News-Record.com

Last year, I paid for a cruise along the Mexican Riviera, before this latest surge in prices. When I head off on that trip in a little while, I'm going to enjoy the fruits of my foresight.

But after that, most all of my vacationing will be done in-state. Which isn't such a bad thing, actually. I'm looking forward to seeing the Outer Banks soon, for the first time in nearly 20 years. And there are parts of the Blue Ridge Parkway that I haven't been to in over a decade. So it's about time I had a good reason to stay around.

Forcing? I don't feel "forced" but do think it's prudent to make more sensible travel choices. We've always traveled near-to-home (mountains, Outer Banks, SC, VA) so it's not a huge shift for our family.

Until we as a country start making smarter travel choices and accept that high gas prices are here to stay, we can't really complain.

The use of "forcing" in the original post is just Mr. Johnson's and the N&R's way of trying to make one feel that we are destined for more "doom and gloom." Anything upbeat is to be avoided at all cost. After all, the election of enlightened liberal government is at least some months away.

Very subtle, Mr. Johnson. 'Bout as subtle as a kilo of cocaine on the coffee table.

Forcing, no; prompting, yes. But then Romans 8:28 always functions as "a teaspoon of suger" for the medicines of life. Right?

(Would love to see the price go DOWN, though.)

I found interesting the idea of expensive gas forcing us into trips of lesser duration. At 25 mpg and $4.00/gal, it costs $16.00 to go 100 miles.

That means a day trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway will be around 50 bucks just to see some scenery and go back home. Wouldn't it make more sense to invest the gasoline money to get somewhere you would spend several days?

This price of gasoline will cost $200 for a round trip to Disney world. With the price of admission, food, and lodging, this doesn't strike me as a deal killer.