I wanted to walk or take a bus/taxi. At the end of the day I might return home exhausted, hot, and soaking wet with sweat, but just think of the adventures and opportunities I'd be missing if I simply stayed at home!

Here's wishing you a day full of traveling adventures . . .