I would be remiss if I didn’t redirect to my first blog, Engines Off. Back when I was working a demanding job as the Executive Director of Riverside Avondale Preservation, spending countless hours at City Hall, carting two kids to school, tennis lessons, and all their other extracurricular activities, I had the brilliant idea to to create an experiment. Could I give up my car and for a full year and just ride a bike everywhere? Would that even be possible in Jacksonville?
The answer is YES! I did it and I have the emotional scars to prove it. Actually, it was a great year, full of surprises. I learned new things about myself and my kids, I enjoyed hitching rides with friends on rainy days, and I learned to stop and smell the roses, literally. The summers were tough because of the heat and the challenge of traveling between meetings without walking into one soaked in sweat (always carry a towel and a change of clothes). However, it was nice to bring everything closer to home and to simplify my life and that of the children. We walked to school every morning, created a greater connection between us, and we all experienced our neighborhood through a different lens. Want to know more about my journey? Check out Engines Off to learn more!