Locals get creative with ways to save gas

Many locals getting creative with ways to save gas

By Deborah Wheeler

debbie_wheeler@link.freedom.com

As gas prices soar across the United States, most are feeling the crunch.

Will it cause the masses to cancel travel plans and stay home instead? Is the crunch affecting their way of life?

Many locals weighed in on the subject - some with their ways of adjusting and some vowing not to be affected.

High gas prices will alter the vacation plans of Chris Poate, Mary Moses, Redd Vizard and Sarah Svoboda. 

Poate said high gas prices will keep his family close to home this summer: "We look forward to being tourists in our own community." 

Moses' family will visit local springs for their vacation this year: Cypress Springs, Morrison Springs, Vortex Springs, Ponce de Leon Springs, Lake Cassidy Springs, all 45 minutes to an hour north of the beach, with canoe rentals, antique shops, hometown restaurants and historical sites.

Vizard has a trip to Key West planned for October. They will rent a large minivan to include more people and pick some up on the way to save them driving.

To celebrate their first anniversary and her birthday, the Svobodas will stay in town and try to find fun things to do. They are staying at a family friend's house on the beach that is seven miles from their house where they can wake up to the sound of the ocean and enjoy everything that comes with the beach. "That way we don't have to drive anywhere, but we can still feel like we are on vacation," said Sarah.

"Everyone should consider a backyard vacation. There are tons of world-class resort hotels to choose from that others save all year to visit. Escape the grind and avoid fuel costs and airport delays," advises Zandra Wolfgram.

Diane Grey Page, Dorothy Baratta, Geri Golding Higgs, Jane Krimbell, Lane Rees and Mary Damroth are among those who vow not let gas prices affect their travel.

"We are packing for a drive to Boston now. Europeans have been paying this and more for a long time. Go to the islands and see what gas is there. I think we have been a bit spoiled. I don't think it will influence our lifestyle," said Page.

As a Seaside resident, Baratta hardly drives anywhere, she said, "But we are working out a gas stipend to help my staff through this crisis. I suggest tourists or folks at the beach buy lots of arts supplies, games and toys then stay put and play." 

Damroth made a promise to herself two years when she was diagnosed with cancer that when she went into remission, she would travel and have fun, no matter what. "So, I am going to see friends and grandchildren in other parts of the county and traveling abroad for the first time in a long time. I set my priorities a long time ago and I don't intend to let anything get in my way!" said Mary Damroth.

Some have tried to combat the gas guzzlers by switching cars.

Ann Morrell and Richard and Shellie Arriaga have bought hybrids. Shellie said they can travel 500 miles on a single tank that costs $34 to fill.

Jane Burns has switched to a Mini Cooper and Dave Rauschkolb is investigating electric car options.

Billy McConnell is installing a gadget on his car that he said should increase gas mileage by 25 percent. It will cost around $250 and pay for itself in about eight weeks, plus there is a $2,000 tax credit for installing it. "But I am not planning any trips this summer in hopes that the real estate market is going to get better and I will be too busy to travel," he said. 

Others have changed their driving habits.

"My home office is looking better and better," said Buz Livingston.

Carol Wenrick's family has reduced their driving by about 200 miles per week by moving to South Walton where their offices are located. They have also replaced their gas-guzzling van with a pre-owned vehicle that gets 34-35 MPG.

Chick Huettel now plans his driving and lines up his stops. "We just don't head out without thinking, ‘Can we wait until we need more items?'" he said.

"After it almost costing $60 to fill up my car, I'm thinking of carpooling to work. My son just bought a Mercedes diesel and has been researching conversion kits that allow him to use used cooking oil. Seems that's becoming more popular. I spent a couple of months traveling in Europe and South America a couple of years ago and noticed that there were very few large cars or SUVs. Everyone was driving the little smart cars. Maybe they are smarter than we are," said Lisa Hinds.

Kris Ogden tries not to drive unless necessary. She's looking for a second job and plans to buy a motorcycle for commuting.

Mary Lou Springstead also worries about the financial strain gas prices are causing. "I drive as little as possible. I worry about my financial future and hope I can make more money so I can drive to work and afford to buy groceries," she said.

Donnelle Clark doesn't drive much around Seagrove, but if she travels to another state she tries to find someone who wants to go and share gas costs.

Kendall Horne and Kelli Arnold of Alys Beach and Wade Berry of St. Joe have been riding to and from work together on Tuesdays. "We call it Together Tuesday. After work, we play kickball on the green at Gulf Place and eat a locally-grown dinner together. I look forward to Together Tuesdays," said Arnold.

And others are turning their backs on the gas tanks.

For Bill and Betsy Evett, Lee Ann DeBeauchamp, Lynn Nesmith, Stacy Hamilton, Tom Saffel, Christian Wagley and Chandra Hartman, that means dusting off the old bike. 

The Evetts now bike to run errands. They keep a list of what they can't buy on 30A (like cheap underwear) and do a once-a-month run to Target, when Bill drives down 98 like a little old man S-L-O-W-L-Y. "That is the best trick to saving gas, drive the speed limit," said Betsy.

DeBeauchamp has simplified her life to where she can walk, swim or bike to wherever she needs to go.

"The best ways to get around are still free," agrees Nesmith.

Hamilton has no plans to pay over $4 a gallon to go anywhere. "We're so blessed to be able to walk out of our front door into a vacationer's paradise," she said.

Wagley is looking at taking Amtrak for any long-distance vacation travel rather than flying or driving. "I'm actually happy to see the opportunity presented us by higher gas prices, to redesign our communities as towns rather than low-density sprawl that forces residents to drive everywhere. We need thoughtful, human-scale towns where offices, shopping, schools, parks and other needs are just a short walk or bicycle ride away. Traditional neighborhoods like Seaside and Rosemary Beach are wonderful models for a more sustainable type of land development. Towns can easily survive high gas prices; sprawl cannot," he said.

Hartman agreed. "Higher prices may be painful and an inconvenience, but that's what is necessary to push this country into the realm of ethical and sustainable living. When I purchased my car, MPG was my first consideration, I moved close to my work and my family has been making adjustments to lessen our ecological footprint over the last several years. Higher gas prices will only accelerate that move. I work at home, so I can keep driving to a minimum. I have been consciously making more trips by bicycle, friends carpool when we can and run errands for each other, and our garden has expanded, reducing some food costs. We keep purchases and socializing as local as possible. These are small things that not only save money, but weave the threads of the community together and reduce our impact on the environment. As an added bonus, I've lost 10 pounds from my weekly bike treks."

As a compromise between the car and bike, Tom Rymer and Vickie Miller have invested in scooters. Rymer's gets 81 MPG and Miller said hers gets 150 MPG.

And Bobby Johnson has yet a different approach to the gas crisis. "I try not to focus on it. It is so much bigger then anything I can do anything about. It's almost as expensive as bottled water!" he said.