Good morning, everyone! I hope you've had a good week!

I'm finally getting unpacked, decorated, and organized. It's so nice to be surrounded by my things after being away for so long. The kitty, who has finally agreed to be named Starla, is settling in as well.

I have my little office corner set up and started taking meetings that I've put off while I was away. It feels so weird to be back in the world of Zoom meetings again! This past week I met with a doctor from The Wellness Company and ordered my emergency medical kit, which I'll be reviewing once it arrives. (I'm SO impressed with this company!)

As some of you know, I had a Jeeptastrophe and am on foot for a while. It's taking a bit of creativity, but so far, it hasn't been terrible without a vehicle, and I'm hoping it helps me stay fit and active like I was when I lived in Europe.

I got my little cart from Amazon and went to the grocery store near my home. It's a pretty decent cart, honestly, and between that and a backpack, I can bring home a LOT of food. My concern would be the weight of it - although the specs say it can hold 80 pounds, I'm not sure if I totally trust that, especially going up and down curbs and over the little paving stone path to my door. But the store is close enough that I can go there on a regular basis and bring home smaller amounts at a time to stock up.

It's worthwhile for me to order heavier things through Instacart and get them delivered. Things like gallon jugs of water, cases of canned goods, kitty litter, cat food, and beverages go on my weekly delivery order. Other essentials are shipped and delivered free by Amazon and Walmart.

Even with the cost of getting stuff delivered every week or two, I'm saving a fortune right now without vehicle ownership. It's a bit limiting but a great way to save money if you happen to be in a walkable area with a robust delivery infrastructure. No gas, no maintenance, no insurance, and no car payments add up to HUNDREDS of dollars per month.

To be perfectly clear, I'm not suggesting that everyone get rid of their vehicles - not by any means. I'm just saying that if times are tough, it's an option that could save you a lot of money in the right circumstances. And there are other benefits too, like how healthy it is to walk everywhere and get more activity into your daily life. It's been an adjustment, but I actually don't mind it. (Though I do plan to buy another vehicle in a few months.)

I hope you have a wonderful week ahead!