Footprints

I've been thinking a lot about how to reduce my (our) carbon footprint. While living in Laramie, we didn't use our vehicles to get to and from work. We walked or biked. We lived in town where there were sidewalks. Most places we went were closer than a mile even if we did drive. We did, however, go to Happy Jack (a 20 mile round trip) frequently. We also bought an RV which sucked gas at an awful rate, but we usually didn't take it very far. Still we managed to put about 10,000 miles on our vehicles each year. Things in town were close. Places out of town were not.

When we moved to Boone, the patterns changed. The house we bought is about five miles from campus. Stores are that far or further. We haven't made many friends here yet, but you can bet that if we do, we will have to drive a ways to visit them.

When we sold the rv last summer, we cut the big toe off our footprint, but it is still large.  We still drive more than we should.  We have to go several miles to places to walk or run where we can take the dogs.  They are building a new bike park near here.  When that is finished, we will save many gallons of gas.

I've read lots of articles and blogs about people who have tried to lessen their impact by giving up using plastic, or only buying local foods.  I support these efforts.  I know we can do better.  Actually doing so  is like any practice.  It will take more than thinking it is a nice idea.