Conservation and Luxury

Today was the first time I ever paid more than three dollars a gallon for gas in Smallville ($3.09 per gallon to be specific). I suspect prices will rise another thirty to fifty cents over the heavily traveled Labor Day weekend. Naturally, as I passed other gas stations on my way to work this morning, I saw one selling regular unleaded for $2.94 a gallon, a bargain rate by comparison.

I have plans to visit Yosemite this holiday weekend. It will be the first of two journeys to the park this month. I know the government has asked people to conserve fuel, but I rationalize my usage by saying the tank I'm filling is the tank I saved by taking public transit to work. Of course, this only helps to alleviate part of the guilt, but doesn't change the fact that I'm negating any good I've done. If I'm going to allow myself to drive such distances, I need to conserve even more.

I also realize this weekend's escape is a luxury. The money spent on gas and lodging could have been additional money donated to the Katrina disaster relief. As it is, I don't know how much good the money I've already donated will do. How will the Red Cross truly spend it? Will they really use it to buy medicine, ice, water and food? If so, how soon will the survivors receive those items?

Of course, if the gas prices in California suffer the same fate as the prices in Georgia and North Carolina, then this type of weekend excursion may soon be unfeasible. If that's the case, then I had better savor the time I spend in the valleys and meadows of the park. The more expensive everything gets, the more precious the experiences become.