Running Out of Fuels

"Running Out of Fuel, but Not Out of Ideas" ignored the obvious solution to the spike in gas prices: consume less by design. The choices we make about things like where we live in relation to where we work and what vehicle we drive are just that: choices.

In the rapidly-sprawling traffic nightmare that Austin, TX, has become, I moved to 2 blocks from my office. I wasn't so much concerned about gas prices back then, but more about quality of life issues. Instead of spending 1 1/2 hours each day commuting, I could have a short 10 minute walk home. Even in the appalling Texas summer heat, a 10 minute walk after a grueling day at work is refreshing.

And there are many stores within walking distance to take care of all my day-to-day shopping needs. In Austin, TX, which has tried but had mixed results in trying to create sustainable, pedestrian neighborhoods. It's still dangerous to be a pedestrian here. We are a pioneer breed.

Granted, I pay a premium for living in what used to be North Austin, but is now the geographic center of the city. However, I more than make that up in what I don't pay for in gas.

For the little driving that I do, I have an inexpensive American-made car that gets mileage that rivals much more expensive imported hybrids. I use a very small tankful every three weeks.

We are victims of the oil crisis because we allow ourselves to be. We drive absurdly outscale cars too far to get to work. And then take the same behemoths shopping, running errands and visiting friends.

We are a co-dependent nation that has been enabled by cheap oil (to use psychobabble-speak). We are victims because we choose to be, much like an abused spouse who recognizes the problem but does nothing about it.

We need to either act as individuals to break the cycle or just shut up and quit whining as a nation. It's not like a thinking person didn't see this coming down the highway.

I bought my inexpensive American car that sips gas as genteely as an old southern lady nursing a mint julep a year and a half ago. Back before they commanded either a premium, or at least full sticker price.

My choices about where I live and the car I drive had little to do with gas prices. Rather, they were about quality-of-life. What I could do with the time I wasn't sitting on a grid-locked freeway. How much stress I could avoid by not having to fight crazy drivers who have no concept of their own mortality. How I could secure inexpensive transportation, both in terms of investment and operating costs, on the best terms.

Those priorities happily coincided with an astronomical spike in oil prices. It's a philosphy that would serve many well to adopt.

And until the American vision of "quality-of-life" changes from a house in the suburbs, we're choosing ourselves into the ground. No one else is doing this to us: we're doing it to ourselves.