Mid-life Crisis

Nate and I have been discussing the purchase of a new car. This is not an immediate purchase, probably about six months to a year in the future.

(A bit of history: Nate had a car in Chicago and I had a car in Austin. Before I moved to Chicago, we decided we didn't need two vehicles and since I was about to go to grad school, I decided I didn't need a car payment. So I sold my car to my mother, who was in the market for one. My car was a small SUV, bought because I lived in Florida at the time and was considering buying a boat. I wanted a vehicle with a trailer hitch and the power to pull. I ended up moving back to Texas, used the trailer hitch for a Uhaul, and never bought a boat. Now my mom has my car and I use Nate's car when I drive, although I suppose it is half mine, technically. I think I live in a community property state.)

ANYWAY, the whole point of this is that Nate thinks I should be the first to buy a car, since I gave up one when I moved here. I'm in the very inital stages of research. I'm not buying any magazines or surfing auto sites, but am noticing cars on the road and trying to remember makes and models. I could go in one of three directions.

1. an electric or hybrid car like the Honda hybrids or the Toyota Prius.
2. A utility car, like the SUV I had before. When I think a few years ahead, we have a house on the outskirts of a town, which will require us buying supplies, hauling things, on dirt roads as likely as not. I would also like to adopt two more dogs once we have the room, so I will need a big back seat.
3. A completely frivolous sports car before I have a need for baby seats and mortgages and planning for the future.

Last night, I told Nate my strategy.

"You know how people buy really fast sports cars when they have their mid-life crisis? I think I should buy my mid-life crisis car now and get it out of my system. Then when I have my real mid-life crisis, I'll do something sensible."

"What kind of car?"

"I think I need a very fast, small-penis type of car."

"Do you have a small penis?"

"Technically, I have a very small penis, invisible really, so I think I need a really fast car. What about a Porsche? That would work!"

"Well, people tend to have their mid-life crisis cars at mid life because they can, you know, afford them."

"Goddamn that logic."

Back to my daydreaming.