And So the Gas Goes...

I stared at my car’s gas meter, the needle hovering in the last quarter ready to engage the “low gas” light at any moment. The closest Exxon-Mobil had regular gas at $4.09 a gallon, but I had seen gas as low as $3.99 in some parts of Miami, just not in Coral Gables where I was.

After my Blackjack PDA’s Internet failed me while browsing websites for cheap gas in the area, I took matters into my own hands, driving along US-1 hoping for a deal. The possibility of saving five to seven cents at the pump overcame my thought of wasting additional gas. After passing three stations in a span of a couple miles, I was forced to turn around as the “cheap stuff” was at the original Exxon-Mobil.

A recent graduate of the University of Miami paying some bills with freelance film and video work, I, like many Americans, have become “fuel efficient”. The metrorail and metromover have quickly become my preferred method of transportation for frequent trips from South Miami to Brickell and downtown and Omni areas.

What was once solely used for trips to the Orange Bowl during my days as a UM undergraduate now is an economic solution for not only myself but also several friends; not to mention a perfect way to avoid Miami rush hour.

With constant talk of paying around $80 at the pump, I realized I was not alone with my gas conscious obsession. Friends working in the Brickell and downtown areas have opted for the metrorail in place of their fuel unfriendly cars.

Suddenly, I was envious of my friend’s Toyota Prius, and it seems my generation is as well. The June 29th New York Times article, “As Gas Prices Rise, Teenagers’ Cruising Declines,” detailed a growing trend for both high school and college-aged drivers to find new commuting solutions and to make smarter decisions when it comes to everyday activities.

This nationwide concern has trickled down to the generally apathetic, young-adult generation who now appear to be taking a proactive stance. Whether parents are forcing their children to be gas conscious or the teens and twenty-somethings are maturing, the gas crisis is hitting the pockets of all Americans.

This consciousness is becoming an obsession, hopefully a good obsession. With movie ticket prices around $10, a Friday night at the movies is better spent at home exploiting your Netflix subscription.

Eating out has lost its appeal as well. Eating on a limited budget, spending an average of $20 for a decent meal, plus the gas it takes to get to the restaurant, does not help keep money in your pocket. My roommates and I now opt for the healthier and more financially conservative option of cooking at home.

And so it has come down to cutting back on some of the luxuries the young adults of my generation have grown accustomed to and settling for less costly options. If there was something besides turning 30 that could crush the “I just wanna party” attitude of young adults, it would be a downturn in the economy fueled by the rising oil prices.

My day ends a little easier knowing that I share a similar economic sentiment with my peers as well as my elders. My generation is transitioning into working-class adulthood. The realities we only thought our parents faced now become our problems. With both young adults and the older generations becoming greener and more financially frugal, perhaps change is on the horizon.