Fun Friday: Are You Willing to Commute?
May 23, 2008 by Darlene McDaniel
Filed under Jobs
Fun Friday is a creative idea we have added to the Business Channel community of bloggers. We will pick a theme, topic, or picture and most of the bloggers will write about it on Friday. This week, our topic is: Gas Prices.
Gas prices are absolutely too high. I actually can close my eyes and remember paying 78 cents per gallon back in 2001. And now we are at $4.00 per gallon at some gas stations in Maryland. Last night, I was working late and I stopped to put gas in my tank and actually drove away from that station when I saw the Regular Unleaded price at $4.00 per gallon. I saw it with my own eyes. I drove away. I was shocked at both my reaction and the price of the gas.
So given the gas prices, how far are you willing to travel for work, for an interview? My commute is one hour and 15 minutes one way. Are you willing to commute day in and day out with the price of gas? In less than one year, my gas expense has increased from $40 per week to fill my tank to $70. That is a huge jump. I remember being angry when the prices were pushing upwards to $2.00 per gallon. If only I could find a gas station that offers $2.00 per gallon today.
If I knew what I know today, I may have thought a little differently about taking the job I have at the University. I love the job, but the commute hurts my heart every time I think about putting gas in my tank. I am like a hawk looking for the lowest gas prices. I found a new gas station around the corner from the University of Maryland that charges $3.68 per gallon, but the catch, you have to pay cash. No credit or debit cards. No problem. I go to the ATM before stopping there.
You know I have no words of wisdom for those of you who don’t want to commute to a new job. I understand. I am a firm believer in going where the work is. So at a minimum I would recommend that you count the cost when making a decision about how far you will travel for work, or for an interview. If the trend continues and gas prices continue to rise, consider other forms of transportation to get yourself to an interview or to work. The train works, the bus, carpooling, or you can be like me, bite the bullet, pray and fill the tank!
Once the American public get over the thrill of exceeding the speed limits by a huge amounts and stop acting like pubescent children on the freeways they will have matured enough to realize that part of the job is the drive to get there, and if they do it at a realistic speed in realistic cars they can still make a profit at the end of the day. We need turbo biodiesel hybrid electric plugin cars now! But even VW won’t build them because the auto industry knows our childish ways and the minute someone passes us in one of these things we will go out and mortgage our daughters virginity if need be to buy a faster, more stylish ride! If we are lucky we will grow up before the banks break.
Hi Uncle B! Thank you for visiting Interview Chatter today. Very interesting comment. You make an interesting point about driving to get there. It has definitely been worth my drive to work at the UM. I probably should watch my exceeding the speed limit by huge amounts. Maybe it will help me save on the large gas bill I have acquired given the price increase.