Gas Prices and Our Life-style

Yesterday when we filled the gas tank on our 2008 Chevrolet 2500HD Duramax diesel the price at Safeway was $4.82 per gallon. Yikes! That is outrageous. On the other hand, when we figured the mileage, we did 19.3 miles per gallon. That is the best ever in a truck. We hadn't been towing the RV for that tank—it's been almost a month since we parked at Gnat Creek. And, because we had spent over $100 in the past month at Safeway, we only paid $4.72—a 10 cent per gallon discount. That means we only paid 24.5 cents per mile. Two years ago in Canada we were paying $4.38 a gallon for regular and getting 8 miles to the gallon towing—which was almost every day. That cost us 54.8 cents per mile with the old gas truck. I guess the cost of the diesel will pay off in the long run.

All of this explains why this summer we are spending a lot of our time volunteering, parked in one spot for two months. When we leave Gnat Creek Fish Hatchery, we have lined up a two-month volunteer assignment at the White River Wildlife Area in eastern Oregon. We will get to explore another part of this beautiful state without much driving and without paying for an RV space.

Last year, at the end of seven months, which included three and one-half months working as volunteers, plus lots of time in Corps of Engineer parks and US Forest Service campgrounds, we averaged only $9 per night for an RV space. This year, from March 21 through August 31, we will average $7.30 per night. Our overall average will increase as we travel and pay for lodging from September into November, but it will still be reasonable.

This is how we keep our expenses reasonable and still live the life we enjoy, exploring God's creation and the lives and places that other people live. It is such an adventure and we learn so much and really enjoy our time on the road as 5^th wheel wanderers.

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