There’s an old joke by Steven Wright that goes something like this: “Why do people drive on a parkway and park on a driveway?” While this is largely a question for English majors, it does beg a question that came up last night as we drove up to some friends’ house for dinner.
Why don’t people park in driveways? Why is it socially “taboo”?
Anita and I got in a little “discussion” about this as she parked on the street while there was a perfectly good parking spot on the driveway. And we have people over all the time…with a huge driveway…and they park on the street about 90% of the time.
Now, I can understand it if your car leaks oil like a sieve, but not many of the people I know anymore have cars that do that (we aren’t driving clunkers like we used to). I know our car doesn’t leak, but there we were parked on the street.
What gives? I don’t get it. Please…shed the light on my perplexity…and for goodness sakes, park on my driveway…
I think Anita likes parking on the street so that she always has the option of a quick get-away. No backing up and then having to leave – she can do a Dukes of Hazard hood slide and jump right in the door and speed away….well maybe not speed away in your Honda, more like putter away – but you get the idea.
You only park in the driveway if you really like the person and you don’t mind getting ‘stuck’ there because someone parks behind you.
In the snow – I always park in the driveway as a courtesy to the homeowner. That’s less of the driveway they have to shovel later.
I’m with Grant! You never want to get stuck with someone behind you. Then, you have to make a big announcement that you’re leaving early. Also, if you really like the people, you definitely want to trap them at home so that THEY don’t try to make a fast getaway from you! (Notice that I always park in your driveway because I think your wife rocks!)
I see the “don’t wanna get stuck” theory…but in this case we were the only people who were goingt o be there and nobody could have parked behind us anyway. I think Justin may be onto something though!
The other option that I’m sure is never Anita’s problem but by parking in the street, it gives the drive more time to get rid of gas…like the bodily function of gas before you get to the door.
Why does the discussion always turn to whether or not I have gas?? You never know if the homeowner has a car in the garage they’re going to need to use to run and get that last minute item they forgot at the store. And, besides, the kids played on the driveway last night. And I don’t mind people parking in our driveway, although I often have to ask them to move since I always forget something at the store.
So, this is my takehome message from the discussion. A) The Baumgartners don’t like us and wanted to be able to make a quick getaway.
B) You can still use the Dukes of Hazzard in a conversation and people get what it means, and C) Anita’s got gas.
Suzanne,
A) Not both of us…just Anita…I wanted to park in the driveway.
B) I think this is a reflection of the average age of those we hang out with.
C) No comment.