To like some acknowledgment that walking everywhere is bloody exhausting!

[squashedalmondcroissant]

Not really an AIBU but I have PMT and need a little handhold (lighthearted 😂).

I don't drive but I am fortunate that I only live a 30 minute walk from work. This is also the main town centre so all the shops/facilities that I would need are there. If I need anything or want to do anything, this is where I need to go.

That's all fine but I would just like some sort of acknowledgment or recognition from the people in my life that walking everywhere (and I do mean everywhere) is really really tiring and hard work! The part of the country I live in is widely acknowledged as being not very good with public transport so virtually everyone has a car and drives everywhere even if they don't need to. So it's very hard to get people to comprehend that if I want to do an activity or get something I need to a) walk to and from the place and b) carry any equipment I need with me or carry it home with me. It's bloody hard work! I have a massive backpack that I carry everywhere in case I need something from the shop while I'm out.

I don't complain about this IRL as I know it's just the way things are but it's just hard sometimes when no one around me 'gets it'.

For example, yesterday I walked DDog for around an hour, then walked to work, walked around at work (job is fairly physical with almost the whole time on my feet and lots of lifting boxes), then walked home. Today will be much the same. Some days I'm exhausted before I even get to work!

Aibu to want just a tiny grain of recognition that this is hard?

Id get a bike. Did you get a dog already knowing you had an hour's walk to and from work or did the dog happen after? Is there nobody else to walk the dog?

This....

My son leaves his car here at home when he's away at university. He doesn't want all that faff of trying to park, filling up with fuel, paying exorbitant car park charges at University, risks of breaking down, etc etc. He'd much rather walk on nice days (2-3 miles) or get the bus when it's bad weather (still a miles' walk to the bus stop).

He needs a car when he's at home because of the crap bus service (no evening buses after 7pm), only one bus every 2 hours on Sundays, etc. He'd never get anywhere or do anything without a car at home.

Get a bike.

I walk a lot too ( over 20000 steps a day most days) and really enjoy it.listen to podcasts etc on the way to work and back. When I'm pushed for time I cycle.

People often ask how I stay slim cos I do love my food. They don't seem to get the connection between non-driving and staying slim. When you don't drive you have to used your own energy stores to get around..duh!

the OP did not get the dog, her partner did. The OP is just kindly trying to take care of the animal. Why is the partner too lazy to be involved is anyone's guess.

Probably because he knows someone else will do it if he doesn't

Yes OP but things being more difficult for you is because of your own choices. All I see is complaining.

@KateyCuckoo what a rude comment. Do you have an insecurity? Maybe you need to go for a nice walk.

Oh unclench! The OP herself said it was a lighthearted post, go find yourself a sense of humour 😀

I have a sense of humour @KateyCuckoo. Unfortunately you just aren't that funny. Unclench - that's original 🙄

Same here, I’ve tried to learn (had some lessons) but the anxiety is too much.

Op I’m not sure why you want acknowledgment? It is tiring but so are lots of things. I walk 10km most days and am pretty wrecked by the end of it but at least I can sleep at night and I’m getting some exercise!

Oh god yes. I have to take at least a half day off for a hospital appointment. Often I take a full day because I can’t guarantee that public transport will get me back in time to work an afternoon. But some people don’t seem to understand that the train and two buses thing is the only way I can do it. And it takes a looong time even if there are no delays.

I get you OP, when you have to walk everywhere you’re much more tired at the end of the day.

Trying to get compost to do the garden is nigh on impossible! Big bags that are better value are too heavy to carry and nowhere delivers them 😭 Not a major issue but just an example that people don't even think about because they can just put it in the boot of the car.

for that type of product I would do a bigger grocery shop than normal and pick up the compost from Aldi and get a taxi or uber home

I do most stuff on my bike, usually 2/3 shops per week depending

I get toilet rolls delivered and coffee delivered - as its cheaper and also these are busy items for my panniers.

