Gassed Up
I'm just going to take a moment to vent.
I am SO keyed up about the price of filling my car right now that it seems to be replacing all my other normal anger. I know this isn't a new topic, and I feel like I've been dealing with it on a pretty cerebral level for a long time, but for some reason I have flown straigh past logic into bilthering rage.
Don't get me wrong, I hate my gas guzzling Suburban, especially in tight parking spots. But we, as a family, are a six pack that lives in Minnesota, which means if we all want to go somewhere together, we need a big car with 4-wheel drive (yes, I live out where the roads don't always get plowed right away). I've long been told to get a smaller car, but then we'd have to drive TWO of them to get to a soccer tournament or the grandparent's house or out for dinner. It's already an emotional victory when everybody is willing to go somewhere as a family, one that could be jeopardized by splitting up. Not a solution.
Oh I'd love to trade my car in for a sassy new hybrid, but as it stands, my guzzler is worth about $1.42 which means that I'd have to pony up a large chunk of cash that I don't have ... for a new car which will be worth a lot less the second I drive it off the lot.
I want to scream at Congress for having the oil execs over for a nice chat. I want to scream at the candidates for not making this a HUGE mission, and I'm sorry that I don't care about future technologies and future solutions when it takes me $100 to fill up my tank, which I can't bring myself to actually fill. I'm losing it NOW.
Don't tell me about how Europe is paying way more than we are, they have small distances and great rail systems. For me to get to a light rail, I'd have to drive twice as far as the end-destination. And light rail doesn't stop at the t-ball field.
It's enough to bring Mom Express to a screeching, maddening halt.
This is a toughie. Especially since I own a Prius. Any chance of trading for a mini-van? I know your beast is probably a tough trade in now, but I've found the best way to trade cars these days is to sell yours online at one of the internet sites, then buy a slightly used version of what you really want. All of the last four cars I've bought, except the Prius, have been low mileage (under 10K) and only one or two years old, and about $10,000 off sticker. Lots of dealers have these, and the good thing is you get the balance of the warranty.
The other question is, how many times do you really have all six of you in the car? We made the same choices recently and got rid of a truck in favor of two smaller cars.
Finally, I would also suggest voting for someone who has a realistic national transportation plan. No idea who that is, of course. Since we both live in Minnesota, I can tell you it certainly isn't anyone here I've discovered.
Life with children in most American suburbs depends on cheap and plentiful gas, but should the government subsidize the fuel when it gets this expensive? Maybe that would just provoke the gas companies to raise prices even higher.
we're already subsidizing the oil industry. That's how we got into this mess. The cheap gas caused the burbs and big cars, and prevented any mass transportation in any city west of Chicago (and plenty east of Chicago, too. Ever been to Atlanta?)
My solution to high gas prices showed up on a local ATV parking lot a year ago this weekend. I own a Yamaha Vino (kin to a Vespa). I swore that if gas ever hit $2 a gallon (wouldn't I love to see that today) I would buy one. When my son was finally old enough to not need a car seat all the time, I was liberated from the car. We now ride like a couple of wild children; his place is standing in front of me, both with helmet and sunglasses tearing around our smallish sized town. I love my scooter (it's white, silver and baby blue) for a multitude of reasons.
This morning I was driving to work in my pencil skirt, heels, denim jacket and hair wrapped up in a scarf ( Audrey Hepburn style) on my scooter. I love the looks that I get. I am remembering the smells of summer. From the flowering trees to the exhaust from lawn mowers. Had forgotten about those. Also, It curbs my shoping habit as I can only purchase what I can carry in the milk crate on the back or in the truck under the seat.
FInally, I looked down at my gas gauge. Just over half full. Looked at the trip meter. 34.6 miles and I still have about 45 miles to go on this one gallon of gas. I have long cursed the small town. Not today!
I understand about winters in Minnesota as I grew up there. I am now in a mountain town in Colorado where we received 101 inches of snow from Dec 07 - April 08. Thats when it's time to put the scooter away and get out the car.
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