human_breather

I agree, but I'm often confused by those without kids or those who say that having a kid totally changed people's lifestyles unexpectedly.

For me, having a kid has certainly been an (expected) money drain. But beyond that, my life is pretty similar to pre-kid. Wife and I still work our day jobs. Outside of work we still enjoy the same sorts of things we enjoyed before having a kid and continue to do those things. Now we just have an extra source of entertainment and responsibility in the kid as well.

Driving is amazing. I can travel further faster, making it easier to see friends. I can travel with more stuff making grocery shopping faster and easier. I can store things in my car which saves me worry and time. Driving can even be fun! I'd hate driving if I had to live in the middle of a dense city though.

Biking and walking are also amazing. It's healthy, and can be quite social. I can walk without having to worry about finding parking. I don't need to worry about keys, license, etc. It's simply impossible to walk/bike everywhere though in the majority of the country.