Re: What would life be like in the rural areas if gas was $10/gal.?

Re: What would life be like in the rural
areas if gas was $10/gal.?
Group: misc.rural Date: Thu, May 22,
2008, 9:29am From:
lithar@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (AL)
chessucat wrote:
I have friend who lives in a rural area
and they live on a fixed income. I live
in the suburbs, so I guess I can ride my
bicycle to the grocery store, but how
are going to get to the grocery store
out in the sticks?

Al:
Not just *get* to the store, but how are
they going to afford to buy anything
when they get there?

Ronny:
Easy,they will simply buy less. And I say that from the experience of
living on a low,fixed income. People might think it can't be done;but of
course,it can. I know things I buy at times,things I don't absolutely
have to have or have at all. Things that are not necessities. I've cut
back and I know I can cut back more. Poor people simply do that sooner
than other people and you learn to be creative.You also learn to be
honest. You don't stick something you want in your grocery basket,making
out like it's something you just have to have,when in fact you know it
isn't. But instead you stick that unneeded but wanted item in your cart
and you honestly say this is a splurge on my part. Something I want;but
don't have to have.

Al:
I live out in the sticks and believe me
we feel the pinch of gas prices, not
just what goes into our tank to get us
to the store, but the ripple effect in
everything we buy at the store.

Ronny:
So,we need to buy less. Simple as that. We also need to get honest with
ourselves when we stick something in our shopping cart,that is in
fact,not a neccessity.

Al:
How
someone on a minimal fixed income
manages out here is beyond me - the
number of run down shacks & shanties
hints at the quality of life they live.

Ronny:
It's beyond me too,if they don't own their own home and have to rent and
or have to pay for heating and cooling with the prices on that going up
and up. But even there, there are things that can be done to cut bills.
Some are able to do some,some another and some are not. Now for
myself,I've cut back to heating and cooling two rooms of my house. And I
don't turn on the AC until it hits around 95°. Of course,my old house
is surrounded by a lot of trees,so that helps on keeping things cooler.
And up around 90 to 95°,I simply keep a big fan going and personally
I'm quite comfortable with that. And not all would be. And I'm still
able to get my own firewood,much of it free for the hauling. So,I've
heated with wood the last two winters.

And in wintertime,I simply don't heat my bathroom unless it gets cold
enought to threaten to freeze the water pipes. And between showers,I
turn my propane water heater down to vacation level. So that only comes
on if it gets close to freezing in that room.

Found out something interesting this April and May. I had my propane hot
water heater on vacation level for 2 to 4 weeks and yet the water was
still plenty warm enough to shower with. :-) So both the air temp and
the small pilot light fire going under my water heater,both of those
kept my water comfortably enough warm for a shower.

Of course,I will soon have to buy a 100 gallons of propane;but then that
will last me for a long,long time. And what bugs me is I have to buy a
minimum of 100 gallons. Yet I used way,way less than that last winter.
In fact,it was winter before last when I bought my last 100 gallons of
propane for bathroom space and water heating.

Al:
Food pantries are nearly bare because
those who used to provide the food are
feeling the pinch and reducing their
contributions.

Ronny:
I don't doubt that some are;but not the one I go to. And in fact,even
with my low income,I would not have to go there, except for the fact
that one of the ladies there,I have known her for years! And last year
she sent word to me by one of my sisters,that I was to come to the food
pantry or else-or else she would be delivering the food to my door! Hard
headed woman! :-) LoL Who I also very much appreciate. :-)

The problem my local food pantry has is not enough food,for they have
plenty of that. The problem they have is getting people to come. People
who are low income and who quality for food pantry services. It's a
pride thing around here. I wouldn't be using it myself,except for the
fact I rather go pick up the food myself,
than for that lady to have to deliver it to my door! Which she would do!
(ha) LoL

Al:
Food prices at the local
mom & pop grocery stores are going
through the roof

Ronny:
If you're low income,you don't shop at those. Pure and simple,you
don't,because the prices are way too high! It's a simple fact that you
can end up paying more there,than what your gas would cost you to drive
to a local town for grocery shopping.

Al:
and the cost of a trip
to a local (1 hr round trip) major
grocery store takes a big bite out of
the food budget.

Ronny:
Mine is more like a 40 minute or so round trip to the nearest town,where
there are major grocery stores. 3 in fact and that in a town of only
16,000 people. And there are always sales going on at all 3 stores and
are low prices on somethings. 2 stores in particular. And we get a free
weekly paper that has the sales in them for those 2 stores. And there
are some very good bargains in those! :-)

Al:
When I moved out here
25yr ago there was an abundance of wild
game but now you can hunt all day and
only have a pot of rabbit-track stew to
show for your effort - thank the farmers
for clearing habitat.

Ronny:
More pastures and woods,pools and lakes around here,so there is much
free food for the taking,if a person wished to go that route and was
able to.

Al:
The ground here is
so poor you can't even raise hell on it
so gardens are puny...

Ronny:
I have sandy loam soil. Some people close by just have sand. Come to
think of it,my oldest sisters garden is pretty deep sand,yet it grows
good crops. She uses a bit of fertilizer;but not that much.

And if you're ground is so poor that you can't grow decent crops on
it,why,you just improve your land so that you can. Mind you,I'm talking
small scale here. About poorer people,limited income,a small bit of land
and of course,in most places like that,you can grow an abundance of
crops for personal use. Why just look at the yards covered in grass in
rural areas. If that's all a person has,then they still have an
abundance of land to grow much of their own food. It's just a matter of
knowing how or finding out how to do such. Sometimes it's a matter of a
little bit of education in that area and a bit of work; but not that
much work! :-)

Al:
Geez, now that I
think about it, what am I doing out
here??? Wait a minute - I hear hundreds
of birds of all kinds singing &
chattering, squirrels barking at each
other (hmm, lunch?) and the breeze
blowing thru the pines is loaded with
honeysuckle (its like a drug) - guess
I'll hang on a little longer out here,
maybe go see if the fish are biting...
---
Ronny:
Three nights ago I was sitting here with the door open and there was the
biggest orange/red moon and this morning it was a bit cloudy and the sun
was the same color as it came up! Beautiful! :-)

And my neighbors? They like me and I like them;but I think we're all
glad that we live at least a 100 yards from each other! :-) That's the
closest two,to me. The rest are a bit further down the road. And I like
these people;but I would not want to be living right over the fence from
any of them! :-) LoL

So much for people to learn. Especially so I think in the United States.
We are spoiled! We want our cake and we want to eat it too! :-) And I
think way too many people are willing to vote for any polititian, who
promises them that,forever. But then they just promise whatever to get
elected. It's not like most of them are ever going to follow through on
their promises to you. Well,not unless you're a huge campaign
contributor! :-) LoL

.

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