How Has The Prices Of Gas Impacted Your Life, If Any?

[Archaeology cat]

[quote name='CatherineM' post='1575104' date='Jun 18 2008, 07:14 PM']Our monthly bus passes went up a $1. The buses are twice as crowded now. Our friends who drive, come to visit less often. I've been without a car for 2 1/2 years now, and only missed it when I was on crutches this winter and trapped in the house by icy sidewalks and an overprotective husband. We have a friend who takes us to the large grocery store, and we have tried to get twice as much to make only one trip a month. We live next door to a Safeway, but it is more expensive. Everytime we talk about getting a car, and start the cost/benefit on it, we realize that just the monthly insurance (which is going up 37% in this province this year) would pay for me to take a taxi to the store once a week (twice if I took the bus to the store and only used the taxi on the ride home).[/quote]
We actually have our groceries delivered because the grocery closer to us is more expensive and doesn't have some of the things we get. But we only have it delivered once a month, and then I get fresh produce from the market as needed.

[quote name='"Kyrie eleison' post='1575115' date='Jun 18 2008, 07:22 PM']My husband said that tram prices are going up next month and it is getting more crowded. Times are really changing. I can only imagine what the state of the world we be going through when gas hits 10.00. Should we be scared? I am afraid for my children and my grand children.[/quote]
That is the price here.

[fides quarens intellectum]

[quote name='dairygirl4u2c' post='1575128' date='Jun 18 2008, 01:30 PM']yes things have to change, but it has to be done wisely.

there are people who wanted to drill ten years ago. which, to a degree would have postponed all this... but if it only postpones it till like a couple years away... and then we're back in this situation.... we have nothing to relieve us as we make a transition.

we'd have gotten gas for fifty cents a gallon instead of a dollar, ten eyars ago. that'd save us five dollars in a ten tank, instead of fifty at times of need.that wouldn't have been not wise, and those people who advocated drilling back ten years agp are absolutely wrong, and should concede the point as there's no reason that is sound iin hteir favor.[/quote]


Dairy, don't you wish Goldenchild were around?

[The Bus Station]

[quote name='zabbazooey' post='1575049' date='Jun 18 2008, 12:04 PM']I drive my car to the bus station[/quote]



I didn't realize I was so popular.

["Kyrie eleison"]

[quote name='dairygirl4u2c' post='1575128' date='Jun 18 2008, 02:30 PM']yes things have to change, but it has to be done wisely.

there are people who wanted to drill ten years ago. which, to a degree would have postponed all this... but if it only postpones it till like a couple years away... and then we're back in this situation.... we have nothing to relieve us as we make a transition.

we'd have gotten gas for fifty cents a gallon instead of a dollar, ten eyars ago. that'd save us five dollars in a ten tank, instead of fifty at times of need.that wouldn't have been not wise, and those people who advocated drilling back ten years agp are absolutely wrong, and should concede the point as there's no reason that is sound iin hteir favor.[/quote]

Dairy,

So, IYO it it a lose, lose situation. When we become dependent on other nations we are at their mercy.

In my son's class they have given them the worst case scenario of the effects of global warming and he is very frightened. The young have to know the truth for they are the future.

[Apotheoun]

Gas prices are horrendous. I work part-time teaching religion at a private high school, and if I didn't live close to the school (about 5 miles away) I would be in major trouble.

Edited June 18, 2008 by Apotheoun

["Kyrie eleison"]

[quote name='Apotheoun' post='1575146' date='Jun 18 2008, 02:41 PM']Gas prices are horrendous. I work part-time teaching religion at a private high school, and if I didn't live close to the school (about 5 miles away) I would be in major trouble.[/quote]

Apotheoun,

Many who work pay check to pay check are in major trouble already. We who are accostumed to the luxury of owning and driving a car and driving it in a instant, will our lives begin to change as the prices of gas and the economy begin to get worse and worse.

Just to let you know I got my cable and internet phone bill lowered by 20.00 a month. I told them I was going to switch and what could they offer me to stay.

I am planning on working on getting our APR's on our credit cards down too.

I also use my ziplock bags over. I just re-wash them and foil, if they are not too oily. It is good for the environment and it has saved me money.

I haven't had to buy foil and baggies for over a month now that I have started to do this.

Edited June 18, 2008 by "Kyrie eleison"

[Apotheoun]

Never lose hope! I am unemployed every summer, and only get paid for four instructional hours a week during the school year, but somehow my mom and I make ends meet on a very small budget.

["Kyrie eleison"]

[quote name='Apotheoun' post='1575195' date='Jun 18 2008, 03:06 PM']Never lose hope! I am unemployed every summer, and only get paid for four instructional hours a week during the school year, but somehow my mom and I make ends meet on a very small budget.[/quote]

I won't. I pray everyday for God to provide for us and for those who are really struggling and are hungry homeless and feel there is no hope in sight. In these trying times we must have the faith of Job.

