Feathering the Nest

For a car guy, bringing a new vehicle home from the dealership is a little like bringing a new baby home from the hospital. You want to prepare the nest, make sure everything is clean and ready for the new arrival.

Which is why I spent a few hours in the garage the day before bringing home the new XC90, clearing out the clutter that accumulated over the busy summer and fall seasons, tucking the tailgating table safely out of the way, sweeping the floor, cleaning the dead flies off the window sill.

About as good as it gets in December.

The investment sort of demands it, though, doesn’t it? If you are fortunate enough to live to a certain age, as I have, you inevitably reach a point where new cars start to cost as much, if not substantially more, than your first house.

At that price, who wants to park the new baby in a dirty garage?