how in the heck are we supposed to live these days

[Katy]

We farmers aren't going to be able to afford to run our tractors and other motors pretty soon. This year our fuel bills will be thousands of dollars higher.

 

[k0xxx]

ZykloniaDark-GothikRanchr

"when will the gov't get smart and allow us to use some alternate fuels????"

Actually, if you have the inclination to do so, you can make your own ethanol fuel at home. It requires an easy to get permit from the BATF and you can build the necessary equipment at home. I am looking into doing it now.

One web site that explains what is involved can be found here . I'm not associated with it, just passing it along for info.

Mark

 

[Sparklecoon]

I'm a native Michigander and hope to never have to move. That being said times are already super tough here.

I'm a registered nurse and I see everyday how people are struggling. No hospitals in my area are turning a profit this year. People are waiting til things are dire to seek medical help because they can't afford the general 'up keep'. It's a mess and it only looks to get worse.

I drive 45min to work at a place I love. Gratefully, I will always have a job the need for qualified individuals in the medical field is high. My DBF on the other hand has it rougher. He is a union electrician and it's been slow. He's currently working but the only job is 2 hrs away. Car pooling helps a little bit but still $250+ dollars a week in gas when you only make $500 is rediculous.

I joke that I'll have to get my horse now because sooner or later that's how i'll be getting to work.

 

[kstaven]

Quote:
Gone the way of the dinosaur? When people get hungry and desperate enough you may be surprised. Ever wonder why the government has worked so hard to disarm us?

 

[pdsavage]

Its not even worth me gettinga job as i would have a round trip of 28 miles everyday i would be just working for gas...so there goes any idea of a part time job.

 

[AllChookUp]

We're planning a 3,000-mile trip this July with our F-250 towing a huge travel trailer. Not looking forward to the gas bill - I guess I know where my Economic Stimulus check is going...

 

[gumpsgirl]

I completely agree with you Bi0sC0mp. This is getting out of hand. I have read that a lot of people in the U.S. are going to bicycles, which is VERY smart. I live so far out in the country, that biking everywhere for me is just out of the question. My best suggestion to everyone is to plant your gardens and raise as much of your own food as you can. My family will be eating LOTS of vegetables and eggs this summer! We also are not joining the pool and all extra curricular activities are going to have to go.

 

[Acre of Blessings]

I agree with what is said here about being a spoiled society, confusing wants with needs, etc. and there is no one to blame but ourselves. I am a stay at home Mom w/ 3 kids that we home-school. My husband works 45 minutes away and after taxes only brings home about $300 a week. He spends about $350+ just for gas each month. But now since the gas took a 10 cents rise overnight to $3.79 a gal. it will cost even more. We make it through because we lean on our Lord Jesus. This society needs to get back to the old ways of living. The old ways of doing things. But as mentioned there is so much difference between all of society that there is no way we would join together.

This is my own opinion beings taht the gas tank in the car took my 2 cents.

 

[ginbart]

Quote:
I agree with you 100%. My father in law says, when the truckers go on strike because they can not afford to drive that all the grocery stores will be empty in 3 days. Then lets see that happens. We need to do something before it gets that bad. I have been stocking up on food, my freezer is full but how long will that last? My garden is large so I can can this year.

I work in a group home with down Syndrome clients and I would need to ride my bike 8 miles. I am 53, I can’t do that. I live far out in the country, that biking everywhere for me is just out of the question also. I will loose my job and loose my health insurance. My son is on a medication I could not afford if I lost my job. What are we going to do?

There will be no gun control in this house we are with the other person that said, “ They may get my weapon's but they will have to pry them from my cold, dead hands.” We will need these guns to hunt but I would think there will be nothing to hunt because they will try and take that away also.

We the people of the United States need to band together and fight the oil companies and the Government.

Isn't it funny, I got disconnected after I wrote this. We are probably being monitored from the government. They know everything we do.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Quoted in its entirety because it is so EXACTLY the point.

We have gotten (frighteningly rapidly) accustomed to a lifestyle that is bizarrely, extremely, seriously more luxurious than anything lived by most people on the planet today, and ALL people on the planet ever in the past. And we think it's normal. A baseline for acceptible existence.

We have computers in our houses that can instantly (well, unless like me you're on dialup

) connect us with zillions of people across the globe; we have central heating, laundry machines, frozen pizza, *pet* chickens, antibiotics (at least for the time being ;>), machine-knit socks and waterproof nylon raincoats. Think about it!

To my way of thinking, worrying that when the bottom falls out of the economy, your lifestyle might change or your standard of living might drop a lot... that's actually a sign that you're really pretty well off. Worrying that you might lose your job and might not be able to get another one... that's a sign that you are 'reasonably' well off, compared to people in much of the world who do not HAVE contractual jobs or often any jobs at all.

Those who are already barely scraping by, without a job and with physical or geographical limitations that make it much harder for them to get by... ok, THOSE folks I seriously feel bad for and they will need some gentle help from everyone else when things get tougher. BUT, that is not a very high percentage of people. And that lifestyle -- the
'I'm not entirely certain where next week's food is coming from and am *hoping* we will be able to keep from freezing this winter, and I sure hope to avoid any disease or accidents 'cuz there's not going to be much option for medical care" lifestyle -- is how an awfully huge number of people in the world ALREADY live (and how most people have lived throughout human history).

If, someday, you can't afford the commute to work, you will choose between staying where you are and not working (or working a different, much lower-paying, possibly less 'fun' job) or moving closer to where you can get work. Just like the rest of the world does.

If, someday, your grocery bill 'before milk, cheese and bread' exceeds the amount of money you have available, you will learn to make your own bread, you will not buy the majority of things that used to be on your shopping list i.e. any kind of processed or prepared food, and cheese and possibly even milk will become a rationed treat rather than a regular menu item. (Unless you can keep a cow or goat). You may eat less; you will probably grow some stuff yourself; you will definitely learn to cook from scratch if you don't already. Much/most of the rest of the world lives this way, in fact your grandparents or great-grandparents probably did. We will too, when we have to.

Of course we *want* conveniences, nice things, the ability to do what we like... but does that mean that the world is ending just because we might actually have to start living like the rest of our species?

Pat