I'm from Danvers, a tiny town a few miles from Normal, IL.  So I was shocked and pleasantly surprised to see this blog.  And I can attest to the difficulty of navigating that town sans-car.  Way to go, Christine!

It may not be intuitively obvious, but it is a lot easier to live without a car if you plan to do that when you choose where you will live.

I'm looking to move in a couple of years, out of the big city.  My plan will include researching public transportation before I move anywhere.  I will not be tied to my car.  One comment is true, the car does isolate you.  Its like everyone walking around with headsets on - no communication.  The bus, train, etc. is cheaper, more fun, more adventurous and never, ever dull.  I also have stopped accepting plastic bags in the market and carry my own canvas bags.  Now if I could just find some with drop-down wheels on them, I'd be set.  there is inspiration in Christine's story and we can make it our own, if we but try it.  And who says we have to be in a race all the time?

uh, normal is not a suburb. it's one of 2 conjoined college towns out in the cornfields

Living near the beach (5-7 miles) and being an avid sailor, I have some toys that need to be transported and dread the day I have to haul things around without a car.  I do toodle around on my folding bike with 20 inch wheels to the library and farmers market.  Why just the other day I went to the pharmacy and library about 5 miles one way.
Sadly when I came out of the library I had a flat rear tire and ended up walking the bike home about 2 miles on a muggy but pleasant afternoon.  I replaced the tube with one of those having slime inside sure hope it works but considering that the old tire had 3 punctures from caltrops (pointy and very sharps seeds) I have my doubts.

I go to the farmers market twice a week buying lots of locally grown fruit, vegetables and salad fixins.  When I get home I wash up most everything but am appalled at myself for the number of plastic bags that I end up wasting.  I need a reusable, washable, portable, sealable container for some fruits and vegetables.  Tupperware probably wont cut it on the bike ride back from the market but it is a possibility.

When I lived in Queens, NY, I spent a year without a car. In a city which is known for it's public transportation, I found that I had to leave a lot of time for travelling, But I did a lot of reading.
A trip that takes 20 min by car can take up to three hours by bus, depending on the routes. In Nyc, the focus is on getting to Manhattan quickly. Getting across town in the boroughs is a challenge.
Now I live in the country. I want to get a bike for routing shopping. And save the car for when I have to go more than 10 mi.
I also have two huskies who would benefit from being able to run with a bike.
Nora

I had two cars in three years, neither worked very well and I just couldn't find much life in working on them constantly.
I ride a bike to work every day(7 mile round trip), I stop at the stores I need to shop at, or the bank, on the way home.
If I drove it would probably take just as long or longer since I would have to wait behind those people dedicated to supporting a car habit, isn't it around $1000+ a month to support that habit?
Most people I know get this glassy-eyed look in their eye when they find out I live without a car, and ride a bike, they just cannot comprehend, sad.