Homer is a happy camper

Oct 9, 2008 2:21 am

Just filled homer the motorhome with diesel. $3.69/gallon. Regular was going for $2.91/gallon so after Homer drained my wallet I pulled to another island and used the change in the ashtray to fill the Jeep.

Gas being a dollar cheaper than six weeks ago, I felt a small victory in light of all the pain and suffering my energy stocks have caused me. At this rate, if gas doesn't get any cheaper, I only have to drive Homer 226,432 miles to get even. Well, that's only if I'm pulling the Jeep.
Oct 9, 2008 2:55 am

Just what I thought…these midwestern gas-baron SOBs are ripping me off at $3.45 for 87 octane…

Oct 9, 2008 1:14 pm

Geez , Bondguy. Everytime I see the retirees starting to head South for the Winter from here…My thoughts , " Do they take out a Loan each time they fill up? " Our prices here have dropped to 97.2 per litre.

Oct 9, 2008 2:12 pm

Gas is down to $3.19 in the STL area.  My wife gassed up a couple weekends ago in Springfield (Branson area for all of you non-midwesterners) and got it for $.40 cheaper there than I did here in STL the same weekend.  Now I hear BG telling us that he’s getting regular for under $3?  Wouldn’t you think that the price of gas would be relatively the same everywhere?  There’s enough stuff in this world I don’t understand and I don’t really care to, but this is one that I’d really like to comprehend.  And we have one of the largest gasoline refineries just across the Big Muddy in IL.  Heck, I could go straight to the source within about half an hour. 

Oct 9, 2008 2:28 pm

Spiff…here in Canada similar where the Refineries are ie. Montreal , gas prices are higher in Montreal Region as well Quebec. I know here in Canada it’s about the Provincial & Federal Governments Taxes. On the pumps and your receipt they show you amount in taxes. On average varies from Province to Province but their take ranges between 23-30%. Do the math

Oct 9, 2008 3:02 pm

Philly is the nation's second largest oil port with big refineries on both sides of the Delaware River. A reason Jersey's gas prices are low is due to low fuel taxes. As well, we along with Oregon are the lone holdouts on full serve. So, relatively low prices and we don't have to pump it ourselves.

Gas prices are a game. Gas prices are lower in parts of Maryland than they are in South Jersey despite MD's higher fuel tax and higher distribution cost. Within our own area prices at the same brand stations vary by as much as 15 cents/gallon from town to town.   Homer gets about 7 mile per gallon unless I'm towing something. Towing a dingy vehicle drops the mpg to 6 on the relatively flat super slab between Jersey and Florida, and 5mpg if Homer is doing mountain climbing. For that reason we think long and hard before hooking up the dolly or flat towing the Grand Cherokee. In some instances it's cheaper to rent a car at our destination. Towing is also a major pain in the ass. You can't back up if your towing a dingy regardless of flat tow or dolly. This means that all moves, including fuel stops are determined by pull thru access.   The only place we go to on a repeat basis in PA is Raystown Lake out near State College. AT 450 miles round trip, it's within Homer's round trip range. On that trip we pull an 18 foot boat that cuts the mpg to 5.5 mpg. So about $350 for gas and cutting it close on Homie's 100 gallon tank range.    The people you see running RVs have planned the higher cost of fuel into the vacation equation. Break it down this way:   On a 2000 mile one week round trip to Disney world for a family of five: RV Fuel:                    $1000 campground:       $1000 food                       $300   Fly/hotel   Airfare:                  $1000 hotel                      $1200 food                       $1050   And the fly hotel number - probably too low.   As for retirees, the motorhome will sit for months once it reaches its destination. Cost of driving RV versus flying and renting a hotel room or apartment at the destination. Neither is cheap however on an operational basis the cost will usually stack up well on a an extended stay.   Factor in the cost of ownership and it is way way cheaper to fly/hotel anywhere you go.    
Oct 9, 2008 3:14 pm

BondGuy …one of our neighbours has a Motorhome ( not named Homer ) but close. I know this summer they did restrict their travels to closer/local destinations and he was frank …the price of fuel which of course surged in July/Aug impacted their travels.

We live on the River so in the nice months always a great place to be , neighbour only travelled for family type events ie. weekend get together. He also owns a Race Car that requires JET A fuel and it was running around 110.00 per 5 gallons and this year he did not race.
Oct 9, 2008 3:36 pm

We too ended up not using Homer as much as usual. I think more a function of how our summer unfolded than a plan. But i think most RV owners and boat owners did cut back. To me it’s a bit counter intuitive.

