good post.

It's not a stupid idea to hang on to a few jerrycans of fuel- snowstorm, hurricane, PM thunderstorm, massive disruption, whatever. Prudence is a whole lot different than over-the-top survivalism (or any ism). Its no different than keeping a couple jugs of H2O or cans of beans in the pantry.

To the hybrid ignorati I usually turn the cost argument on them by asking how long the payback is on the leather/DVD/navi/chrome package they got, and then reminding them that its all about personal priorities and choice. Even better if they have a FFV and don't even know it- then they're ignorant squared.

I've taken to answering people who ask all the following, basically same, questions the same way-

- Why do you drive a hybrid?
- Why do you use CFL lights?
- Why do you clean with vinegar/baking soda/simplegreen?
- Why do you buy organics?
- Why don't you fertilize like we do? And why that funny battery mower?

My answer-
- If it does the same job and one has the means/time, why NOT use a little less of anything where it makes sense? I'm an engineer- my paycheck depends on being able to do more and do it better with constrained resources, so its a nobrainer to me.
- How can it be bad to use dirt-cheap benign cleansers?
- How can it be bad to put fewer chemicals in your family's bodies, or send fewer down the stormdrain?
- How can it be bad to use less electricity or fuel yet suffer no loss of comfort?

It may only save a couple of % and take awhile to payback, but people go to great lengths to capture a couple % in their finances.

There may be no benefit in the end in some cases, or the worst-case scenario may not play out, but why not put some in the bank? Prudence is never silly.

Many measures surely are mostly token efforts, but I know I feel better making whole-grain waffles for my kids on Saturday morning and not scaring my daughter with the loud gas mower. And I yell less about keeping the light on accidentally when its 13W instead of 60W.

There is often some price differential, but everyone has a threshold where its worth it. I tell them to do what they can, when they can. We piss away $5/day on venti lattes- maybe get a smaller one and put the difference towards those organic apples or 6pack of CFLs?

And in the meantime, there are no discernable differences in my suburban home.