...it's gasoline or it's diesel but it's all about...

...the money...and how you want to spend it. With diesel at $4 and gas close behind, you really have to take a new look at what's real and what's not when it comes to economizing. Even in a little motorhomes with 4 or 6-cylinders like ours the cost of crossing the country and back is more expensive today than the same trip in a full size motorhome 2 years ago...eeek...and the equity line that supported your travel habit is challenged by the erosion of the actual value of your home. We still want to live our lives to the fullest, but wow...is this a new puzzle for the economy class traveler? Airstream trailers have to be pulled by a V-8, so that's out...we could buy a Sprinter/Mercedes van and convert it but we'll be out 32K before we even install a toilet...or we could sell our V-6 Winnebago Toyota and look for a Toyota MH 4-cylinder stick and stay away from the mountains. All worthy plans but not really that comfortable for me or anyone else who covets various sights (i.e. traveling)...and eating on occasion as well. I think the new frontier will be an inventive guy who installs mini-camper interiors that fits into a Toyota Previa: when I was in Hawaii last winter I saw an classified ad for a Previa that described it as a "stealth Hawaii camper"...you see, the authorities aren't big on mainland surfers who live off the land and camp by night and surf by day (the missing shift is the non-existent work thing) ...so they discourage Californians from shipping motorhomes over and just hang out...I know...I tried it...and it's even harder to camp than in coastal California. Anyway, I like the stealth camper thing for the obvious reason: streamlined...no friends stay over(usually)...economy plus...hard to spot when camping on the street...wait, wait...you could make it like stealth submarines and aircraft where all camper systems are hidden and shockingly quiet...and deflect radar but catch a great internet air-card signal...hidden but conversational at the same time. Well...it is a new idea, right? I'll sleep on that one and re-weigh it for merit in the morning on a triple cappuccino...