It’s hard to admit this to the world, but i think a lot less about driving today than I did in July and August when oil hit it’s all time high around $150 per barrel.  As gasoline prices moved past $5 a gallon, my trip to visit friends and family went from about $8 to over $15, just for gas.  When the reward for doubling up with the wife and taking one car on these visits approaches and surpasses the cost of a lunch at the nearest drive thru, it’s time to reconsider.  Giving up the convenience of being able to change plans, was worth saving $15. Today with the world financial system collapses and gasoline prices following suit,  I’m thinking more about saving green, as in US Dollars and less about going green.

Reconsider I have.  I have reduced trips and even bought a bike for both exercise and for the short 1-2km trip to the local shop.  It was important before gasoline hit $5, when it was easier to savor the reward of going green by reducing your use of single passenger fossil fueled vehicles.  If I could swap money for saving the planet while getting more exercise and using the car less, the choice is simple.  This is what I was convinced of in August and September.  Today it’s November 1st and truth be told, i’ve only used the bike once or twice to get to the store and it’s too uncomfortable for a trip longer than about 10 minutes each way.  Gas is down and some bad habits are back.

Forgive me for going on about this, i’m sure most have considered these issues over the last year, but i wanted to focus on today.  Today gasoline prices are back under $3 per gallon and i already have found myself ready to make a trip in the car, much more rapidly than just 2 months ago!  Fortunately I’ve been able to keep myself from running out and still bundle my trips together. It’s amazing how much the price of oil seems to affect not just my attitude towards the resource and the environment, but also my behavior. Don’t give up the fight to conserve. Using less resources that emit CO2 is helping the planet and it’s likely helping you save some money too.