Sydelle Enyeart
California, USA
14 June, 2008

I live in San Diego, California. The number one topic here is gas prices. Gas prices have
spiraled and changed our lives in the last two months. I'm old enough to remember when it took years and years to go from one to two dollars. Then fewer years to get from two to three dollars.
Now it's at $4.50. That took less than 30 days. I can see it going to $5.00 in minutes.

How has this trickled down? More airlines are flying less flights. Charging more anywhere they can. They now charge for every bag you check in. Today the airlines announced they will charge $2.00 for every non alcoholic drink on the plane. I'm guessing this will include water.

It's all we American's can talk about. Today in my local newspaper they are talking about the fact that people are going to Mexico which is just 15 to 45 minutes from anyone's home here in San Diego. Gas is $2.00 a gallon less because it's subsidized by the government. Those with big vehicles think it worth saving $40.00 to $60.00 a fill up to go there. If you have never been to Mexico from the border states. It's easy to get in. You need to show a passport to get out.
Waiting time to get out is one to two hours. This wastes one gallon of gas for each hour. But people with big vehicles feel it's worth it.

This gas spike has changed everyone's life. Those who have graduated high school and college here are talking about only looking for jobs closer to home. For myself, when I leave the house to go shopping I do as many stops in one outing as I can. I have postponed going to certain stores if it wastes gas. We are all thinking of ways to stay closer to home because of the cost of gas.

My husband bought a Toyota Prius in May of 2007. He made himself very knowledge- able about hybrid's. He's joined websites that give advice on how to get the most mileage out of a gallon.
This is done because he works 33 miles from home. He gets 58 miles to the gallon. The Prius and "going green" has become so popular that there is now a waiting list here in San Diego, popu- lation over 1 million in the county, for the Prius. One TV show has the hero driving a Prius.

I see the handwriting on the wall. In 2010 Toyota will have an electric cell car that will
practically not depend on gas. I worry that the electric company will jump in and start raising their prices just like the gas company has. I know it's coming. Maybe these cars will clean up the air and it's pollution. It will change the way we drive, the way we live, eventually put gas stations out of business and start a whole new industry to service the electric cars.

Good or bad. These rising gas prices have created an era to quotes Bob Dylan, "The Times They Are A Changing."

I know in Europe and Asia they laugh at us because their gas has always been expensive. Maybe 2010 with the new cell cars will bring changes for all of us.

Meanwhile, American's are going back to using public transportation and just cutting back on anything that uses high priced gas.

As I wrote this article, I see gas went up 4 cents on my corner. This is the fate of America at this time.