Like it or not, the world of five dollar a gallon gas is upon us. It’s been that expensive in some Midwest and Western states for a while now but it’s finally come to roost in New York State and about half of the rest of the state’s in America.
It often makes me feel like the world is closing in a bit on me, that everything is further drive away then it used to be. While it’s rare that I do much motoring around town, it makes me want to carefully pick and choose when I really want to head out of town or to the supermarket for a big shop, which buys less and less these days as I try to stretch it out more days.
In the grand scheme of things gas prices aren’t that big of a drain on my bank account. Yes, gas is a big portion of my road trips camping in the back country but food and beer are also big costs as are repairing broke equipment and my truck. But it’s not like I’m spending money on hotels or fancy attractions. The swimming hole in the woods is still free and my parents get me a state park pass each year.
Still it bothers me every time I put gas in my truck and see the big numbers on the pump, like a $115 for a full tank on my gasser truck. Or how even the very basic necessity products at Walmart come with bigger and bigger price tags. It’s not that I’m not making more money these days – but you would hope that extra money would be available to invest for a better tomorrow.
I’ve always thought that the reason for earning more money was to have more to save and get closer to future goals. Even COLA adjustments I’ve always tried to put mostly towards boosting further savings and investments. But with inflation and expensive gas, the old ways of always dumping more money into the markets might not be possible. It’s a bit frustrating.
But not real hot until the second half of next week. Times of rain and sun, unstable. I was hoping to get out of town this weekend but it wasn’t to be.
Today. Feels like …
June 8th.
Scattered showers before 8am. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny.
West wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
and
77 degrees
,58 max dew point,
8:32
sunset.
Tonight. Feels like …
June 15th.
Rain likely, mainly after 5am. Increasing clouds.
Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
and
57 degrees
,
5:15
sunrise.
Thursday. Feels like …
May 9th.
Rain and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly before 3pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. High near 69. North wind 5 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
and
69 degrees
,60 max dew point,
8:33
sunset.
Thursday Night. Feels like …
June 5th.
A chance of showers, mainly before 7pm. Partly cloudy.
West wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
It rained a fair bit in the evening and then more during the night. But by morning it cleared out although more rain tomorrow and then during the weekend. Needless to say I’m not heading out of town this weekend.
Partly sunny 🌞 and 62 degrees in Delmar, NY. ☔ There is a west-southwest breeze at 9 mph. 🍃. The dew point is 58 degrees. I don’t with the rain that stopped about two hours ago it feels more humid than that. I wish I hadn’t worn the vest to work.
As to be expected the express bus 🚍 isn’t so express at departing the station 🚉 with estimates showing it running about fifteen minutes late. At least it’s on the map and I can watch its progress. This changes in a week or two when the school 🚸 runs end for the summer.
Because of the rain last night I had to take the local home, which I don’t enjoy even if it’s about as quick compared to the walk 🚶 home from the Park and Ride. But the rain cleared up for a while and I returned my remaining books 📚 to the library. I should get some more out but I’ll wait until nextweek before I head out of town.
Tomorrow is the oil 🛢 change and tire rotation. I’ll take the hub caps off myself tonight and at some point pick up an air filter and and top off the coolant. Truck hasn’t been burning oil like it was years ago but it’s largely because I have the solar and don’t idle it while camping. ⛺ in the fall I’ll have the transfer case oil changed and maybe the transmission fluid although I’ve heard mixed messages about doing that after a certain point. With gas prices likely to exceed $5 I doubt I’ll do more than 2,000 miles before the end of summer. ⛽
I still have a wheel on the truck that clicks when I drive it.⚫ I think it’s just one of the Rockstar hub caps isn’t perfectly balanced as it changed wheels when I got the new tires put on. Been doing it for at least two years now. Since the alignment and replaced front bushing and maybe tie rods the year before I’ve not noticed any unusual tire wear but I’m planning to rotate them each oil change going forward. I’d rather not burn up a wheel bearing on the road at this point if I can avoid it. Big jacked up truck life.
My hope is to head out of town either Thursday or Friday next week. ⛺ Probably Friday morning early that way with Juneteenth observed on Monday I can do the three nights in one campsite day without moving or getting a permit. In the summer heat, ice won’t last more than three nights even with two coolers, one for beverages and one for everything else. Maybe this weekend I can reinflate the tube for floating. ⚫
