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| I generally pay closer to $3.99 a gallon. |
I drive a car that is a diesel. I do this because on one tank of gas, a well selected diesel vehicle can offer a driving range of 800 miles or better. (That's 1,287 and a bit, in kilometers) In part I bought this because in an evacuation with a full tank you can travel almost 800 miles before a refill is necessary, and also because on a farm in nowhere many of our trips are with one or two people to pick up one item or to take someone somewhere. Not every trip requires a truck, and so this offers a cheaper by mile option than taking the truck. The mileage per gallon is also superb.
Of course, getting diesel fuel can occasionally be a little more challenging than getting gasoline. In New Jersey where fuels are pumped for you, I had difficulty finding an open diesel station on my route to Canada late one night, and we wound up staying in a hotel until morning when the diesel station reopened. In Nova Scotia one also needs to be more mindful of where you will need to refuel, and fuel-up in advance. The other consideration to owning a diesel car is that one must also have a diesel mechanic if you choose not to use the dealer for routine maintenance and repairs. Here at home, I use several stations which I rotate for diesel refills depending upon where I am. I also keep a mental note of where the diesel equipped stations are, as some stations don't provide diesel fuel at all. Once in a great while, a truck pulls in and asks me to move because he needs the diesel pump. By then, I am pumping diesel into my car, and they feel foolish and apologize and wait their turn.
This week I was in a small city we visit on occasion, and I pulled in to buy diesel for the week. Since there were smaller trucks ahead of me, I waited about ten minutes for one of the two diesel pumps to be free. Then I pulled in and pressed the button that released the fuel door so I could pump fuel. This time, I intended to pay cash rather than use a credit card, so I got out to pay inside. At that moment, a very large RV towing a small car pulled up. beside me. A woman in her forties climbed out and said, "You'll need to move. You're blocking the diesel pump". I said to her "It's a diesel car. As soon as I've paid and pumped, you're welcome to it." She apparently didn't listen or process what I had said. "No," she said, "You need to move. We need that pump". At that point, she made me angry. How dare she wave her hand dismissively and tell someone else to move, so she could use the pump I was using. I said to her in my and clearest and coldest tone, "I'll say it again. When I finish pumping diesel then you may use it. I have a diesel car, and I have waited to use this pump. You might want to look at the car. " ( My car plainly says, "diesel" on the back.) With that, they started up, and left the gas station, not noticing that someone else was driving away from the other diesel pump on the other end of the station. I quickly paid, filled my car, and headed back on the road.
I can go years without having negative interactions with people in the world. Just lately though, my daughter had a man in Lexus try to insist that he fuel before her, even though she was first. When she refused, he started yelling and told her she should respect her elders, She is armed 24/7 and told him to back off or he could explain his rant to a deputy sheriff. One of my sons had a negative interaction with a woman in Wal-Mart who fought with him over a parking place. Again, she was in back of him, and thought that a white young man should relinquish it to her.
As our country begins to slip, the middle class reduces to a memory, and the pressures on many people increase, we are likely to see more fights in parking lots, bullying in stores, and problems such as these. People sometimes want to fight with someone, anyone, and they will create circumstances where this is possible. I really shouldn't have gotten angry. The woman probably wasn't bright enough to know that cars, not just trucks and RVs are powered by diesel fuel. Of course, each case is different. Sometimes we need to stick up for ourselves or hold our ground, and other times, backing off is the most intelligent, and I can do that too. Be careful out there. I don't think it's getting better.
