Bus or not?

I have a driving licence and driven for almost 50 years. I don’t own my own car; preferring my bike or buses for local journeys and happy to go by train on longer trips.

My husband needs a car for work and uses it at weekends, for heavy shopping, and holidays etc. I, of course enjoy that convenience but he is reliant on the car even for short journeys when parking is inconvenient and very expensive; so much so that he will often think that a journey is not worth taking is the above mentioned difficulties are hard to overcome. He also considers public transport overpriced and inconvenient. Until now this argument has been one not to enter … but as retirement looms and funds will be curtailed considerably, the battle must begin I believe !

I will continue to cycle while I am fit and maintenance at present affordable and take the bus as it is free; he will have to make some decisions.

Today, for instance, we plan to spend most of the day in and around the town centre; meeting friends, lunching, shopping and taking in some cultural stuff, before having tea at a cafe later and returning homing. There is no convenient place to park, and wine and beer will be an option at some point during the day, so already there are some bones of contention. Taking the bus is the only option … while we may have to carry an umbrella and some shopping bags there is little to argue about is there?