[Apotheoun]

I came home from Ohio to California after completing my MA in Theology in order to take care of my elderly mother, but last year I contracted viral encephalitis and nearly died, and now I suffer from tremors on the left side of my body (my face, hand, and leg); but I have been blessed by God, because my right side is fine, and I am alive. Things can always be worse, but God gives every person the strength he needs in order to persevere, that is, if he will only put his trust in the Lord.

So although my plan was to come home and take care of my mother during her time of need (she has emphysema), in the end those plans were changed, and now we take care of each other, and – of course – I have no doubt that God watches over us both.

I pray for you and your family, so that everything works out according to God's design.

"O give thanks to the Lord for He is good; for His love endures for ever."

["Kyrie eleison"]

[quote name='dairygirl4u2c' post='1575106' date='Jun 18 2008, 02:15 PM']it really depends on a lot.

there's so much stuff, with offshore drilling etc.... that most of it should be drilled.

a significant amount, like a year's worth, should not be drilled. not bc of enviro concerns but bc of the idea that..... a gallon of gas when gas is worth 10 dollars, which it will eventually or at least approach that ie be worse than now.... is much more valuable than a gallon when gas is only 5 dollars.
eg. a ten tank at ten is 100, but at four is 40. five gallons off is a savings of fifty dollars instead of twenty.

we're going to get worse than we are now, that's why we save.

we should only drill that final bit, when times are super bad, or we see that a new technology has better infiltrated society. at that point... it's going to take time to finalize infiltration, and then we're going to be hurting in the mean time. pretty much the situation we are in now... except there are no longer any other places to drill.

i'd say, just save ANWR for that final moment but drill everything else. doens't have to be ANWR though, whatever is saved as long as somehting is for later.

there's no techincolgies that are too prevanlent right now. and there won't be until we hurt more, and then it will take time. that's why we dont go all for it right now.

we don't count on thigs like coal, and electicity etc.... at least at this point... bc it's not infiltrated society enotugh. we only look at teh fact taht so much is out there to drill right now.

also... things like correl reefs... i mean if there's ways to get to the oil without hurint it.. then by all means take it. if htere's no way to get it without hurting... then we have to weight the costs, ie, correls are good for medicine etc i think like rain forests.... and thei nherent value of them.... and then balance that with things like that idea that we're going to have to switch eventually to somehting else, and maybe we shouldn't be getting rid of good things for the sake of short term finanical gains, shortsighedtly.
it depends on the numbers.[/quote]


You bring up many good points. Technology is our best bet, as I see it. Drilling will take a couple or more years if it doesn't do more harm than good especially to the environment and polluting and harming the ocean, which will cause more global warming.

Edited June 18, 2008 by "Kyrie eleison"

["Kyrie eleison"]

[quote name='Apotheoun' post='1575220' date='Jun 18 2008, 03:29 PM']I came home from Ohio to California after completing my MA in Theology in order to take care of my elderly mother, but last year I contracted viral encephalitis and nearly died, and now I suffer from tremors on the left side of my body (my face, hand, and leg); but I have been blessed by God, because my right side is fine, and I am alive. Things can always be worse, but God gives every person the strength he needs in order to persevere, that is, if he will only put his trust in the Lord.

So although my plan was to come home and take care of my mother during her time of need (she has emphysema), in the end those plans were changed, and now we take care of each other, and – of course – I have no doubt that God watches over us both.

I pray for you and your family, so that everything works out according to God's design.

"O give thanks to the Lord for He is good; for His love endures for ever."[/quote]


Dear Apotheoun,

God always has a plan for those who put their complete trust in him. I have come to see that God's ways are not our ways. He has lessons to teach us and we should never loose faith.By god's merciful grace upon a sinner as me, he has given me and has shown me that his faith in him will never fail. I pray for you and your mother and all who are in more need than you and I.


God is good. Alleluia and Amen!

[dairygirl4u2c]

[quote name='"Kyrie eleison' post='1575141' date='Jun 18 2008, 01:37 PM']Dairy,

So, IYO it it a lose, lose situation. When we become dependent on other nations we are at their mercy.

In my son's class they have given them the worst case scenario of the effects of global warming and he is very frightened. The young have to know the truth for they are the future.[/quote]


it's not a lose lose... i don't think i portrayed it that way. that you say that makes me think you didn't read my first post. if you read the first post... i'm not sure why you think i'm saying it's lose lose.

EDIT: nm... you addressed the post after my second one.

Edited June 18, 2008 by dairygirl4u2c

[CatherineM]

Kyrie eleison-I don't have children of my own. I raised two foster sons who are now almost 20 and 23. I still worry about them and their future. One thing that we humans are very good at though is adapting. Look at Cuba, and you may see where we will all be in 20 years. They have learned how to do without, fix broken things instead of throwing them out, and how to get by with little gas. Our North American cities will start having to look more like European cities in the way we handle living space and transit. Some of those sprawling bedroom community suburbs may have to be turned back into farm land. We won't be planting roses in our flowerbeds, but potatoes. People will have to learn to can their own foods again, and maybe even make their own clothes again.

