RetiredArmy
Zephyrhills
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Well, we finally decided to do it. Because it's getting so expensive to get around in a RV we have decided to park our MH in an RV Park where you lease a lot. So, we will be full-timers in Florida and still be able to use the MH. I hate to give in to the high price of gas but when you are on a fixed income you have to make choices. The cost per month of the lease plus water and electric is less than $250 a month. This we can afford and driving here from our home is only about 400 miles plus we get close to 40 mpg in our toad. This is not the reason we purchased our MH. We planned on traveling west and north for lengthy trips. Oh, well. Se la vie (that's life). Happy trails.
Brenda and Larry - Retired
2001 RoadTrek 200 Versatile
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eltejano1
Woodville, Texas
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That's what we have done with ours and it's working-out very well. It's the same group of people every weekend and we have lots of fun activities, mostly centering around food! And the price is the same as what you are paying.
Good luck to y'all
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eltejano1
Woodville, Texas
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Hi Joe:
Since we no longer tow, I've thought about trading-in the big truck on something smaller. We live on 22 acres with animals and farm equipment and I've got to have a truck of some kind to tow a low boy, etc. But when I look at the figures, current trade-in value and the cost of a new, smaller p/u, etc, it just doesn't add-up. This truck gets 18mph locally and about 20 on the road, running light. A new 6 cyl half ton won't do much better - and struggle to haul a load of hay on the low boy - probably using more fuel than the diesel truck I have.
So, I use the car unless I have to haul a load of feed, take my tractor to the shop, etc. I'm doing lots of things with the car that I would normally have used the p/u for - hauling oily engine parts, cans of lube oil, bags of chicken feed, cases of whiskey :-) - anything that will fit in the trunk or back seat. Maybe false economy, since I'm destroying the car appearance-wise.
Jack
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eltejano1
Woodville, Texas
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The laws of economics and market forces don't seem to be working, because people simply aren't reacting in expected ways. We are supposed to resist buying a product that is too expensive, and we're not doing that. I think it just isn't high enough yet. At some point, supply and demand will have to kick-in - $7, $10?
I don't like govt regulation and controls. But I have to admit that I am more open-minded on that subject now than I ever dreamed I would be. Greed is inherent in the free enterprise system by definition. That's what it's all about - and the ONLY thing we can do to check it is to not buy the product. But we have to have gas - the question is, how far back can we cut? If we can't pinch their profit line with decreased consumption, then we'll have to regulate -even with price controls and rationing if necessary. We can't continue on the present course.
If we can keep a civil tone and nobody gets mad, perhaps we can continue the discussion. I would like to hear the thoughts of my economic and generational peers (which I think most of you are) on what may well be the crucial issue of our lives.
Jack
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crudeman
Texas
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Back to the conspiracy theory, if it was that simple why did the oil companies not do this years ago, if its that easy as some suggest and its all this greed/conspiracy theory why wait this long? Heck they could have done it back in the eighties/nineties etc when they were shutting down refineries, and all the mergers of the late nineties and early 2000 time frame. I would think they would all still be American companies instead of losing some of those companies and others having foreign partners etc as the case is now.
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Steve & Pat
Hannah - Sophie
2006 HR Ambassador PDQ
2010 Silverado
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Prevost82
Meritt B.C.
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I'm not big on the conspiracy theory. But the reason this didn't happen until now is that certain forces had to come into play and it’s the perfect storm.
1) 24hr cable news and business cable cannels. We never been inundated with so much information in our lives and most of it bad news.
2) Bad US energy policies e.g.: no new refineries, or nuclear plants, no new drill for oil. The US is 1/6 th the population of the world but consumes 25% of all oil.
3) China, India and other 3rd world countries, middle class & power requirements have reached a critical mass that eat up excess supply. They are also subsidizing the price of fuel at the pump, around $1.5 gal. … India’s launching a $2500 car next year .. I wonder how much more strain on supply this will have @ $1.5 gal
4) Enron showed big business how it could manipulate market prices in a perceived strained market. I seem too remember refinery runs well over 90%, now they have a hard time getting over 85%
5) The Goldie Locks economy …an economy that didn’t want to quit … a lot of new money pouring into the stock market looking for high profits and found them in commodities … and a lot of speculators to drive the price up. There also have never been so many small investors, like you and me, in the market.
6) The war, Katrina, Hugo Chavez and any other fear the news media can broadcast 24/7 that effects the markets. Now a field mouse runs across a pipeline and the price of oil goes up.
The list could go on and on.
Ron
82 Prevost Marathon XL
2004 conversion
8V92TA 475 hp / 6 speed
8KW diesel generator
F1 DataStorm
2001 FLH Harley
2001 FXR Harley
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eltejano1
Woodville, Texas
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The trouble with all conspiracy theories is that if the plot requires the involvement of more than a handful of people, secrecy cannot be maintained and the truth will come to light. A conspiracy of this magnitude would require participation at all management levels, cross international lines and necessarily involve the complicity of several government agencies.
