Mmmkay, here’s another semi-money-inspired post by yours truly. But, as always, it’s with that really weird, quirky spin that I end up putting on everything. Just because it’s me and my life and my blog and how I am! (I mean, who doesn’t like talking about themselves and all that? Nobody. Anyone who claims so is a liar.)
Let’s get started, shall we?
Experiences or things?
Um, I guess I’m not sure why this is such a hot, debatable topic in the money part of the blogosphere. In fact, the car blogs I read seem to understand that it isn’t a “one or the other” sort of dichotomy, because we get to enjoy both.
Having a car is fine and dandy, but modifying a car puts you into a group, mostly because not everyone sees the value in modifying a car. However, the car culture is huge when it comes to most car people’s social calendars. The events, to be quite honest, are endless. (Just very location focused. Damn you SoCal!)
It’s a bad question overall
I really don’t like the question at all, as it implies that you either get experiences or you get things. Really, I like having both…
And my things, specifically my cars, allow me to have these great experiences that I truly enjoy.
If it weren’t for having my Miata, I would have never made it out to Myrtle Beach for the third annual Miata gathering. I wouldn’t have a ton of fond memories about the beach, or a fun road trip out there with my husband. I certainly wouldn’t have a bunch of friends from Triad Miatas, an East Coast Miata club. Friends who I still get to talk to occasionally.
Miatas at Myrtle Beach was tons of fun...
Or I wouldn’t have gotten to go to the fantastic track at Hallett and find out that hey, I am totally in love with road racing! Now that is an experience I wouldn’t be able to get anywhere else, and my Miata did amazing out there… I built a pretty good race car without really doing it much on purpose!
I don't think this would have been as fun if my Miata was modded for it...
So Experiences and Things…
Aren’t mutually exclusive. Which is pretty much what I’m getting at. Yes, you can have both. And, sometimes, having a certain thing opens you up to a whole other world of experiences to be had.
For me, my social calendar is filled with autocrosses, the occasional trek to a special gathering, car shows and club meetings. And it’s pretty much because of the cars I own. I have many friends because of them, and it’s great. It’s an easy way to relate to people and I love having the friends that I do. I enjoy my life because cars make it so much better, all of the time.
Cars & coffee, anyone?
And even when I’m not off doing something, I get to sit here and write about them. Or think about taking pictures of them. Or hell, just being able to go out and drive them. Nothing to me says, “getting my money’s worth” more than buying parts for a car that I nearly drive daily. I enjoy each and every penny put into my cars every day, whether I’m driving them, cleaning them, looking up stuff to buy them or just thinking about how lucky I am to have my girls in my life.
On valuing possessions too much…
But don’t get me wrong, honestly. I don’t mean that everyone has to be in love with their car. And, well, they are cars… They break down, and they get banged up, and they do end up totaled. It’s not about being too attached, though I know I definitely am. It’s something that I have to work on, really.
It’s sad when I have an easier time thinking back on people I know who have died, and instead of feeling just horrible and awful, I’m glad for the time I got to spend with them. Many made an impact on my life, both while they were alive and after they died. I need to learn to revere my cars in the same way. Hey, at least I detached enough to sell my first car! (To my brother, but hey, she needed a good home where she would be loved and appreciated and I couldn’t think of a better place.)
Your turn!
This now, my friends, is where I turn it over to you. Are you a car person? If so, how does it make you feel when people act like you’re wrong for putting “too much emphasis” on your ride? If you aren’t, do you think that car people are too possession-oriented and not focused enough on intangibles?
I’m interested to see what others think, as I can kinda see non-car people’s side, but not really. And I’m curious as to whether or not other car people have felt this way too. Please, let me know!
No related posts.
Usually for me its not so much the fact that I like cars in general, but the kind of cars I prefer. Kids at my school would understand completely if I loved mustangs and nos, but when I tell them about all the cars I like I get weird looks. People don’t understand why I would rather drive a 15-35 year old japanese or european car over a camaro or a mustang, or why I would take the time to fix one up. Power isn’t everything with me. There’s one kid at my school who’s dentist dad bought him an STI. He’s always bragging about how he got nos and he bets I want to drive it so bad. I really could car less, and would much rather drive my 280z, just because its more fun in my opinion. There are so many weird new electronics these days that the car is basically on autopilot (not to mention his STI has a 100% tint, some dirt-biking stickers, a custom exhaust he made by sawing the muffler off, and the engine is basically destroyed because he can’t even pull out of his parking space without red-lining). It really doesn’t matter to me what other people think about the way I think about cars (especially because most of them are high-schoolers), at least I have one good friend who gets cars, and once he gets his rx7 we can cruise the mountain and stuff like that. And with the internet its easy to connect with like-minded individuals.
LOL, those kinda kids crack me up… Life most definitely is not like the movies. Street racing isn’t sexy or fun…. I’ve been there, once, and I won’t ever go back. Not worth getting in trouble over. Not when I can wait, pay a bit and go race without worrying about getting in trouble or cracking up my car.
Totally agree with the electronics, it’s part of the reason why I’m attracted to 911 SC’s more than 996′s or 997′s. It’s more of a raw car, something that won’t babysit me if I’m stupid… Only way you can learn, really.
Oh, and I want your 280Z. Just sayin’.
They look a lot better to me than any new car I could feasibly afford.