  We keep the boat, at a marina about 6 miles inland of Little Egg Inlet. Because of the deep water access to the ocean there are a lot of very big, very expensive boats docked at this marina. One day this past summer I was talking to a guy who has a fifty two foot trawler powered by twin diesels. He told me the high cost of fuel was killing him and putting a damper on using the boat. We talked for a while and i said well, the way I see it fuel costs are about 25% higher than they were a year ago and at about the average use of 200 hours a year on twin diesel that added up to about $3000 in additional cost. Even if i'm wrong by half and it's another $6000, why would that hamper anyone from using their million dollar boat? I can see the little guys running around in their 10 year old 25 foot Sea Rays cutting back, but most of these people? To me it doesn't make sense.   I apply the same thinking to Homer. If we've got something planned we go.
Oct 9, 2008 3:46 pm

BondGuy , we as mentioned are on the River. A few homes down a young couple purchased a very nice Cruiser. All the bells and whistles in 2007 , they were out every night after work and out ( overnight ) for the weekends. This year I could count on two hands the number of times I saw them out. They did entertain on the Cruiser but tied on to their dock.

Either they are being squeezed or being energy efficent. I have my opinion.
Oct 9, 2008 4:29 pm

Nice analysis, BG. My wife wouldn’t RV and won’t stay in an average hotel room. $$$.

  I would imagine the RV, car and boat rental biz in FL is way up. You could pay for the Greyhound and your food with the rental income if you leave the toys in FL. I haven't heard our illustrious leaders come up with a lot of specifics on solving our energy crisis, but I trust the free market.   Sorry, my friends, but the price of gas is still way, way too cheap.   And being waited on at the gas station is worth every penney.
Oct 9, 2008 7:13 pm

[quote=BondGuy]Just filled homer the motorhome with diesel. $3.69/gallon. Regular was going for $2.91/gallon so after Homer drained my wallet I pulled to another island and used the change in the ashtray to fill the Jeep.

Gas being a dollar cheaper than six weeks ago, I felt a small victory in light of all the pain and suffering my energy stocks have caused me. At this rate, if gas doesn't get any cheaper, I only have to drive Homer 226,432 miles to get even. Well, that's only if I'm pulling the Jeep.[/quote]
And if the price of gas drops even more just think how much you will have lost as the value of the asset in your tank plunges in value.  Maybe you should cut your losses and sell the gas you have now, before you lose even more.  This is getting really painful.

I'm just saying.
Oct 9, 2008 10:06 pm

[quote=Morphius] [quote=BondGuy]Just filled homer the motorhome with diesel. $3.69/gallon. Regular was going for $2.91/gallon so after Homer drained my wallet I pulled to another island and used the change in the ashtray to fill the Jeep.

Gas being a dollar cheaper than six weeks ago, I felt a small victory in light of all the pain and suffering my energy stocks have caused me. At this rate, if gas doesn't get any cheaper, I only have to drive Homer 226,432 miles to get even. Well, that's only if I'm pulling the Jeep.[/quote]
And if the price of gas drops even more just think how much you will have lost as the value of the asset in your tank plunges in value.  Maybe you should cut your losses and sell the gas you have now, before you lose even more.  This is getting really painful.

I'm just saying.
[/quote]   For sale: 100 gallons of Diesel - Best offer   Yeah, agree these are not good times.
Oct 10, 2008 1:15 pm

Bond Guy …I 'll wait until after our Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend ( prices always spike before long weekends ) . Will submit bid by sealed envelope by closing date of 15/Oct/08 @ 5:00 P.M. EST.

Oct 10, 2008 2:52 pm

Norway, I will note your indication of interest however please be advised that the bidding process has not closed.

  Have a great holiday!
Oct 10, 2008 3:05 pm

Thanks BG. I do expect that the Bid Process with not be hamperd by any Political interference? USD / CDN  Dollars At Par.

  We will be enjoying the Great Weather , Turkey and Pumpkin Pie.
Oct 11, 2008 1:07 am

I’m sorry Morphius, but you need to post that in the thread in the other forum where ezmoney is trying to call the Dow and saying he’s moved into cash. That was just a brilliant observation.

Oct 11, 2008 3:41 pm

BG…broke my promise to get away. Just a quick break from raking and other outside jobs. My BID is Dollars At Par. After the .3 drop on Friday I wanted to make sure our deal and terms were agreed upon. Have a great weekend.

Oct 11, 2008 8:00 pm
Sorry, my friends, but the price of gas is still way, way too cheap.   And being waited on at the gas station is worth every penney.   I guess you aren't in California.   Gas regular = $3.95 a gallon and you pump your own.  No being waited on.  Diesel is over $4.50 a gallon.