I take two shopping bags into the store and fill them up, once full I purchase items, ive been caught out before on buying to much and makes the bike heavier to handle on the way home. So I limit myself to two shopping bags - which is 4/6 a week.

I don't understand, a reasonably healthy able bodied person should easily be able to walk 10000-15000 steps a day without any issues.

Now ds is 18 I was able to sell my car in April. I work at home however. I think this is a luxury to not have a commute to factor in.

Tuesday this week however I had 2 errands to do plus a local beautician appointment which entailed 1hr 20 mins of walking that day so I did feel great after as I do walk very briskly to enhance fitness benefits.

I hate driving these days since menopause I was getting horrible panic and anxiety and now this has stopped which is great.

Living with no car is utter bliss for me but we do have extremely good bus and train links just ten minutes away on foot. I am lucky I enjoy public transport options.

Not sure what recognition you need, or why? Its no one else's fault or responsibility that you have decided to walk. Plenty of people are tired at the end of the day due to choices they consciously make (e.g. 6am run before work, gym workout, raising a family of six kids and working full-time, hand-rearing puppies...) and they don't get a pat on the back for it. If you don't like walking, there are other options (bike, scooter, taxis, ask for lifts, learn to drive and save for a car, go out less/order in more).

Your fitness level should rise to your activity level. Your dog walk, walk to work and active job don't sound unachievable. I'd say they constitute a desirable level of activity that should be the norm for many of us.

Actually, I find that being able to walk to work in 30 minutes is an immense privilege!
You get fit, spend time meaningfully, don't need to brave the rush hour.
Just get a bike, order groceries online and you'll be fine.
I used to live 40 minutes away on foot from my work, everyone was envious that I could either walk or cycle to work easily. Mind you, I live in London, where a commute or 1 hr is considered normal! Now I'm in zone 3 and miss the days when I could just walk/cycle everywhere!

Buying and maintaining a car is actually fairly expensive. There's the cost of the car itself, then petrol, maintenance, keeping it updated with MOT etc. The older the car, the more maintenance you will pay, but the newer the car, the more you'll pay for the car. There's a floor to how little you can spend to own a car.

Is it possible it would be cheaper to simply get deliveries and the odd taxi for when you are the most tired? You wouldn't have to get them all the time but I completely understand there are days when one is just too tired to do another hike to the store and back, especially when you've been on your feet working all day.

I get you, I have a car but it isn't worth trying g to drive it into the city for work . I walk to the station, from the station to work and vice versa and it's knackering

You’re doing a good thing for your health, the environment and your wallet. And you might find that even though it’s tiring, you’d miss it if you changed to driving as you don’t experience your environment in the same way. You don’t need others to pat you on the back, you can do yourself.

I cycle most places, and it’s much faster than walking. If you need some cycle training, look for local adult Bikeability courses. If you’re not up for that, consider a trolley bag for getting all your stuff around.

Erm, you made a choice to live where you do. You also have other choices than walking. Nobody cares about your bad choices. Make different ones if you don’t like them.

To be honest we are designed to till the land. To be physically active. This is why there is so much obesity due to modern sedentary living and the wrong foods in the western world. I appreciate many of us have no choice but to live a sedentary life though. E.g. School run by car working in an office e tc.

Such a shame that cars and modern living are so central for most of us.

Keep walking. I've gained loads of weight since I passed my driving test and started driving everywhere!

I don't get why you need recognition? Are you out and about ensuring anyone with it harder than you (and there are many) are sufficiently recognised for their hardships?

Oh fhs. It wouldn’t hurt to be a bit more sympathetic. If anything, op is drawing attention to the difficulties of a whole section of society who cannot drive owing to income, disabilities, ill health, old age.

And those who simply find driving very hard. My brother is an artist and I am very pleased he is not behind the wheel tbh. But it’s not his fault he finds it an impossible skill to master despite having several serious attempts. Thank heavens we are not all the same. He has other talents to offer.

It is bloody hard sometimes managing without what many people take for granted and carrying heavy shipping in the rain; surely it’s not that hard to understand?