Doing What We’ve Always Done

These past few weeks I’ve been shoveling money into my third-hand, 2007 Prius to replace the hybrid battery and the ABS system—both of which have recently stopped working—and to replace the catalytic converter after it was carved out by thieves.

I like my little car: bringing renewed life to old things is satisfying to me, but it’s also been a reliable (and fuel-efficient) companion as I’ve driven it around North America these past few years.

This hasn’t been a pleasant round of investment...