You can just leave it in gear when stopped in traffic (but keep your foot on the brake
). Be careful, after that long of a run driving stick, you might accidently forget you have an auto and try to jam it up into the next gear. Hopefully the shft gate will prevent it. That is hard on the tranny, I know - I went from a 3 speed column shift to my Dad's auto, at the proper speed, I jammed her into second, D'OH, that was reverse on his.
Yes, autos will wear out, or at least need repair but should last 200K miles or more if well taken care of.
__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72
'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis
2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel
Non illegitemae carborundum.