Chloe, I am fifty two, have arthritis an am overweight and come from a place in the us where 90 degree days are the norm. I walk almost everywhere for almost every errand. I dont do it during the middle of the day in the heat of the sun.
YOu dont even have to go to Ghana.
I live in Germany. While there isnt "little or no car ownership" there is, in comparison to the us much less daily driving. most people use their cars for speacial trips on the weekend and leave them sitting at home on a daily basis. I live in an upscale neighborhood with families with multiple children and so on and not one of the families has more than one vehicle.
However, that is primarily because of public transportation. Its everywhere, one doesnt have to "choose" a place with good public transporation it just is.
It's also true that small individually owned groceries, restaruants and other stores are located at the community level.
That said, when I lived in the states, I deliberately choose a place that had both walking paths and sidewalks (as well as bike paths), good local transporation and stores nearby. And Arlington virginia in the summer time is not particularly mild.
Did I pay more than someone living out in the country where this was not possible ? Probably. HOwever, at fifty two and overweight, I can still get my errands done regularly, shop regularly and go without a car for an indefinite period of time if I had to. And with two teenagers and two working parents, we only owned one car and bikes for many years.
For some people, thy may have to live where there is no option of walking or public transporation. For others It is more difficult. But gas is not getting cheaper, so in my opinion an intelligent person who has options places themselves where they need to rely on gas as little as possible.
Barb
