Apfelkuchen

It hasn't gone up that much, but it has gone up a lot. I haven't driven much since I left home to go to university, because I haven't been living anywhere where having a car is necessary. But when I was home for Christmas last year I offered to fill up my brother's car since he was giving me quite a few lifts about the place. To my dismay it cost just over £60. Eight years ago when I had my own (similar sized) car it cost me less than £40.

SultanOfSwing

I think it was about 98p/litre when I left, now it's about £1.30/litre, right? That's a 33% increase. During the same period, it went from about $1.92/gal to (earlier this year) $4.35/gal - that's a 127% increase

It since came down to $3.69, and has settled at $3.95 on the day I need to fill my car (of course). Trouble is, I need my car to go pretty much anywhere I need to go, as the public transport network outside the bigger cities is basically zero. Of course, I can get to Chicago on a train that leaves from a station 1 mile from my house, but I rarely have cause to go to Chicago

ljaw2002uk

And what a joke it is too! Built on the premise that it would relieve congestion on the M6 and unsnarl Birmingham (especially jct's 10-6), they tarred over miles of countryside. And for what? 11 cars a day that can afford to use it, and 10 of those probably missed the exit for the "proper" M6 anyway!

It should be nationalised, and free, and would then actually justifiy the enviromental impact it has caused.

(rant over).

Apfelkuchen

I'm really looking forward to moving, but this is the one thing I am dreading - not so much from the cost point of view, but from the perspective of health and wellbeing. At the moment I have at least an hour of walking or cycling a day just built into my daily routine. I don't fancy spending that time cooped up in a car instead .

That said, driving in the US is much more fun than here (at least out of the cities) because it's so much less crowded.

Apfelkuchen

Haha, I've been lost on the M6 toll before!

Bob

that reminds me...Cornbread, wasn't a fan in England, but having it here, it's quite good, especially the Trader Joes stuff

And the shopping, I can't believe it, but I saw Christmas decorations in a shop already

SultanOfSwing

Where are you moving to? Walking to get somewhere isn't always possible, but there are usually lots of options for recreational walking/cycling. Where I live there are bike paths leading to forest preserve trails, and it's really quite nice sometimes.

I'm with you on the fun of driving though. We went on a trip up to SW Wisconsin a few weeks ago (about 160 mile one way trip mostly motorway) and the drive itself was almost as fun as the destination.

Cornbread is the dog's bollocks, I got my dad hooked on it when he was out in July

Sally Redux

Trying hard to think of a view that's changed...

SultanOfSwing

I'm kind of with you there.

Apfelkuchen

At the moment my fiance lives near Seattle (on the Kitsap peninsula). If I end up there and working in Seattle I shouldn't need to drive that much, as I can cycle to the ferry which goes into downtown. But he is in the military and might well get moved before I get there or soon after, so we could end up somewhere totally different.

I'm not worried about having plenty of opportunity for outdoors exercise/recreation as I know there is lots of that, just not looking forward to losing all the activity that is built into my daily routine.

Especially given the amount of far superior junk food I will be stuffing my face with .

SultanOfSwing

There may be ways to try to keep some semblance of your routine, especially if you are living close to and working in a bigger city, more opportunities to incorporate walking into your day to day activities.

tonrob

Used to avoid American IPAs - now I like my beer hoppier than a box of frogs.

Sally Redux

People tend to 'walk' in very strange ways, presumably seeking some particular muscle group benefit. I saw one yesterday which was straight out of the Ministry of Silly Walks.

SultanOfSwing

I saw a bunch of those 'fast walker' types - can't remember the name of the sport but it is basically speed mincing. I damn near crashed my car

Sally Redux

Yeah that kind of thing, but this was more like 'fast zombie'.

I was also driving and was quite distracted by it.