I just got back from Avis, where I traded in my rental car for one I like better. Nothing was wrong with the old one. I simply wanted something more comfortable and fuel-efficient. Here’s something that surprises people: I haven’t owned a car in over ten years.
It wasn’t some grand experiment in challenging convention. I was renting cars extensively for work, developed a great relationship with my local Avis dealer, and eventually realized I didn’t need to own one. When my own car finally died, I simply kept renting. People thought I was crazy. Some still do. But I’ve done the analysis. I get favorable monthly rates, tremendous flexibility, and none of the maintenance headaches. For my circumstances, renting makes sense. And that’s the point.
The most limiting assumptions are often the ones nobody thinks to question. I didn’t set out to challenge the conventional wisdom of car ownership. I recognized an opportunity that gave me a reason to question it. Established norms aren’t necessarily wrong. But they can create blind spots that prevent us from recognizing valuable alternatives. Sometimes the best opportunities are hiding just beyond the boundaries of what everyone assumes is normal.