Teetering on the Peakocalypse

Today I got gas for the first time in almost two weeks.  The cost was somewhat of a surprise and more than a bit appalling.  I'd heard a sound bite somewhere about the current price, but I'd forgotten.   I don't think it's quite real until you actually experience it, and I also believe that it isn't as shocking if you put gas in your vehicle on a more regular basis.  You can get used to incremental increases, even if you don't like them.

It put me in mind of my reaction earlier this morning when I'd learned about the renewal of dormant oil leases on the California coast between Oxnard and San Luis Obispo.  I still consider that home, so naturally I sided with the Coastal Commission that wants to put brakes on the Feds. 

It's bad enough that last June the Governor of California said he favored  a liquefied natural gas facility off the coast of Oxnard.  There is hair-raising danger in that concept, as documented so ably by an Oxnard attorney on his website.  The city of Malibu is none too happy about the potential of being close to the site, and they've raised concerns regarding false statements on documentation supporting it.

I doubt if Governor Arnold is giving much thought to these matters today, he has other problems to deal with. 

Nevertheless, I found myself tempted to toss away principal when confronted by economic hardship.

I drive a car, mind you, not something made to go over bumpy hill and vale yet always has asphalt beneath its tires and encounters nary a branch in the brush to scratch its pretty paint job.  But it is still a V6, and I admit it's a nice model.  I drive too much long distance not to want to be comfortable.  And as tempting as I find it to get a hybrid, well, when you try to be virtuous they'll still find a way to screw you.

As much as we'd all like to be good in actuality it may be beyond most of us.