Aptly Named

 Last month I posted (in our old blog 5thWheelWanderings.blogspot.com) that we had sold our Airstream travel trailer and for the first time since 1989 or 1990, we no longer own an RV.  Hence this new blog, OurNewChoice.blogspot.com.

As everyone knows, inflation is rampant and fuel prices are through the roof.  Because those prices are increasing daily, John fills our tank frequently.  Earlier this week, he put in 9.4 gallons of diesel for $50.43 .  We had driven 102.4 miles since the last fill-up.  That means we paid just over 49 cents per mile and averaged10.96 miles per gallon.  And we weren't towing an RV!

For several years when we were traveling extensively, I kept a record of how many miles we drove each year and how many miles we were towing an RV.  In 2017 we drove 10,666 miles, towing 4004 of those miles.  In 2018 we drove a total of 16,843 miles, 7,823 towing, 9020 towing.  Our miles per gallon rate is always lower when we are towing a trailer.  At today's prices, in 2018 we would have spent somewhere over $8200.    Since we spent about $6000 a year on RV lodging when we were traveling in the trailer, that would have been really expensive when we include both RV spaces and fuel. 

In the fall, we will be driving about 800 miles from our apartment in Lone Tree to our house in Gold Canyon, Arizona.  Today, that trip would cost $392 for fuel, plus one or two nights in a motel and meals.  

We again tell ourselves, our new choice to end our RV lifestyle was and is a good choice.  We miss the many joys and exciting  adventures of our years RVing.  But the current economic conditions help us see the wisdom of a lifestyle change now.