Well I really don’t want to be the first person to talk about this but I was wondering what the Military will do next year when we wont be able to afford to drive to work because of this absurd gas prices.
Moe and Joe or a bike will get you there just fine. Maybe you will have to live on the ship or at the station. But we both know that you will be there.
Well you right we all have to be there. But at 10 dollars a gallon which is the proyection by next summer I guess everybody in the Coast Guard will have to stay on their unit from Moday to Friday. I guess we all have to settle for that right?
Its going to be real tough for watchstanders who are unable to take advantage of the dayworker van pools. It also won't help when the military puts you in housing that is an hour away. Its going to be tough going for a while, oil is only going to continue going up and gas will be right behind it. Here in the bay area its over 4.00 gallon now.
You also have to wonder how long before the airlines raise prices so high that people stop flying, than they try driving instead but the cost of gas is too high so they just stay home. Maybe then prices may come down as demand goes down. Butr we are seeing the cost of goods start to rise too. This nation lives on oil, with nothing available in the immediate future to replace it how long before it really starts hurting the consumer? What will happen when the consumer can't afford the gas to get to the grocery store and then they can't afford the groceries. Vicious cycle.
The dollar weakened against the euro on Monday, attracting investors to oil and other commodities viewed as hedges against inflation. Also, a falling dollar makes oil less expensive to investors overseas. A series of U.S. Federal Reserve rate cuts starting last year weakened the dollar considerably against foreign currencies, and analysts blame the dollar's protracted decline for oil's sharp rise this spring. If people would just stop and think, the price of oil really is not why gas is so high. It's because everyone drives a gas hog and has several vehicles, toys, and every thing else that burns fuel. The problem is supply and demand. So, every one that wants to lower the gas prices..... quit using so much fuel! The dollar dropping every day is the culprit for the high gas prices... So save some money and fuel go get a and have some quality time at home with your family.
I got into this discussion yesterday with some friends. We all figured that nothing is going to change by next summer. Meaning, how people drive, how much they drive and so on.
A few days ago, I took a trip to see family and had a 220 mile drive each way. Most of it is freeway, and only about 60 miles is 2 lane highway. People were passing me left and right. I was going around 65 in the 60 zone. People seriously were flying up the side of me like I was standing still. I get 18.5 mpg in my 4x4 truck at 65mph on cruise control. Thats beter then what those people are getting in theirs. The gas prices are not slowing anyone down. Gas is over $3.80 on the coast where I am stationed, and all I hear are people whineing, and speeding on by. I am NOT looking forward to this upcoming PCS trip I need to do starting Memorial Day Weekend. 3500 miles one way.Yikes!
Originally posted by cuttercoasty: I got into this discussion yesterday with some friends. We all figured that nothing is going to change by next summer. Meaning, how people drive, how much they drive and so on.
A few days ago, I took a trip to see family and had a 220 mile drive each way. Most of it is freeway, and only about 60 miles is 2 lane highway. People were passing me left and right. I was going around 65 in the 60 zone. People seriously were flying up the side of me like I was standing still. I get 18.5 mpg in my 4x4 truck at 65mph on cruise control. Thats beter then what those people are getting in theirs. The gas prices are not slowing anyone down. Gas is over $3.80 on the coast where I am stationed, and all I hear are people whineing, and speeding on by. I am NOT looking forward to this upcoming PCS trip I need to do starting Memorial Day Weekend. 3500 miles one way.Yikes!
I fully understand and do not look forward to my transfer with the fuel prices having to pull my travel trailer. I have allready took down my other trailer and 4-wheeler, which was alot in fuel cost. Not to mention that they cut the mileage rate for PCS, it should have went up instead of down. As they say life goes on, and yes; I'm just like all the other Americans with the toys, just a little more conservative with thier use.
suck it up and deal with it. Until the feds quit cutting rates and the dollar becomes more valuable nothing can be done. I hate to tell you all too; this rebate check didn't help the matter. When you borrow money from other countries; you suddenly become a liability. There again reducing the value of the dollar. What China is hoping for; the dollar going way up and they come out smelling like roses. My monthly gas and daycare expense is a grand. I'm just going to deal with it.
