When we decided to look for retail space for Loopy back in 2007, I wanted it as close to home as possible. I knew we’d be spending a lot of hours there. We looked at places 10 minutes away, and 15 minutes away. We also looked at a place just down the street, about 4 minutes away. That was my top choice. Of course since it’s in a nicer area and in a nicer building, the rent was higher. But I decided that it was worth it, for the location. “I can walk to work!”  That’s what I told my family. They smiled at me indulgently because they knew that I probably wouldn’t. And they were right. I’ve done it a few times, but mostly I have a million reasons why I don’t. (Important reasons, like: “How will I get Starbucks?” or “I have too much stuff to take in/bring home.” or “That road is just too busy to walk on.” or “It’s much too cold/hot/rainy/snowy/windy/bright/dreary today. That was my favorite.) But I decided I’m done with all of the excuses. So today – on a bright, windy, -2 degrees windchill kind of a day, I started in on my “I walk to work” pledge. I’m ready. But I do reserve the right to drive on rainy days. There is a limit to my resolutions.

I took pictures to show you what a boring walk it is. And what a busy kind of street I have to walk on. And so you can see that there is really no reason for me not to walk to work.

Heading off of my front porch, jacket/scarf/mittens in place:

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This is the most interesting part of the whole walk. Nice houses, cute dogs barking in the windows as I walk by, and moms walking their kids to the bus stop.

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It’s about 2 blocks down the quiet street, to get to the busy street ahead.

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Here is the direction I’d like to be heading. Starbucks is 2 blocks thataway.

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But instead, I head thisaway, in the opposite direction, towards Loopy. The sidewalk here isn’t too bad. I wish I could knit and walk at the same time. And look, if you squint (or click on the photo to make it bigger) you can see that just after I turn onto this road and walk a half block, you can catch sight of the flagpole in our parking lot. Yes, that’s how close I am to Loopy. See the wooden fence past the lights? That’s the part I don’t like.

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This part. Why didn’t they put the walking lane on the OTHER side of the metal guard rail? The speed limit is 45 and cars just whizz by. There are always people walking and jogging along here. In fact one time I was walking home, and heard a little voice in my left ear saying “excuse me – passing by”. I must’ve jumped a mile, straight up. The traffic is so loud that you don’t hear people jogging up behind you until they’re talking in your ear. Creepers.

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Pretty soon I’m at our building. It took about 15 minutes to walk it.

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We’re allllll the way down the hall at the end, but we take up about 2/3 of the right side of this building (on the first floor).

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There. That wasn’t so bad. Time to see what today brings in Loopy Land.

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The walk is about 1500 steps one way. Kind of a bummer to know that I’m only going to knock out about 3000 steps, round trip. Don’t people say that you should walk 10,000 steps in a day? (Do you?) I may need to walk home for lunch each day. Twice.

Sheri whonowhasanotherreasontoloverainydays…