Fed up of people being completely incredulous that I can't drive

[Pleezoo]

First off, I can't drive and I'll never be able to drive because I have a seizure disorder. They're very infrequent but I still won't ever be allowed to drive. I'm 36 with two children. DH drives, I don't. We live in a city (not London) where most things can be found within walking or reasonable bus distance even though the public transport system isn't the best. And for what can't, and if DH can't drive me, I use taxis.

Yet people are absolutely INCREDULOUS that I don't drive. Utterly incredulous. How do I possibly manage, what about this, what about that etc.

In an ideal world I would like to be able to drive, it would undoubtedly make my life easier, but you know what, I manage perfectly well and I still have a life and I still go to places with my kids in tow. Sometimes I speak to people and say I've just got the bus to X or Y and they look at me as if I've announced I've just ridden there on the back of a dragon. Drives me mad.

Anyone else have this?!

I’ve stopped driving for medical reasons and it’s ok so far cos it’s summer but it won’t be as pleasant in winter.
I can luckily get to work easily as I don’t work far and only go in. 2 days a week.
dh drives and I’ve never really done motorway driving.
I don’t particularly like driving these days anyway as there’s so many maniacs out there.
i don’t think there’s anything odd about not driving as some people have medical conditions, live in cities where it’s not necessary or they never took to it. My mum never drove and my dad hated driving so we didn’t have a car growing up. I have to say it was a bit of a pain!

It's horribly rude for people to question your lack of driving OP. Or anything for that matter.

However IMO a lot of the reaction is due to how shit public transport is.

Yes!!!

How do you have the time to walk everywhere or wait for public transport?

I live three minutes away from a station that takes me into central London within 20 minutes. I know the times of the trains (and if I don't I can check) and I also know that at the station two minutes by train from mine there's a tube line with departures every 15 minutes, so there's time to get a coffee. So I can pretty much work out how long it'll take me to get to somewhere and when I have to leave home

Plus I don't rush everywhere because I plan my time and have no objection to waiting for things.

Anyone "amazed" by this either lives properly in the sticks or has led an extremely sheltered life. My Gran in her mid 80s doesn't drive, never has, and has always had a very active life getting out and about. And she doesn't live in London and neither do I.

I am surprised when people with no medical reason can't drive, but if there is a reason like you, then why be incredulous?

What about people who could never afford lessons (or maybe they had lessons but could never afford a car) or kept failing the test and couldn’t afford to/didn’t want to carry on? Some parents can’t afford lessons and a car for teenagers, that isn’t particularly surprising

Lived in London all my life and never learned to drive after being in a coach accident abroad at 15 that scared me. Am early 40's now with 2 kids. I have taken lessons and I don't have the fear so much now so we'll see. One day hopefully! I get some people being surprised I just tell them I'm pretty happy this way, I like the exercise of walking/busing etc. Ignore people who make comments OP, you do you and tell them to worry about their own lives and you'll worry about yours!

as said, not everyone does everything or can do everything. Find something they cant do and ask them why they cant do it?