If it gets much higher all it will do is make people quit their jobs.. (like me)... (why work just to fill a gas tank... I can stay home and enjoy the pool...)
In my humble opinion, if you commute a long distance to work, OR, you buy a car that gets piss poor mileage you get what you deserve...
When I buy my wife & daughter their next cars, you can bet the first thing I will look at is the MPG....
Originally posted by TarheelMK3: 15 miles each way hurts.
15 miles each way would be a dream for me! I've been running 75 miles each way, 5 days a week for the past 2 years! Although, I'm on leave in PCS transit right now and my next commute will be 11 miles round trip! $4.29/gallon for diesel and a 38 gallon tank are not fun when driving 750 miles/week! Glad that is over with!
...and yes, it was my own choice to live that far away. I PCS'd to Gulfport less than 6 months after Katrina. The housing (if you could find one) was more than double what it was before the storm. So I lived in Mobile. What I saved a month in housing went right into my truck for fuel.
I drive 15 miles round trip to work.. I am fortunate.. I do understand it is not always easy to find a home close to your job.. that may not be an option.. however, what you drive to work is.........
As with many things, some are concerned, and some aren't... Many won't bi+ch about it until it is too late... you know, like having your home foreclosed on... or loosing your car.......
I really believe what is hurting many people most are credit cards... It' isn't are do get in serious trouble with them...
I've been riding to work for almost 3 years. I put about $20 of gas a month in my bike (which is retarded because I could fill my car up back in 2001 for the same $$$$). I still have 2 other cars, but they don't move too much, plus they're good MPG cars. Now all I have to do is pay all three of these off and I won't have to complain.
I think you guys are missing the big picture here. If gas hits say $10 a gallon, boats aren't exactly easy on fuel for the most part, what warrants our existence? If people aren't out boating because they have no disposable income to fill up their boats, then who exactly is our customer? Before you tell me that I'm looking through blinders or whatever, I realize that commercial traffic will likely always be present, that our homeland security mission will still exist, and that there will be a need for the Guard in some capacity, but I doubt that we are going to need a small boat station every 100 miles up and down every coast. I can see a radical downsizing in our future IMHO.
saw a news story the other day here in Texas about the shrimp boats staying tied up to the dock because they couldn't afford the 40K diesel bill to go get shrimp...
like it or not you are going to go to work or get booked. live with it you get cola. it might not be much but most people dont get such an allowance that is not taxed. so you are on top regardless. stop complaining and get to work. dont forget your in the military. Also stop buying the big ford freaking tr***s they serve no purpose as a commuter vehicle. be smart carpool, public trasnport, or get out... your choice.
I love my truck and its me and my husbands only vehicle - damn its a gas guzzler but i dont complain because there's no way in hell i am buying a car. Its not breaking the bank yet and i commute 30 min to work and back minus duty nights. Yeah it kinda makes me cringe when i fill up and its 100 bucks, but the uses and benefits i get out of the truck far outweigh the negatives in gas prices, and when i can walk to the local store around my house i do, and i try and consolidate my trips on errands and whatnot. I have thought about buying a cheaper to fill commuter vehicle but for now the payments and insurance on an additional car for us would out weight the gas bill. Its sucks but its the price we pay for driving full size or bigger pick-ups/suv's. I agree that you probably shouldn't complain about it so much because your the one that wants a truck. i drive one too, so i understand why you do... but i am also not complaining about my gas bill Once its gets too ridiculous i might suggest my husband get a cheap, fuel efficient commuter for us to drive into work. Until then. Nope. The truck stays.
and have some quality time at home with your family.
(why work just to fill a gas tank... I can stay home and enjoy the pool...) 
