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How does gas at $4 and higher impact you?

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  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,680
    Hah! I like that place too, but when I said I wanted to integrate the quarters into the design, I didn't mean I wanted to integrate the access, air space, etc., into it! Somehow, I don't think that nice Maine farmstead is quite that integrated either. :P

    As for small farms in general, you don't have to make a living at it to make it a life. That said, there's room to do both for those sufficiently inclined.
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    Can't earn a living on a farm unless its a big corporate affair any more.

    I know that only to well. I tried it in the late 1970s and went broke in 3 years. I only want a place to grow a little food for myself and kick back and do a little fishing. Mostly relaxing. Not burning up too much fuel.
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    Yeah, but isn't stocking the pond so you can fish out the fish cheating? Kind of like the trout ponds they used to set up in shopping malls.... :P
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    If I had a heated pond I could raise Tilapia. They should be fun to catch and great to eat. Maybe in Florida. I am not much on those places where they dump the trout in the stream and you catch about 100 feet down stream.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    I guess the most dangerous job in America now is being an attendant in NJ or Oregon.

    "A scientific survey released Tuesday found 71% of gas pump handles were highly contaminated with germs most associated with a high risk of illness."

    Study: Germs on gas pumps, ATMs and more could make you sick (USA Today)

    Better buy some Kleenix stock.
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,680
    I don't think that finding should come as any surprise. After all, likely a hundred or more hands touch a pump handle each day, and I seriously doubt the station (or the users for that matter) often consider cleaning them.

    I imagine if they conducted a more refined survey, the pump handles in New Jersey and Oregon would likely be the cleanest of the bunch simply because significantly fewer hands have touched them.
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    edited October 2011
    I'm of the "avoiding germs lowers your immunity and makes you sick" school. Costanza eating the eclair in the trash can? I could do that. :shades:

    Posted this link over in the diesel board - interesting stuff:

    How North Dakota Became Saudi Arabia (peakoil.com)
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    I kind if agree with you germ theory but will have to lose that notion for some time since I'll be replacing my perfectly good 60 year old immune system for a new model.

    Yeah, North Dakota has more jobs than places for the folks doing the jobs to live. Building like mad trying to keep up. If you want a nice job paying reallly well and live in your car at 40 below you've got a deal!
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Yeah, watch out for the MRSA.

    Meanwhile, I've been scrounging up my gas off coupons. Have to drive to the doc tomorrow a couple of hours away and the van is low on gas. So far, can only get six cents a gallon off the first 8 gallons.
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    Yeah, watch out for the MRSA.

    That is a very dangerous form of Staph. A friend's dad was fine and 2 weeks later he was dead at 58. He worked in a public school where they think he picked it up. I guess they did not diagnose properly.

    Diesel pump handles all covered with diesel are probably safer. ;) The place I filled my diesels gave me a disposable glove. Maybe that is what is needed.
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,723
    I feel the same way. I have built up my resistance to poison ivy by just getting it. Hated the steroid treatments.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    My resistance to gasoline builds the more I buy it. :D

    Getting cold here so I prepped the lawn mower for winter storage over the weekend.

    Yep, unplugged the sucker.
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    One thing that NJ doesn't have are any deals on gas. We have relatively cheap gas because of the low gas tax but the state doesn't allow any of the nice tie ins with stores to get so much per gallon off. Heck, when they used to give away a free glass or something with a fill up in most states in NJ it was illegal.

    Any of those advanced bugs would be the end of me. Once they do the transplant I have to be insanely clean for a year and then get to build up all those immunities like a little kid again. Ugh.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,723
    edited October 2011
    Is yours battery or corded?
    Fezo has a battery model that he says works pretty well.
    I wasn't ready to take the plunge this year, so I bought another gas version.
    Driving my mom's Fiesta tomorrow. That doesn't use much gas.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    edited October 2011
    Corded. Supposedly greener than the battery kind, and in theory should last longer. Black & Decker MM1800, 18", $180. I have outdoor outlets in front and back.

    I have a small yard; ~6200 sq. ft. but around 4440 sq. ft. to fool with subtracting the house, garage and shed, etc. We're planting a lot of stuff and digging beds so there's even less to mow than a year ago, but I have a lot more obstacles to flip the cord over now, so a battery one would be better in that regard. But I've gotten pretty good with my cord management - haven't even run over the cord yet. :D

    You guys have some strange laws Fezo.

    On another note, I'm thinking of removing an old oil tank in my basement. It's got some heating oil in it; no idea how much, maybe 5 or 10 gallons. Has to be at least twenty years old. Does heating oil go bad? Can I offer it to my neighbor without worrying about messing up the orifices in her furnace? The stuff looks like 20 weight motor oil.

