--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I went back to bumming around New York…" description: "\"I went back to bumming around New York, writing freelance stuff for Car & Driver and such.\" — P. J. O'Rourke" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da2/p-j-o-rourke-184_car_i-went-back-to-bumming-around-new-york-w_61280.png" --- # I went back to bumming around New York, writing freelance… ![“I went back to bumming around New York, writing freelance stuff for Car & Driver and such.” quote by P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da2/p-j-o-rourke-184_car_i-went-back-to-bumming-around-new-york-w_61280.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da2/p-j-o-rourke-184_car_i-went-back-to-bumming-around-new-york-w_61280.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da2/p-j-o-rourke-184_car_i-went-back-to-bumming-around-new-york-w_61280.png) > “I went back to bumming around New York, writing freelance stuff for Car & Driver and such.” [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describes a period of low‑key, self‑directed work in New York, taking on freelance automotive writing to stay afloat. **In simple terms:** Freelance writing in NYC Key Takeaway Embrace modest, self‑driven gigs Themes independence urban life career flexibility creative hustle self‑reliance Mood reflective wry determined Type personal anecdote career reflection When to use this quote - transition between jobs - exploring city life - building a portfolio - supplementing income Key Concepts freelance journalism automotive media gig economy personal finance Practical Applications - writing for niche magazines - testing automotive knowledge Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to find value in modest work? - How can freelance gigs shape a career? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freelance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freelance/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [The Lampoon started in 1970, and I began writing freelance for them around the end of 1971, and then all through '72. They hired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/the-lampoon-started-in-1970-and-i-began-writing-freelance-for-them/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Id been bumming around in bands since my school days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-astley/id-been-bumming-around-in-bands-since-my-school-days/) [Rick Astley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-astley/) > [I'd been bumming around in bands since my school days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-astley/i-d-been-bumming-around-in-bands-since-my-school-days/) [Rick Astley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-astley/) > [Listen, the word 'party' has taken on a negative connotation in our country these days. It's really bumming me out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-maddon/listen-the-word-party-has-taken-on-a-negative-connotation-in-our/) [Joe Maddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-maddon/) > [If you're bumming out, you're not gonna get to the top, so as long as we're up here we might as well make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/if-you-re-bumming-out-you-re-not-gonna-get-to-the-top-so-as-long-as/) [Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/) > [We would never do anything for the sole purpose of bumming people out or upsetting people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-roiland/we-would-never-do-anything-for-the-sole-purpose-of-bumming-people-out/) [Justin Roiland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-roiland/) > [It's clear to me now that I have been moving toward you and you toward me for a long time. Though neither of us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-james-waller/it-s-clear-to-me-now-that-i-have-been-moving-toward-you-and-you/) [Robert James Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-james-waller/) > [I started bumming around when I was a teen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-paycheck/i-started-bumming-around-when-i-was-a-teen/) [Johnny Paycheck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-paycheck/) > [The thing is, I actually feel a lot more comfortable at school just bumming around with my friends than I do at Hollywood parties.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/the-thing-is-i-actually-feel-a-lot-more-comfortable-at-school-just/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [I remember bumming rides across town to Georgia Tech, trying to get myself registered, trying to apply for financial aid, trying to get their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-ferguson/i-remember-bumming-rides-across-town-to-georgia-tech-trying-to-get/) [Nick Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-ferguson/) > [Taxi drivers all over the world, by the way, are under Newspaper Guild contract to give easy quotes to foreign correspondents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/taxi-drivers-all-over-the-world-by-the-way-are-under-newspaper-guild/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I'm only a freelance TV presenter and, in many ways, it's all just been a massive fluke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-may/i-m-only-a-freelance-tv-presenter-and-in-many-ways-it-s-all-just-been/) [James May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-may/) > [My father started his own business, and before that was a freelance lecturer, and my friends are artists and musicians; they don't have real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-friend/my-father-started-his-own-business-and-before-that-was-a-freelance/) [Rupert Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-friend/) > [“Choose and create a circle of proper advisors around you. Do not discuss your project with your relatives, neighbor, grandmother, friends’ friends, pastor, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmytro-zaporozhtsev/choose-and-create-a-circle-of-proper-advisors-around-you-do-not/) Dmytro Zaporozhtsev > [Freelance isn't for everyone - you've got to be aggressive and enjoy working alone. But you could make more money than you ever imagined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-williams/freelance-isn-t-for-everyone-you-ve-got-to-be-aggressive-and-enjoy/) [Nicole Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-williams/) ## More by P. J. O'Rourke > [I'm fascinated by political enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-m-fascinated-by-political-enthusiasm/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [In comparative terms, there's no poverty in America by a long shot. Heritage Foundation political scientist Robert Rector has worked up figures showing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-comparative-terms-there-s-no-poverty-in-america-by-a-long-shot/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [The Democrats said, "We don't know what's wrong with America, but we can fix it." The Republicans said, "There's nothing wrong with America, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/the-democrats-said-we-don-t-know-what-s-wrong-with-america-but-we-can/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [At Epcot Center the Disney corporation has focused its attention on two things greatly in need of Disneyfication: the tedious future and the annoying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/at-epcot-center-the-disney-corporation-has-focused-its-attention-on/) [P. J. 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O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Gun violence has cost us too many political leaders, and hardly ever the worst ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/gun-violence-has-cost-us-too-many-political-leaders-and-hardly-ever/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Pete Seeger is a modest, unassuming, cheerful, and kind-natured man. He's a good folk singer, if you can stand folk singing. And he's such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/pete-seeger-is-a-modest-unassuming-cheerful-and-kind-natured-man-he-s/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Journalists are notoriously easy to kid. All you have to do is speak to a journalist in a very serious tone of voice, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/journalists-are-notoriously-easy-to-kid-all-you-have-to-do-is-speak/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I like to think of my behavior in the sixties as a 'learning experience.' Then again, I like to think of anything stupid I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-like-to-think-of-my-behavior-in-the-sixties-as-a-learning/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I'll be 56 this year, I've got two kids, and I think it's probably time to go back to writing one-glove jokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-ll-be-56-this-year-i-ve-got-two-kids-and-i-think-it-s-probably-time/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Something that comes to us, some gym shoe that comes to us as a result of child labor from a brutal dictatorship, where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/something-that-comes-to-us-some-gym-shoe-that-comes-to-us-as-a-result/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Russians not only vehemently despise blacks, they believe Africa begins at the Ukraine border.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/russians-not-only-vehemently-despise-blacks-they-believe-africa/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Now, do I think the baby boomers tend to be self-absorbed? I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/now-do-i-think-the-baby-boomers-tend-to-be-self-absorbed-i-do/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) [Explore all 983 P. J. O'Rourke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) ## More Car quotes > [If you restore a car, and you're making money, then you're doing it wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/if-you-restore-a-car-and-you-re-making-money-then-you-re-doing-it/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/) [Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [I don't own a yacht or a flashy car. I've always had safe cars because I do so much driving. I don't think I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-rippon/i-don-t-own-a-yacht-or-a-flashy-car-i-ve-always-had-safe-cars-because/) [Angela Rippon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-rippon/) > [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) > [I mean, you've kind of got the track down, especially with ovals. The only thing that improves is that when race conditions come, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-patrick/i-mean-you-ve-kind-of-got-the-track-down-especially-with-ovals-the/) [Danica Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-patrick/) > [I was with Dre when he was just selling tapes. He didn't have a car, a license or a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-le/i-was-with-dre-when-he-was-just-selling-tapes-he-didn-t-have-a-car-a/) [Michel'le](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-le/) > ['Melanin Man' was inspired by the words of an Uber driver in L.A. Before I got out of the car he said, 'They're scared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masego/melanin-man-was-inspired-by-the-words-of-an-uber-driver-in-l-a-before/) [Masego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masego/) > [The things that don't happen to us that we'll never know didn't happen to us. The nonstories. The extra minute to find the briefcase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-shreve/the-things-that-don-t-happen-to-us-that-we-ll-never-know-didn-t/) [Anita Shreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-shreve/) > [“I hate the way you talk to me And the way you cut your hair I hate the way you drive my car I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-hate-the-way-you-talk-to-me-and-the-way-you-cut-your-hair-i-hate/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [It is amazing how may drivers, even at the Formula One Level, think that the brakes are for slowing the car down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/it-is-amazing-how-may-drivers-even-at-the-formula-one-level-think/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/) [Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/) > [I don't have to have the biggest house or the biggest car or the longest mink, but quality of life is really glamorous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-don-t-have-to-have-the-biggest-house-or-the-biggest-car-or-the/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) Browse all 6,849 Car quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I went back to bumming around New York, writing freelance stuff for Car & Driver and such.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "P. J. 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