Jim, Jere, Wayne, Dan, & Terry, Thanks to each of you for the advice. You prompted me to actually calculate the probable cost instead of only reacting emotionally to the doom and gloom of media predictions. I calculated the per mile costs of fuel and even assuming that the predicted increase to $3/gallon does occur, and premium grade gasoline reaches $3.25/gallon (my high mileage Ford now demands it), fuel cost will only rise to approximately $0.41/mile with a worst-case scenario. Based on an actual analysis I guess I should just do what I want to do and ignore the cost. Wayne, unfortunately "cheap" is a relative term. Although it has been more than 25 years since I visited the Mount Washington area of New Hampshire while we spent a week Airstreaming at Estes Park in the summer of 1994, I estimate the cost of gas to attend the Rocky Mountain Rally at around $530 compared to $1850 for the Mt. Washington Rally. And, the events are scheduled at the same time so I'm forced to choose one or none, but not both. Life is complicated isn't it? I have to confess: Underlying my "concern" about the cost of premium gasoline is my increasing interest in a new Powerstroke Diesel tow vehicle. You all know how we go through the complex mental gyrations to convince ourselves that we "must have" rather than "want to have" a new automobile. The familiar odometer on my gas 460 Ford is now reading 154k. I had planned to keep it at least through the end of this tax year and maybe to the 200k mile mark but the combined influence of cheaper diesel fuel, increased fuel economy, and simple want is beginning to tip the balance in favor of a visit to a local Ford dealer. I'm still thinking it over. Thanks for your input. Harvey To unsubscribe or to change to a daily Digest, please go to http://www.airstream.net/vaclist/listoffice.html If replying back to this message, please delete all the unnecessary original text from your reply.