    Maybe Kernick will see this.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    On another note, I'm thinking of removing an old oil tank in my basement. It's got some heating oil in it; no idea how much, maybe 5 or 10 gallons. Has to be at least twenty years old. Does heating oil go bad? Can I offer it to my neighbor without worrying about messing up the orifices in her furnace? The stuff looks like 20 weight motor oil.

    I wouldn't advise it. I've seen home heating oil when it's fresh, and it's supposed to look more or less like pink Diesel fuel. If yours is looking like motor oil, I'd guess by now it has moisture, sediment, and all sorts of other crap in it.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    edited October 2011
    > But I've gotten pretty good with my cord management - haven't even run over the cord yet.

    I was ready to ask how your luck with the cord went. Every outdoor item I've used that's electric, lawn edge, circular saw, hedge trimmers, I've cut the cord at least twice. I've gotten really good at soldering and patching the electric cords.

    > The stuff looks like 20 weight motor oil.

    If I remember right, This Old House or similar program treated an old oil tank in a house as toxic waste when removing the old oil storage tank. It was like the asbestos abatement folks and probably cost like that.

    If it were mine, I'd be very quiet about it for that reason. I'd siphon out the oil and put it into an oil recycling location, 5 quarts at a time using old oil containers. Our city has a public location for oil recycling and people leave their containers in trash cans, so I pick up cleaner 5-quart containers for my recycling.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    If it were mine, I'd be very quiet about it for that reason.

    Very good advice. I would not want the Eco police to find out I have an abandoned fuel oil tank in my home. Steve, remember Nunaka valley in Anchorage. Almost every one of those homes were under scrutiny. Before they could be sold the heating oil tank had to be dug up and any residue in the soil had to be remediated. You don't want them condemning your house. Get rid of the old oil as Keith has recommended. Then sell the tank as scrap metal. If you can get it out of your basement at night with no one seeing you.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    I still have my old oil tank, but at least it's bone dry, and located outside of the house. When I had my heat pump put in in 2008, it was on a totally different system from the old oil furnace...circuit breaker, vents, and everything, so in theory I could have kept both systems in use. The first winter after I had the heat pump installed, I turned the oil furnace on, and let it run as I normally would, until it used up all the oil. I remember waking up early one morning in March to temps around 60 degrees, and the furnace blowing cold air. I switched the heat pump on, and bid a fond, final farewell to oil heat.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    edited October 2011
    The buried tanks leaked and dumped oil in the aquifer. And they rotted and people fell into the holes they made. Nosing around the net, I can empty the tank myself and get it to a recycler. Stinks, just like good ol' diesel.

    Imidazol97, I do have some heat shrink tubing lying around for such such a scenario. :shades:
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    If I remember right, This Old House or similar program treated an old oil tank in a house as toxic waste when removing the old oil storage tank.

    Since This Old House films half it's projects here in MA - it would be quite a job. Home heating oil is considered a hazardous chemical and tanks have to removed professionally.

    Above ground units require permits from the local fire dept to remove. The sludge found at the bottom has to be sent to a hazardous waste dump and the tank itself has to be sent to a licensed tank disposal company. Figure $1500+ to do it.
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    Typical government housing project. Those Nunaka houses were slapped in there under a government contract in the 1950s. They went crazy selling in the early 1980s. I bought and sold one. Now they have to have an expensive engineering study along with removal of the old tank. That can wipe out a homeowner on a budget. Just as the high prices of gas are killing people on a budget.
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    Get an RV and move to North Dakota!
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    You can buy an old Winnebago that still runs around here for about $3000. If you can afford the gas to get to ND you can probably get a good job. Spray the outside with foam insulation and stay cozy warm all winter long.
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    edited October 2011
    Cousin Eddie already managed to make the trip and the cold doesn't seem to bother him too much! :P

    image

    image
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,414
    Ha, is that the one from the movie?

    "That there's an RV"
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    I think I'm just going to button it back up and deal with it if the next owner wants it out. Last time I checked (in Boise) an underground tank removal cost $700. Some states (Maine?) have a $500 cap. Thinking it should be cheaper here since the tank is accessible. Probably cheaper in Mass. too, if your name isn't Norm. :P

    Filled up for $3.56 today; should remember GasBuddy, ten miles down the road it was a dime cheaper.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    edited October 2011
    Gas ran typically in the $3.2X today. A few areas had $3.16, $3.13. Typical of our pricing. Filled up at Shell near shopping stop we visited at $3.10 price on the sign on Shell card and with Kroger 10 Cent discount on top of Shell rebate on card.

