I need a scooter.

Here's the thing. My wife and I have one car. We made the choice to save on insurance, gas, carbon emissions etc. I got a bike to go to work on. Its an electric mountain bike - Its really cool, but it has a few problems. First, its really freakin' heavy. If the battery is dead, I can pedal it home anyway, but it kills me to do. Next, I live in Southern California. It gets really hot in the summer, and cycling 7+ miles in 120 degree (not kidding) heat sucks. It can also get to be below freezing in the mornings when I cycle to work in the winter. I have to change out of sweaty cycling clothes into work clothes (I'm a Nurse Practitioner), which means I also have to carry those work clothes to work with me. I know, I know. Its better for me, its better for the environment, suck it up.

I'm tired. I'm turning 43 in December, and I don't want to suck it up anymore (at least on this thing).

I want a little 50cc motor scooter. I figure its a good compromise. They get like 100mpg, and are almost as easy to park as a bike, but I won't have to change out of sweaty clothes. I can use it for short hops to the market that I use the car for now, so I might actually burn less gas. The only problem is, the ones I'm looking at - maybe a Yamaha C3 or a Honda Ruckus all cost about $3000 after all the needed fees, and safety gear, and probably a safety course as well. I don't have it, and won't for some time.

What to do?

Then I remembered that guy who started with a red paperclip and kept trading up until he had a house. You can read his blog here. If he can do it, so can I!

So here it is:
I am offering an Opinel No. 8 pocketknife for trade. It is at least 20 years old, one of the original beechwood handled models, with a carbon (not stainless!) steel blade, and is literally sharp enough to shave with. The blade locks open by twisting the metal ring at the hinge point, and sometimes you have to tap the butt of the knife on a hard surface to open the blade. This is called the "savoyard knack" and its that way on purpose - the blade is a little stiff, so it will not open in your pocket. I love this knife. It has been my primary pocketknife for 20 years. It has peeled oranges and apples for my lunch, and cut an unfortunately-cooked steak more than once. It needs a little more care than modern pocketknives - it will rust if left wet, and the wood handle will swell, making it harder to open. A touch of a steel now and then will refresh the edge and a little steel wool will take care of most minor discolorations on the blade. A drop of oil now and then would not be bad either. Check out the pictures.  Make me an offer.  Whadya got?  Email to keithneedsascooter at gmail dot com