Another sign of the times...

[Lady Effingbroke]

I was out taming the jungle that passes for my yard when my next-door neighbor pulled into her driveway.

We chatted for a while, and she told me that she is putting her trailer up for sale. She was working about 5 miles from home, but at the beginning of the year her employer transferred her to another location about 25 miles away. She said that she is spending about $30-$40 a week in gas, and she just couldn't afford it, so she's moving closer to her job.

She drives a Toyota Solara, which isn't the most gas-guzzling vehicle on the planet, but we're poor here in the trailer park and are already feeling the pinch of high gas prices.

I told her that as gas prices increase, many more people, if they can, will be moving closer to their jobs.

I'm gonna miss her - she is a good neighbor.

[Deja Q]

1. The end of suburbia begins.

[Lady Effingbroke]

2. Yes, and I am living in a city that will be among the hardest hit by

peak oil (Houston).

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

3. Thank God for that small favor

never have liked Suburbia.

[blueraven95]

4. I thank my good fortune everyday

that I live in the middle of a city and can take public transportation everywhere I have to go. When I look at how much my family and friends are paying for gas, I can't believe how lucky I am. Before this, I just couldn't wait to get a car, but now....it will wait awhile.

[imperialismispasse]

12. Yeah I feel the same way.

I do drive some but I don't have to and I'm glad for that. It must be different in more rural areas where they have to drive. In some places there aren't even sidewalks so you couldn't even go to the convenience store down the street without driving.

[Cathyclysmic]

5. I uttered these words to my hubby today....

"$2.79 a gallon!Thank GOD you got laid off at your job and mine is just 3 miles away."

Do you know what he said back?

"Yes, I think we should only have one car, we don't need two."

Yes, I do think alot more about trips to see friends and family and how far way they are. I guess my brother in law is thinking about selling his house and moving closer to work because of a 30 mile commute with a minivan.

[TheCentepedeShoes]

6. We sold the second car

and bought a moped last year. Hubby can do grocery runs with the box he built to bungee onto the back. Gets 80-90 mph per gallon.

[Lady Effingbroke]

7. I officially kicked off Operation Ride-A-Bike back in March.

I've been pedaling everywhere humanly possible in this wretched town, although I still do have to drive on occasion.

One more year of school, and then I'm outta here so fast the door won't have time to hit me - I hate it here!

Good for you and your husband for buying a moped!

[TheCentepedeShoes]

8. I have a bike

that we were trying to sell. It's a basic 3-speed Schwinn that I bought about 10 years ago and never used much. No bites, so hung it back up in the garage. May be useful again.
I work downtown right now and you can (well almost) literally walk there (I've done it, but not since I was 17). I have a co-worker who just signed a note on a house out in the exurbs (called Bushland, wouldn't you just know).

[Lady Effingbroke]

9. You are lucky to live so close to where you work.

You are right about bikes becoming more useful. Perhaps you could ride yours to work?

[Cathyclysmic]

10. I'm thinking of a bike for work

[Patiod]

11. Thank God for public transportation

Allows S.O. and I to have only one car (his job is about 3 miles from where we live, I can walk to the station and take the train to mine)