Community Forums

Gordon · 11-08-2007, 07:34 PM

LOL! We aught to start a "Crusty Ol Chief" convention! Last one to the CG brings the beer!

We are currently planning our next small trip. March I hope. Going to try to get reservations at 7 Feathers in southern Oregon and then over to Coos Bay, OR to drop in on my second oldest daughter (she's an MK1/E-6) at the Aids to Navigation Team there.

I have to plan my trips well in advance as we bid shifts and vacations every 6 months. Next bid is February.

We try to do early spring and September - when the kids all go back to school.

Paul. Don't feel bad about taking Warrant. Like Senior said - Once a Chief, always a Chief!

NeilV · 11-09-2007, 01:10 AM

The way I see it living is going to cost you. I just got back from a 2 week trip for my family of 4, that cost me $600 including the $300 for gas, with my motor home at 9 to 11 MPG averaging about 9.8. I could have taken a full sized van that loaded up with luggage gets 14 MPG and saved 20% on the fuel costs instead. But I would have spent roughly $160 a day eating out, hotel/motel rates every night that average out to be $60 a day more than the campgrounds. My $600 10 day trip could have cost me $2,200 for meals/lodging plus $240 for gas plus the $300 we spent for fun related activities bringing us to a grand total of $2,740 using "more economical" transportation.

Gas would have to go up much more than 20% or 30% to make up the $2,140 difference. If I took the trip today in the motor home with the higher gas prices it will cost about $45 more than it did a month ago. Can't even buy your wife a nice dress or a decent suit for that. Even a family outing for pizza will cost you more than $45.

We could have stayed home and saved the $300 for gas and the $60 for the few nights we stayed in campgrounds where I am not a member. We would still have had to eat, go out and buy groceries and pay for gas to run about town doing something local instead and possibly saved $100 or $200 dollars but it would not have been worth it.

We'll go out driving a bit slower and be a bit more frugal but the price of gas is not yet a show stopper.

Rick A · 11-09-2007, 04:02 AM

Well now, there seems to be an awful lot of Chiefs here. Guess I am just an indian as I was only a Petty Officer 3rd class in the reserves, but I enjoyed every minute of being in the COast Guard and a lot of times regret not enlisting full time.

My problem with fuel costs is not it affecting our travel plans so much as it affecting our daily budget in increased commute costs for work, and increased costs of everything else that is going up because or transportation costs. Even the airlines are now adding surcharges to ticket prices because of fuel costs. It is the big picture for me that is the problem, not just the weekend camping trips. If I can not afford to drive to work, then I surely can't justify an RV payment, especailly if I can't afford to use it.

skipwil · 11-09-2007, 11:20 AM

Good to hear from the USCG- seems we're well represented here in the rv'ing family as well as all around the world.
i guess a tank will cost $60-80 more by '08; but by the time you factor in the ++++'s(own bed-bath-food) not to
mention the freedom, i'm going to fl. after the holidays. i use PA for 1/2 price campground rates to cut expenses.
last year the savings paid for fuel one way from east tn. to fl. i agree it's the day to day living expenses that
keep rising that takes most of my extra income.
a safe journey wherever the road leads.
joe-
LEO-23 yrs and survived to retirement
USCGAUX 08ER- 12yrs.
stay the course

'04 GEORGETOWN 359TS
'00 SATURN SW2 pushing

Tom and Patty · 11-09-2007, 06:01 PM

I have tracked the cost of our trips from Fresno to St. Louis three times. The fuel cost for one way is as follows:
May 2005 $452.11 @ 8.0 mpg
Oct 2006 $573.86 @ 8.0 mpg
May 2007 $648.09 @ 8.0 mog

Today it would cost us $746.86 @ 8.5 mpg. The increase in mileage would be accomplished by slowing to 60 mph.

That is a 65% increase in the cost of a round trip today versus 2005.

I'm with the majority here, I'll cut back somewhere else to go RV'ing.

Rick, we hope you can find a way to continue Rv'ing.

Fuel today in Fresno is $3.68/gallon

bsavage · 11-09-2007, 07:36 PM

Rick, please don't "knee jerk" to the news. I'm a real estate broker for nearly 20 years, and here's what I've learned... don't sell in a bad market unless you absolutely must! Take shorter trips, have fun locally... but don't take a short sale when you don't have to. I wish you the best...

Brenda, of...