There was a campy movie made years ago where John Ritter was president, and the country was going bankrupt called Americathon. In it everyone lived in their cars, and roller skated or rode bikes to work. The cars that did run, ran on chicken droppings. They had chicken coops on the top of the roofs of cars. Everyone wore jogging suits. It was supposed to show a future without oil. It also predicted the collapse of the USSR, and the move to capitalism of China. We can make fun of such stuff because we know deep down inside, that no matter what changes are in store, we will weather them and adapt. I'm sure people who made their livings making buggies and saddles were scared when they saw the coming auto.

[desertwoman]

We live about 45 minutes away from work and we have to commute. There are no buses that run into the near country.

Country folk are getting hit hard if they have to commute to the city to go to work. And to live in the city is far expensive, so that option is out for us.

[CatherineM]

Apotheoun-When I got hurt, and was forced to medically retire from my legal career, I thought that my life was practically over. My income was radically lowered, and I lost just about everything, home, car, self esteem. It was a long climb out, and just incredible amounts of adapting to my new reality. I never thought I'd be able to do without a car, or live in 600 sq feet when I was used to 4 times that much. Somehow though, I think the coming changes will be easier in some ways for those of us who have already had to adapt to difficult changes to deal with.

[TeresaBenedicta]

I miss living on campus. I didn't spend nearly as much money. In fact, I could go months without spending a dime out of my pocket (yay for prepaid meal plans).

Being home this summer and back to driving is just horrible. I just filled up my tank and at $4.35, it cost over $40 to fill up. When I first got my car, two years ago, it was barely $20 to fill up. I went to work and made just enough to pay for the gas I had to put into my car. And the only places I drive? To Mass and to work. So, I'm paying what I make in order to go to daily Mass and to go to work.

*sigh*

It's depressing, to say the least. Especially when it makes me decide against going to a friend's house or some other place; just because I don't want to waste my gas.

Living on campus was perfect. Didn't need a car. Everything I needed/wanted was right there. Friends, Mass, food, etc.

[Socrates]

[quote name='"Kyrie eleison' post='1575048' date='Jun 18 2008, 11:57 AM']Just to add on if anyone would like to comment on this also, do you believe that all that is transpiring around the world are birth pangs of the tribulation?[/quote]
The Tribulation may or may not come in our lifetimes, but that remains pure speculation.
However, while it will make a lot of problems, I don't think expensive oil in itself qualifies as a sign of apocalyptic doom. People through history have had to suffer through much worse problems. We're a spoiled generation, and not used to actual hardship.

[kujo]

I have been without a car for more than 2 years now. And during that time, the price of gas has more than doubled! I know use public transportation, my bicycle and my feet to get places. Now that the new YM job is on the horizon, it looks like I will have to buy a car.

[abercius24]

Thank God for public transportation!

As far as signs of the coming Tribulation (capital T), that has yet to be seen. There will be many tribulations (lower case t) throughout history before the final will occur. John Paul II already told us in previous addresses that we are entering an apocalyptic time in history. Its likely not the final Tribulation, but difficult times are clearly on the horizon for the world.

[Autumn Dusk]

[quote name='TeresaBenedicta' post='1575394' date='Jun 18 2008, 08:00 PM']I miss living on campus. I didn't spend nearly as much money. In fact, I could go months without spending a dime out of my pocket (yay for prepaid meal plans).

Being home this summer and back to driving is just horrible. I just filled up my tank and at $4.35, it cost over $40 to fill up. When I first got my car, two years ago, it was barely $20 to fill up. I went to work and made just enough to pay for the gas I had to put into my car. And the only places I drive? To Mass and to work. So, I'm paying what I make in order to go to daily Mass and to go to work.

*sigh*

It's depressing, to say the least. Especially when it makes me decide against going to a friend's house or some other place; just because I don't want to waste my gas.

Living on campus was perfect. Didn't need a car. Everything I needed/wanted was right there. Friends, Mass, food, etc.[/quote]



I'm in exactly the same situation. I lived on campus. My parents never came and got me during breaks I always carpooled or took the train (3.5 hours either way). I could go a month or two without spending any money at all...and I do mean any money. I only went to the store for shampoo and other such sundries, or typically I nixed the shampoo from home on my breaks.

Now I'm waiting for my full-time job and working a part time one solely to pay for gas. I live in the country with no mass transit (I'm in New England not near a big city). At minimum wage ($7 pre-tax) I have to work for a half an hour to pay for the 20mi round trip I make every day. I stopped going to the more reverant church because it cuts 15mi off my round trip....its 16 as opposed to over 30. The church dosn't even follow GIRM....but thats a different story.

And I'm job hunting...I've put so many miles on my car job hunting that I need an oil change!!! And there isn't even mass transit to cut out the long drives I have to take for interviews.