Are Two Gym Memberships Better Than One?

For the second time this year, God told me to do something. No, I'm not hearing voices. No he didn't knock on my door. But he put a smile in my heart and I just know.

The first thing he told me to do was to allow my daughter to rescue a foundling puppy. We have an elderly special needs dog and the last thing we needed was double work. Of course, I'm the primary canine caregiver. I had denied her countless additional dogs for years. But when she called me this time and was giving me all the compelling reasons why we should welcome this puppy into our home, I was fighting with myself, just waiting for her to stop talking so I could say "Yes." Anyhow, she named him Frank. Moe, our senior dog, isn't keen on him.

Two years ago, we joined Gold's Gym. I loved their facility, classes and instructors. The atmosphere was perfect. I'm more flexible and stronger, but I've gained weight. I'm just beginning to take it off, with a viable combination of exercises which I finally epiphanized. No more dieting for me. I just don't want to deny myself comfort food indefinitely. I've had enough of that.

The only problem with the gym is it's a half hour drive away. So an hour round trip. That's if traffic isn't bad. And it's horrible in the summer, as we live off a major cut-through from the North to Interstate 95. Now that we have the new puppy, he has separation anxiety/what can I destroy syndrome when we leave him home alone. So I haven't been presenting at the gym as often as I'd like to.

There has been a small gym in the strip mall close to home for about eight years. It's changed ownership at least twice that I've noticed. Suddenly, this little happy feeling in my heart is telling me we should join this gym. It's a five minute drive or a thirty minute walk. Walk? Hey, that sounds healthy and environmentally kind (provided the puppy isn't home alone). I finally went to tour Fitness 1440 yesterday and my husband tagged along. It's clean, has all of the cardio and weight equipment we enjoy, a few classes and a friendly staff. Today they offered $0 enrollment and membership fees. We joined. It costs more than the big, fancy gym that's farther away. But to us, it's worth the convenience.

My husband wants to maintain dual gym memberships, he will continue to go to the big one on his way to work and he has a pass to use others in the chain when he travels for work. I will maintain dual memberships because I love the classes and instructors at the big gym. But I'm so looking forward to spontaneously and regularly dashing out some good healthy cardio close to home.