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Michael Coslo · April 17th 08, 06:53 PM posted to rec.radio.amateur.moderated

wrote:
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?

My wife does a lot of local travel for her job. Visiting job sites,
doing inspections. Or at least she did. The housing market dried up
around here and she's working one day a week now, so that has decreased.

for myself, I do a bit of travel for work also. It's all on my dime.

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.

Well, yes and no. The total cost of living has increased significantly.
I'm not talking about the official inflation figures, they aren't
reliable any more. This is just the amount of dollar outlay per month.
Health insurance doubling in a years time, Gas doubling over a few years
time, House escrow account increases of 100 dollars per month.

So while the statistics say we're getting a bargain, ground truth tells
me that I have to reel in costs somewhere. Bargain or not, one has
significantly less money these days after the bills are paid. And
gasoline is one area that I can at least start to control.

(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.

Ahh, the Priuii are very cool vehicles. I shoulda known you'd be an
owner of one. On a Ham related topic, have you noticed much electrical
noise from it? I've heard some scuttle that they make some RFI. Don't
know what that is in comparison to a regular gas vehicle, as they can be
noisy also.

- 73 de Mike N3LI -