Well- I guess it's all beginning to happen. It's not as if I hadn't known about it. I've been reading about it and discussing it with others. But all of a sudden it seems as if it's starting to snowball. It started at the May Day celebration at friends. Allison and Jon announced that although they felt really awful about it they had decided  that they really needed to live closer to jobs and schools and all sorts of activities that their kids would want to be involved in. And with the way gas prices were heading up it seemed like a good time to sell and get out. And then Melissa and Steve confided that they were actually thinking they would move closer to Melissa's job as given what was happening with gas prices..... And then Karen mentioned that she really wanted to move closer to work or the kids school or anyplace but where they were and she figured that Jim was going to get the idea through his head soon enough given what was happening. Boy am I bummed. Several other neighbors have also put their houses on the market in recent weeks to get closer to work as well. This is pretty scary. Who's going to live out here?  I really like these people and they won't be just down the road anymore. We have a lot of fun together, and all the kids play together so well.

I figure that for awhile at least I can keep doing what I do. I have a long commute but I  only have to go into the city to work a few days a week. If I drive about 20 miles I can take a bus the rest of the way, and my employer pays for the bus(at least for now). I get great gas mileage- everyone laughed at my little Tercel but it gets over 40 mpg; got the engine overhauled last year in anticipation of just this happening.

But my other job is farming. I grow fruit and vegetables. I've been working at reducing my use of fossil fuels; trying to go carbon neutral. I no longer heat any greenhouses and I sold my tiller. Last summer I bought some geese to do the lawn and the orchard and blueberry field.

I do use row cover, black plastic and greenhouse plastic still. Figured I should maybe stock up. I called my supplier out west. He couldn't even give me a price quote over the phone for shipping. Had to get back to me. Not good....

I live off-grid-like I said, I've been expecting this to happen for awhile. I've been wanting a 12 volt freezer- been waiting til I had the cash to buy one. Figured I shouldn't wait any longer. I called up the company- also out west- the cost of shipping has gone up by over $100 since just last month! I ordered it on the spot but they said they couldn't guarantee the shipping cost- it would be whatever the freight company charged when it arrived in about 10 days! But I guess it would only get worse if I waited?

And to top it off, I got an e-mail from my other job- a non-profit I I do some work for. They are going to freeze our mileage reimbursement at 65 cents/mile.  Even if the feds raise their rate they can't afford to pay us the increased cost. So they suggested that we take the difference in cost as a deduction on our taxes. I can do that as I'm a contractor for them(self-employed). It's not as good as getting paid the mileage in cash, but it's something. My friend Sharon works for them as a regular employee and can't do that. She drives all over the state for them and she is really worried about this. She 's thinking if it gets worse maybe she should just become a contractor for them too, but then she'd lose her health insurance. Which will be cheaper; gas or health insurance?

Well for now, I'm going to grab some gas cans and fill them up. I'll put some gas stabilizer in them and set them aside in case it gets worse.  I'm wondering what propane is going to cost for this winter? I use propane for back-up heat when I'm gone working in the city all day(wood won't make it on those 12 hour days when it's 20 below). I also use it for cooking and hot water. I just went to a 12 volt refrigerator so I no longer have to use a propane fridge-that's a relief. Guess I'll call the gas company and see if they have any idea what the "pre-buy" price will be this year.

Current Mood: anxious