    Later saw stations at $3.45. The prices went up just as I was lucking into the lowest price in the area.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,680
    My goodness; that's amazing! We're holding steady in the $3.90 range; I don't expect that will change any time soon (at least not downward). :sick:
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    Don't they still have the refinery in Fairbanks? I would think the Governors would make some sort of deal on gas prices with the oil companies. I guess they figure the permanent fund is enough.
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,680
    edited October 2011
    Yes, we still have the refinery. There is also a monopoly, as no fuel is imported to Alaska. We used to have "national average" fuel prices, but after the spike in oil/fuel prices in 2008, the refinery owners rather enjoyed that, I think, and the prices have never really gone down since. We've been around fifty cents over the national average (consistently) since then. The lowest fuel has been during the past four years is about $3.30 (when most of the rest of the nation was well under $3.00).

    The PFD doesn't amount to much when you pay $4.00 per gallon of heating oil and need 500-1000 gallons a year. Still, I feel privileged compare to the villages that rely on heating oil / diesel.... many of them pay over twice that.
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    Fuel in the Villages is brutal. I maintained telephone in 9 of them for 25 years. Filling our trucks was EXPENSIVE. Not to mention our oil furnaces in the telephone offices. I cannot say I miss the Arctic. Good job, lousy weather.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    edited November 2011
    Oil Surges Above $102 On Pipeline Reversal (WSJ)

    Interesting timing what with the new 36 mpg combined CAFE standard being adopted today.

    Has CAFE reached the end of its usefulness?
  • hpmctorquehpmctorque Member Posts: 4,600
    edited November 2011
    WIth $4/gallon gasoline, and eventually higher, the market will incent people to buy higher mileage cars. CAFE may be redundant.
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    That or eat more Top Ramen. :sick:
  • hpmctorquehpmctorque Member Posts: 4,600
    Yummy!
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    I practically lived on that stuff in college. I prefer the oriental flavor.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    I practically lived on that stuff in college. I prefer the oriental flavor.

    I find that the onions that grow wild in the yard, when diced up, add a nice accent to Ramen noodles. Just don't use the mushrooms, unless you want to go a'tripping! :P
  • ruking1ruking1 Member Posts: 19,826
    Wild mushroom selection is WAY beyond my pay grade. I understand that certain selections can result in up to a very painful DEATH.
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    There is one poisonous mushroom that can kill you in seven minutes.
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,680
    We had a very wet summer here, and one afternoon puff balls popped up all over the yard. My wife and children went out and picked a bowl full, then she sauteed a very nice dish that was absolutely fantastic! Everything homegrown. :)
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    You are brave. I get those after a good rain. I toss them. I would not know what to look for in a mushroom. So I buy them in the store hoping who ever picked them, knew what they were doing.

    With the high price of gas eating what we grow or what ever is on sale that week is the route we take.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    With the high price of gas eating what we grow or what ever is on sale that week is the route we take.

    I have a friend who lives in DC and decided to go completely car-less. He rides his bike to work, uses public transportation to get about to further away places, and can do all of his grocery shopping within walking distance.

    The down-side? He's been hit on his bike by cars THREE times, in the past few years! :surprise:
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,680
    edited November 2011
    My wife has all these books on plant / mushroom identification, and she takes the children out to collect specimens, dissects them, and they do identification with dichotomous keys. In other words, she thoroughly researches what we eat, so I'm very comfortable that the foods she chooses (wild, grown, or store-bought) are going to be both healthy and tasty.

    Despite all that, our food budget keeps creeping upward as the price of food continues to skyrocket. According to my accounting information system at home, the food we bought this year is about 30% more expensive than the same stuff in 2010. Compared to 2005 when I first built that database to keep track, it has more (much more) than doubled. That makes me feel a little better about what our food budget has done: Doubled since 2005 ($250 to ~500 per month).

    And, of course, much of that cost increase (if not all of it) can be attributed to the cost of fuel.
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Guess it was time; last fill-up was February 7th. Got some snow this morning so have shifted gears into winter driving mode.
  • slorenzenslorenzen Member Posts: 694
    When my brother was in college, he had to reach a class about wild mushrooms to a group, and for the final, they had to pick and eat their crop!

    :surprise:
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    edited November 2011
    That makes me feel a little better about what our food budget has done: Doubled since 2005 ($250 to ~500 per month).

    That's happened to us as well but I attribute it to the boy is now age 15. We affectionately call him the human garbage disposal.

    "Dad - you gonna eat that?"
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,680
    Hahah, yeah, that's me in our house. Unfortunately, my son's appetite is starting to grow quite a bit, so I don't get nearly as many scraps from his plate as I once did! :blush:
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    Now this is where I am thankful that I've got all daughters.....
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    That's almost a year. Wouldn't the gas have become stale by then? Heck, my lawnmower doesn't like stale gas and it doesn't sit for nearly a year. I hope you used Sta-Bil.
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