There is the assumption in the popular culture that the good times will go on forever — low unemployment, cheap gasoline — and that our parks and highways will remain crowded. But that assumption is dangerously foolish.

Everybody knows that the next recession is around the corner, and that only one big upset in the Middle East could put world oil markets into a tailspin. We could have gas lines or prices over $5 a gallon in six months.

We really don’t know. The economy is white hot right now, and gasoline is super cheap, but just because things are really good now, doesn’t mean things won’t change.