When fuel got above 4.25 here in 2008 there was a noticeable increase in bicycles and, especially, scooters and motorcycles. And there was a noticeable decrease in automobile traffic. It was a great summer.

With the similar, though shorter-lived, spike last summer I didn't notice a repeat. A pity. But maybe that was due only to the fact that it went down to about 3.50 or so pretty quickly.

I root for the price of gas to go up. (though I don't say it very much. You'll make enemies that way.) I might say that I feel lucky to be able to feel this way. But luck has nothing to do with it. I've earned it and I'm proud of that.

My only worry is that high fuel prices will hurt the economy. My answer is that we should even subsidize the cost of commercial, and especially agricultural, fuel use if that's what it takes. The "other shoe", then, would be very high cost of fuel for personal use.

It wouldn't bother me one bit.

And my co-workers and neighbors and such are perfectly welcome to ask my advice on how to cope.