Since moving to Monterey seven years ago and having an office 1.5 miles walk
downtown, I now only put about 5k miles per year on my SUV, vs. the 14k
mi./yr. when I lived and worked in the Bay Area. Not that this entitles me
to use this difference in gas usage on my recreational activities such as
driving to observing sites, Iım now very conscious of the low 20 mpg Iım
getting now. It wasnıt an issue 8 years ago when I bought the SUV. Times
have change since 2001 and I surprised that many are still spending a lot of
money buying the same 20 mpg vehicles. My wish is to keep my 80 cu. ft.
cargo area to transport my scopes Œandı get 40 mpg, but thatıs here, yet.
Iıll certainly buy that kind of vehicle when itıs available. Until then,
Iıll keep my 20 mpg SUV but drive it less.
Peter Natscher in Monterey
From: Jeff Gortatowsky <indanapt@No-Spam>
Reply-To: Jeff Gortatowsky <indanapt@No-Spam>, The Astronomy Connection
<sf-bay-tac@No-Spam>
Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2008 15:38:19 -0800 (PST)
To: The Astronomy Connection <sf-bay-tac@No-Spam>
Subject: Re: [TAC] Are Auto Gas Prices Changing Your Astronomy Hobby?
I commute via train for $60 net after my employer reimburses me $100 of my
monthly ticket.
Even so, I generally spend $60 once a month just for getting to and from the
train station (8 miles round trip). My wheels get terrible mileage in the
city and it would probably be worth it to get some putt putt for that round
trip.
If you'd have asked this question two years ago, the answer would have been,
and was even at $2/gallon "yes"... money was tight. Tight as in putting $3
in the tank to get to payday. But now, well no. Spending $40 - $75 in gas
for a night or two of observing a month seems reasonable given the amount I
have invested in equipment. Plus of course $7 for starbucks, $10 at subway
(or $15 at The Corner Bakery) for dinner and a late night snack... etc...
I am surprised at a few of the reactions written here. I expected there'd be
a lot more tree huggers chiding us. (Please reply off list if that offended
you as none was meant.)
However energy prices are yet another good reason to enjoy solar astronomy.
No travel needed (at least not down here).
---------------------------------------
Jeffrey D. Gortatowsky
Fullerton, California
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Received on Wed Mar 05 16:16:41 2008