On Apr 16, 12:11pm, Michael Coslo wrote:
wrote:
On Apr 14, 2:03 pm, Michael Coslo wrote:

175 dollars for gas

I factored in 3.40 for gas, and some riding
around during the week. The Vitara gets around 28 mpg
highway. I won't be surprised if it costs more
than that by mid-May.

I expect $4/US gallon this summer. $5 wouldn't shock me.

note that even if the price of gas was cut in half
tomorrow, the trip would still cost over $500.
IMHO the amazing thing
is that so many hams from outside the day-trip
area go to Dayton.

Very true. What happens though is that it hits a
trigger point, and a person who might have figured on
going someplace might just reconsider
it's worth.

I can get a lot of equipment for that (that total amount of)
money, and after 2 years, I can afford that IC-7000 I drool over.

Or an Elecraft K3....

It's part of human spending behavior that some
expenditures are viewed so differently than others.
A few dollars here and there adds up but
doesn't seem the same.

The trade off is that I really do enjoy the interaction with other
Hams, the seminars, flea market and ability to talk to the vendors.

I've never been to Dayton. TImonium is the big one around here. But
it's a haul!

Actually,

*US*

gasoline prices aren't really skyrocketing.

What that doesn't show is the impact of changing driving styles.

I used to put less than 10K per year on a vehicle,
now it is closer to 30K per annum.

Why so many miles/year on your vehicles?

So in anticipation of future gas prices and economic conditions, I
bought a Vitara, and she bought an Aerio. (we had to buy new
cars anyway, so the payment cost is not so relevant.

Indeed.

So while inflation adjusted prices tell one story, total dollars put in
the gas tank tell another.

Total inflation-adjusted dollars for transport is the ultimate
factor.

(still miss my old VW Rabbit Diesel - 50+ mpg highway,
no ignition noise)

Sweet.

Even my Prius doesn't get that kind of mileage. And the Diesel was
much simpler. Perhaps the compromise is to do Dayton every other year,
or every third year.

73 de Jim, N2EY