Toby · 11-12-2007, 12:03 PM

Well Coasties add me to the list (RM2/P1) Class of RM3/57 Groton Conn. (Bramble, Sagebrush. NMR,NMV, and CGSTA Miabch. Four years active and 4 stdby rsvs. Got out of the CG to go to school here in Tallahassee (FSU) in 1960. Shortly after, while still in standby rsvs, got orders to report to Dinner Key within 24 hours for the Cuban missle crisis upon notification thru the radio. Just knew I was going. Everyday, 24 hours a day trains were rumbling thru Tally town carrying guns, tanks and etc to S Florida. So told all my Frat brothers I would be leaving sone, but we know what happened, thank goodness. BTW, the GI college bill stopped in 1/55 (I went in in 7/56)and the GI bill started back in 09/64. Started college in 7/60 and finished in 9/64. Missed the entire GI BILL. A real bummer. Really regret that I did not stay in rsvs for the two week vacation duty each year so I could retire also from the CG. (Best food station, San Juan PR, NMR --worst Sagebrush (SanJuan))

Been going thru medical problems lately so have not had to contend with the gas prices, If I get thru this stuff, I wont worry about gas prices, can't take it with you s/Toby

CoastieSCPO · 11-12-2007, 12:23 PM

Well said Toby. You got to live life for today. Tomorrow will take care of itself. That's if we planned well enough!. Like I said early one, we're going anyway. Gas prices....well, today crude dropped because OPEC may increase production and the dollar rebounded a little. Who knows what drive market prices. Who cares! It's too darn complicated for this ole senior chief. Crude oil never was in my pay grade, unless of course it was the kind of crude that was spilled in the ocean, then we're talkin' business. All I do know is that yesterday I went out and checked pressure in the tires as I was getting ready for a tune-up run with the rig and low and behold, the left rear dual was flat! Checked it out and fortunately it was just the valve stem core on a valve extender. Replaced it! Yep, she's ready to go!
Bob

Old Snipe · 11-15-2007, 12:19 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">

Paul. Don't feel bad about taking Warrant. Like Senior said - Once a Chief, always a Chief! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'm proud of my Chief's anchors, which I've passed on to my son who is also an MK1 on the CGC HAWSER, acorns don't fall far from the trees, do they?

I don't feel bad about taking Warrant every time I look at my LES (pay stub). Got to earn enough to fill the tank, don't cha know!

Planning a winter vacation to Ft. Wilderness in January, taking the daughter and two little grandsons while their daddy is away serving in Afganistan. Glad to have my MH to be able to give them some good times to ease the pain of missing their favorite loved one.

Best Regards from the Old Snipe TAD in England. Who said we're shallow water sailors?

Gordon · 11-15-2007, 12:31 PM

Dang Paul! I can relate to that!

My daughter is an MK1 also. She's currently at ANT Coos Bay as EPO and expecting orders very soon. Don't know where yet.

I've saved my anchors for her and will be there when she makes Chief.

As to shallow water.............I spent 3 tours afloat (180 WMEC and two 210 WMECs) I've been in water over my head a number of times!!!

Of course, since Chiefs walk on water - who would know???

Stanbnv · 11-15-2007, 12:32 PM

Hi all you Coasties, Just wanted you to know that I was quite proud to make FTC in 1981, (for those that don't remember Firecontrol Technician used to be a rate), and also quite proud to make Warrent (Gunner) in 1985. As Old Snipe says, it sure helps to pay for diesel.
We are going to be in Yuma from 1 Dec to 1 March, and then plan on heading for Mexico for a couple of months starting around 25 March to miss the Easter crush down there. Semper Paratus, or as we used to say, Simply Forgotus.

Gordon · 11-15-2007, 12:40 PM

Hey Stan! Welcome to the unofficial Coastie thread! I had no idea that there were so many of us here! Great to see!

Old Snipe · 11-18-2007, 12:30 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">

My daughter is an MK1 also. She's currently at ANT Coos Bay as EPO and expecting orders very soon. Don't know where yet.

</div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Gordon,

This is funny, my son is expecting orders, too and has what I think is your daughter's billet as number one on his dream sheet!

I guess we'll be enjoying some RV trips to Oregon if he gets it!

Best Regards!

CoastieSCPO · 11-19-2007, 12:18 PM

Speaking of Oregon, my son-in-law is an O-3 presently stationed at HQ. He's a ring knocker but I don't hold that against him. Anyway, his last billet was as the XO on a cutter stationed on the left coast and made lots of trips up off the Oregon coast and drove inland once in a while. Said that it is some of the most beuatiful country to see in the USA. Guess we're going to take the rig out there one of these days.