Keeping it Green on the Road
At the end of the month we’re headed on the road. It’s funny how before the babe our lives were filled with travel to distant and exotic locales and we never, ever, ever vacationed domestically. We’d vacation in Amsterdam or Paris. I spent a summer in Morocco. We traveled a lot. Now that the little dude has arrived we haven’t been out of the country at all. If we do travel it’s always to visit family. Funny how little things change when you bring a new person into your family. When the little dude has enough patience to handle an overseas flight we’ll pack him up and head half-way across the world again.
When October rolls into November we’ll pack up and head out to visit relatives. This time we’re headed to Oklahoma. As the vacation approaches I’m left wondering just how I can keep it green while we’re on the road. Of course, we won’t literally be on the road. We will be flying which presents many problems unto itself. Not only is air travel taxing on the environment but we also have to put up with hired goons while passing through security, flight attendants who harass nursing moms and passengers who are just as tired and cranky as we are.
We’ll also be driving quite a distance to get to the airport and driving quite a bit once we get to Oklahoma since public transportation doesn’t seem too accessible where we’re going. So I’m left with the question: Just how can we keep our trip green? Perhaps this is the occasion for me to give it up for a while and take a vacation from considering the environmental impact of my decisions and my lifestyle. Yet, that just doesn’t sit right.
Perhaps we can search out farmers markets so that we might keep our food local. Perhaps we can find unique second-hand shops if we want to go shopping. Most importantly, I’m simply looking forward to spending time with family in a quiet and happy way–taking long walks, heading to the park and that sort of thing.
So talk to me about your ideas for traveling green.
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:28 pm
It is interesting that you bring this up, because we are also about to do a lot of travel the next few months. I’ve been thinking about how we can make it a bit greener. I’ve read that many car rental companies now offer hybrids or biofuels. I’ll pack my own healthy snacks in reusable containers for the plane and bring my own bottle to fill with water behind security. I’ll also bring my own bag for shopping trips. Hopefully I’ll come up with a few more before our first trip.
Instead of just second-hand shops, you could support local crafters for any souvenirs.
I think one of the most important things you can do is continue to spread your message when you are away.
Can I copy this comment and make it a post on my blog?!?
October 4th, 2007 at 12:36 am
No, I don’t imagine you’re going to find much public transport in Oklahoma. Even OKC and Tulsa don’t have “usable” public transport.
I agree with Greenstylemom - look to see if there is a hybrid you can rent. Other than that, I’m drawing a blank. It was hard enough to live green in OK, much less tell somehow how to travel green there.
October 4th, 2007 at 1:59 pm
If we didn’t have so much respect for the Great Grammas (and other cool family) we wouldn’t be caught dead in places like Tulsa, OK or South Bend, IN. It’s good to know that there are some rational brains somewhere in this country, in our own families no less, that we can meet in person.
The thing that occurs to me about domestic travel versus international is that every time we leave this country it gets exponentially harder to come back. It’s like customs in America is filled out with the most ignorant and rude jerks they could find that weren’t too busy being police or prison guards or senator or president. At least traveling domestically we don’t get the breath of fresh air that getting out of this country provides so we don’t notice the pain of drowning in fervent jingoistic Americanism as much. I feel pity for any citizen that has not had the opportunity to get off this continent. Surprisingly we had a really good time in Tulsa last time we were there and the people we met were generally genuine and nice (except at the airport but I gave as good as I got, as always).
My green plans for Tulsa involve recycling the piano, guitar, hammock/couch and library books.
October 13th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
Coming back to see what others said…
Are you going to be in Tulsa? I haven’t been there for years and years, but I remember they have a really nice art museum. Of course I think it is supported by the oil industry, but it is nice.