Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Alternative Lifestyle

Cheap gas is now $4.65 a gallon. Which means that filling up my truck now costs me $120 bucks and a round trip ride to the DogPatch will set me back $60- you'll be seeing a lot less of me at the 'Patch, boys. A normal week of twice daily surf checks (that's a ten block round trip), once a week grocery runs (4 miles round trip) and maybe three errands (15 miles each) will see me burn through three quarters of a tank or about $90. I'll fill the thing just about 3.5 times in a month which adds up to $315 not counting that up the coast run to the DogPatch. Damn, life just got expensive- and I don't even drive to work; I make my one block, daily commute by beach cruiser every morning! 

Or.... 

I could fill up my Suzuki DRZ400 once every two weeks (that thing get's 50 miles per gallon around town) for about $12 and do everything I described above, except go to the DogPatch. So in a month, on my street plated dirt bike, I'll spend $24 or I can cruise the 4x4 and spend $315. And let's not forget the cool factor... dirtbikes rule!

A quick side topic. I've got a minor problem: getting my 8'4 Stamps stando down to the beach on the dirtbike. I don't have far to go- just five blocks each way on quiet residential streets. I guess I could look into the ready made (but far to wimpy) bicycle surfboard rack options or, and this is what I'm really going to do, I could get a custom rack fabbed up in aluminum for the DRZ. I figure if I can keep the fabrication cost under $300 I'll already be ahead of the game. Standby for some cool, custom board rack photos!

I never thought it would happen (famous last words) but the plain economic realities of living here in Kalifornia are going to force me to live an alternative lifestyle. All you have to do is check out the milkcrate-grocery-box I ziptied to my moto-rack to see that I've made some changes.

Read 'em and weep...
I used to think that I'd always be able to fire up the Ramble Beast and charge up and down the coast at will. It seems, however, that the intersecting trajectories of gas prices (upwards) with earnings (somewhat static) have finally triggered a lifestyle tipping point. Don't worry, I'm not getting a Prius. But, there will be fewer spur-of-the-moment road trips up the coast. No more, "let's just take the truck" spontaneity and a lot less of me at your break. Maybe that's a good thing.

6 comments:

ewxlt66 said...

I feel your pain. Filled up for $143 this week and skipped a trip to DogPatch yesterday.

ken said...

One word Corolla 38mpg 34 with a stando on top remove back seat build a little deck and instant surfmobile. I have to send you some pic's .

John Ashley said...

Hey Gents,

ewxlt66: Yep, for all I know the top of the fill neck of my gas tank may have rusted away... it hasn't touched a liquid in so long I don't even now if it's still intact!

Ken: No shit? 34 mpg with a stando on top???? That's insane! And, yes, I will want pics.

Anonymous said...

Dude its getting ugly out there-my 14 MPG work truck is killing me!
Bummed i wont get to surf as much with you but glad to hear youre gettin some new gigs and i am way diggin that moto!
Got me thinking bro!...
Jon

John Ashley said...

Yeah Jon! Don't worry, I'll skip a couple fin sets and that should get me a full tank... where there's a will there's a way, right?

Ian said...

Dude, just get a Prius and you can still drive up and down the coast all you want with plenty room for your gear. Really, its ok. 50 mpg