browniehound
Well-Known Member
I think this is an excellent subject given the climate of today's energy situation. I drive about 34-39 miles round trip depending which route I take. I have to fill my tank about every 1.5 weeks at around 42 bucks a pop.
I am seriously considering moving within walking distance to the center, or at least a bike ride's distance. I say this because the price of oil is only going to go up. I was watching a show on discovery yesterday in which they considered a scenario in 2016 where oil was at $160 per barrel. It was a very disturbing program. Back in '02 oil was around $35-$40 a barrel and its around $100 now. At $160 its going to seriously affect our economy and more importantly our way of life!
2016 is coming on fast. Without getting into details, just think of all of our 400,000 jobs at UPS! Its going to cost a lot of money to transport goods in 2016, at least 5 times as much as in '02. Businesses will be more likely to move thier local goods through their own drivers and people ordering like crazy now on QVC and the internet will be more likely to say no to the impulse buy because its going to cost them $35 in shipping costs for a 10lb package. Air and International volume will suffer due to the even higher cost of jet fuel.
I used to think the competition was the greatest threat to our jobs, now I KNOW its soaring energy costs!
My opinion is we should all move closer to our jobs, family, grocery stores, etc. We also need to find alterative(renewable) energy sources. We can do it, but a sense of urgency needs to be created for this to happen. I'm afraid we won't wake up until we are paying $7 a gallon at the gas station. This I could handle because I would drive a lot less, but heating our homes is going to kill us at $7 a gallon.
Something is going to happen. Either we quit cold turkey on oil when we have no alternative, or we ween ourselves off of it in a transition to something else. My guess is the cold turkey route is going to be ugly! And its only a matter of time before oil is gone. You were thinking not in your lifetime? Think again! Besides, think of our grandchildren!
I can continue here, but I'll leave it at this and see if anyone agrees with me.
Brownie
I am seriously considering moving within walking distance to the center, or at least a bike ride's distance. I say this because the price of oil is only going to go up. I was watching a show on discovery yesterday in which they considered a scenario in 2016 where oil was at $160 per barrel. It was a very disturbing program. Back in '02 oil was around $35-$40 a barrel and its around $100 now. At $160 its going to seriously affect our economy and more importantly our way of life!
2016 is coming on fast. Without getting into details, just think of all of our 400,000 jobs at UPS! Its going to cost a lot of money to transport goods in 2016, at least 5 times as much as in '02. Businesses will be more likely to move thier local goods through their own drivers and people ordering like crazy now on QVC and the internet will be more likely to say no to the impulse buy because its going to cost them $35 in shipping costs for a 10lb package. Air and International volume will suffer due to the even higher cost of jet fuel.
I used to think the competition was the greatest threat to our jobs, now I KNOW its soaring energy costs!
My opinion is we should all move closer to our jobs, family, grocery stores, etc. We also need to find alterative(renewable) energy sources. We can do it, but a sense of urgency needs to be created for this to happen. I'm afraid we won't wake up until we are paying $7 a gallon at the gas station. This I could handle because I would drive a lot less, but heating our homes is going to kill us at $7 a gallon.
Something is going to happen. Either we quit cold turkey on oil when we have no alternative, or we ween ourselves off of it in a transition to something else. My guess is the cold turkey route is going to be ugly! And its only a matter of time before oil is gone. You were thinking not in your lifetime? Think again! Besides, think of our grandchildren!
I can continue here, but I'll leave it at this and see if anyone agrees with me.
Brownie