Given the hundreds, if not thousands, of people with insider knowledge the whole house of cards would come tumbling down with a single credible witness with evidence. Don't you suppose that at least one disgruntled employee, rejected lover, angry ex spouse, a soul tortured by conscience, would-be author of a best seller, etc. etc. would drop by the New York Times or Washington Post and spill their guts, complete with audio tapes, phone and appointment logs? Don't you think that every stone has been turned over several times by eager, young investigative journalists bent on being another Woodward?
It strains credulity to think a conpiracy of his magnitude could be kept under wraps for long. More likely, it just a series of circumstances that enabled the oil companies to cash-in on favorable market conditions - in the same way Florida citrus growers benefit from a springtime frost in Calif. Are the Florida growers criminals for demanding more for their product when the market is tight? Or should we crucify the futures traders that gambled on a good crop in Florida and won?
But, of course, we can all do without orange juice but not gasoline. A good case can be made for govt intervention in the case of vital commodities.
Jack
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DanHouck
Ajijic, Mexico
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This has been one of the most interesting reads in quite some time. Put it all together and I think y'all have pretty much summed it up.
Perfect storm is a good description of this situation. A little unrest in Nigeria, an earthquake in China, too much obstructionism of energy development in the U.S., an over-consolidated energy industry, unexpectedly fast increase in consumption in China and India, it has all come together to cause a spike we all knew was coming but few expected this soon.
My wife and I were just talking. Our DP is parked and will remain so except for one trip this Fall. It is garaged in Texas, we live in Mexico where our energy consumption is a fraction of what it was in the U.S.
BTW anyone who thinks nationalizing oil is the answer needs to do some research on Pemex. I promise you that you won't be impressed. The usual government-run incompetence, overstaffing plus good old Mexican corruption thrown in. Pemex is the LAST thing you want north of the border.
I think the country is in big trouble. Everything up there is designed around cheap energy. Big houses far from work, reliance on personal cars, every city lit up like a Christmas tree, you name it, the U.S. is absolutely wedded to cheap energy in all forms and that is coming to an abrupt end.
If we don't chose to buy $5 diesel, we'll miss it but it won't cause any real hardship. What will next Winter bring for those who heat with oil? We're talking real hardship here. Not driving an RV is one thing, finding another way overnight to heat one's home is quite another.
It's easy to say, live closer to work, drive energy efficient cars, use public transportation. But the reality is that the entire country is designed around cheap energy and the freedom of choice to live in the country and work in town, and live in low density suburbs rather that the high density cities and villages that most of the world lives in. What are you going to do, move everyone to town overnight? Hardly.
This situation, which is as much about speculation as it is about a real supply shortage, should be viewed as a wake up call. A wake up call to get serious about reducing imports, cutting down on the energy used in commuting, living in more reasonably sized homes, in short, joining the rest of the world in learning how to live just fine on half the energy.
Not sure what we'll do with our DP at the moment. One option is to park it on a small ranch we own in New Mexico. Doubt it could be sold for any price now.
Dan & Ann D.
1998 Country Coach Allure 36'
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topflite51
In The Desert of Nevada
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crudeman wrote:Back to the conspiracy theory, if it was that simple why did the oil companies not do this years ago, if its that easy as some suggest and its all this greed/conspiracy theory why wait this long? Heck they could have done it back in the eighties/nineties etc when they were shutting down refineries, and all the mergers of the late nineties and early 2000 time frame. I would think they would all still be American companies instead of losing some of those companies and others having foreign partners etc as the case is now. The biggest thing that blows the conspiracy theory is WHY ONLY 10%why not 20 or 25%? If you are in danger of going to jail, and you could if it were really a conspiracy, why not get as much as you can as quick as you can?
">David
Just rolling along enjoying life
w/F53 Southwind towing a 87 Samurai or 01 Grand Vitara looking to fish
Simply Despicable ">
Any errors are a result of CRS.">
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crudeman
Texas
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topflite51 wrote:crudeman wrote:Back to the conspiracy theory, if it was that simple why did the oil companies not do this years ago, if its that easy as some suggest and its all this greed/conspiracy theory why wait this long? Heck they could have done it back in the eighties/nineties etc when they were shutting down refineries, and all the mergers of the late nineties and early 2000 time frame. I would think they would all still be American companies instead of losing some of those companies and others having foreign partners etc as the case is now. The biggest thing that blows the conspiracy theory is WHY ONLY 10%why not 20 or 25%? If you are in danger of going to jail, and you could if it were really a conspiracy, why not get as much as you can as quick as you can?
Oh I understand, trust me. that has been my point there are countless threads with all the answers and greed, conspiracy seems to be the top ones on the list. Not may, says anything I better take care of myself and worry about the latter, but its always this big conspiracy and greed and again if it was that simple it would have been done long ago. Oil is 130 plus a bbl and there is no more cheap gasoline at that price. I worked in this business a long time and seen the bad times and some of the good times, but it has got better in the past year or so. I am not waiting on someone to do what is best for me, I am doing what is best for me myself. Its the same ol story every post, sorta reminds ya of those other posts that has WM in them.
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