Thursday, July 17, 2008

To the people who drive a lot

I feel your pain.

I normally don't drive very much. That's one of the good things about being a stay at home mom. We make the schedule and we decide how much we want to be out.

We live in a relatively small suburb of a Big City, at least in area. It takes nearly an hour to drive to the opposite end of the metro area. Any trip into Big City takes at least 20 minutes each way. But really, I don't have the need to do that often. The bank and library are a block from our house, easily within walking distance. The grocery store is about 4 blocks away; the post office is also 4 blocks away in the opposite direction. They are on a very busy main street and aren't walking-friendly, but at 4 blocks, it doesn't bother me so much. And if I need more than those few usual places, almost anything is available within a three mile, seven minute drive.

I am spoiled.

This week Spyder is at scout camp. The camp is 24 miles from our house, and I've been making the trip twice a day. The time doesn't bother me very much. We chat or listen to books or music. But the gas? It is killing me.

On a normal week, I usually spend about $35 on gas. I have a small car. The combination of small car and not driving much means that I seldom use even one full tank of gas in a week.

This week though, I've spent $120. So far.

I'm glad Spyder is having a great time at the camp. The budget isn't enjoying it one little bit.

Noodle4

6 comments:

CelticBuffy said...

One thing I'll enjoy about moving next month is the approximately 1200 miles extra per month that I will no longer be driving. And that's will a car that gets about 33 mpg on the highway. I'll be glad to get somewhere that has everything I need close by, if not within walking distance.

Tina said...

Yikes!! For a small car, that is a lot...at least you can get back to 'normal' next week.

smalltownme said...

I hear you. I've done tons of driving since school let out. 3 trips to the big airport (130 miles one way), countless trips to the summer theater program (40 miles one way)...there is no end. I don't even want to think about how much I've spent on gas. Although I notice the price has gone down a little since I last filled the tank.

Anonymous said...

Fortunately, I don't live that far from where I work; but I have hopes and dreams of moving one day and how far I will have to drive each day will probably be a deciding factor. It's definitely one of the things that has kept me in where I am for this long.

Happy Elf Mom (Christine) said...

I'd be tempted to find a "new best friend" in that town over the week LOL! Owie on the expense.

Vanessa said...

Gas prices are getting way crazy for sure, hopefully it will level off soon. Also? I love your car, it's adorable and in my opinion the *perfect* small station wagon. (shhh, I have a secret love affair with station wagons!)