Yes, this is the first time. I've always lived in the city, close-in burbs, or college towns, all with good transit systems. Being the ex-hippie that I am, I always felt that good urban planning meant that you didn't need a car to meet your basic needs.
I have to admit, the past few years, I started wanting a car, but I think so much time had passed, I was getting kinda scared to do it. I really felt I wasn't cut out to drive.
A few months ago, my son finally got his license (he's 29) and we bought a car. I can't believe how great it is to just jump in the car and go.
I did have to go back to ordering groceries online. Males seem to hate going grocery shopping and my son won't go with or wait for me, so it's been easier to let the cute guy from Albertson's keep deliving the goods. Other than that, having a car has been nice. I feel corrupted by capitalism and Big Oil, but I'm learning to live with it.
*snort*
Our daughter and I visited some friends in Tokyo last summer, and I really enjoyed using the Metro there. Our friends didn't own a car, and had a 15 min. walk to two train stations going different places, and we were able to go literally anywhere in the city, or even out of it from the main station, Shinjuku. I don't know if I'd want to have to walk 15 minutes each way every day, all the time, but it was actually good for me! I lost 10 pounds over the 10 days we were there, simply from the activity. Of course I gained it back when we got back home and I went back to my sedentary ways, but I know what's good for me, now!