Over The Years: Living the Subie Life | Adventure Subaru

16 years old. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of getting your very first car. Life is good, everything is exciting and you finally have the freedom you’ve dreamt about your whole life. I remember the morning of my 16th birthday well. I walked out of my room to my parents standing there, side-by-side, as if they had been waiting all night for me to emerge. I remember the subtle smirks on their faces that told me I was about to get something big. I remember trying to contain my excitement as they beckoned me outside under the ruse of getting the mail, or something equally mundane. And of course, I remember the moment I laid eyes on that pearly red Subaru Impreza, which was garnished with an oversized bow. From that moment on, my life was changed.

19 years old. College is a crazy time in a person’s life. Actually, young adulthood is a crazy time no matter what path you choose to take. You’re venturing out into the world and trying to figure out adult things while still clinging to that child-like vigor. For me, it was the first taste of true freedom — both thrilling and terrifying. It was also the first time I ever traded in a car. As much as I cherished that Impreza, it was time for a “college car”. I remember wanting to find something that I could rely on to haul me (and my entire dorm room) back and forth from school every summer, but that could also take me on more adventures off-road. I remember the camping trip we took in my friend’s Subie that caused me to fall in love with a car for the second time in my life. And I remember the day I left my Impreza on the lot for that perfectly funky orange Crosstrek.

25 years old. Oh, to be twenty-something again. Out of school, trying to navigate a grown-up job, and really starting to discover who you are as an individual. It’s a thrilling time full of ups and downs, like a roller coaster ride. I remember the day I totaled my beloved Crosstrek. I remember walking away from that wreck unharmed, feeling devastated but incredibly grateful to my Subie for making the ultimate sacrifice to keep me safe. It was time to start a new chapter in the first car I ever bought without any help — a beautifully rugged ice silver Forester. That Forester took me on adventures across the country, moved me into my first home, and chaperoned my last first date. I remember the slightly-awkward giggles that evolved into deep conversations as we watched the stars through the panoramic moonroof. And I remember the sound of the cans bouncing off the pavement as we drove away from our wedding reception 16 months later.

33 years old. They say your 30s is the prime of your life. So far, I think they might be onto something. You’re finally settling into your place in the world, learning the balance of things and cherishing the moments that really matter.  My faithful Forester has served me well over the years, to say the least. From being young newlyweds to adopting our first dogs, to bringing our first child home from the hospital. If it weren’t for my growing family, I don’t know if I’d ever part with the Forester that’s guided me through so much. I will part with it though — because this family is about to gain two more. With two parents, three little ones and two rescue dogs (so far), there’s only one vehicle fit to haul us around for years to come: the upcoming Subaru Ascent. When the summer rolls around, we’ll have a brand new family vehicle sitting in our driveway.

Someday, I like to think that my spouse and I will be the ones standing there with telling smirks, waiting for our 16-year-old daughter to emerge on her birthday. I like to think that she will have the same twinkle in her eye that I did when I saw my first Subaru with an oversized bow.