In one way I'm doing great by having a vehicle that is never out of style, can get me to any remote location for venture, and has been paid for for years now. BUT, the damn thing gets 13mpg . . .
and only 10mpg while towing the beloved teardrop.
Yeah, it hurts like hell and it was senseless to spend the kind of money I just did on gas to go to California and back. Fortunately I enjoy cycling and am committed to a lifestyle of doing it. Cycling is obviously great for my health but it also allows me to be "car light" by commuting. Without it, the Jeep would be gone. With it, I can let the Jeep sit and just barely justify the cost of gas to tow the teardrop getting 10mph.
Even still, I am reducing my trips with the teardrop and perhaps supplement it with some bike touring. I've never done overnight bike touring before and it's something I think I would enjoy. High gas prices along with the entire state of the economy are pushing me to look at everything differently now, including "traditional" housing, which we've discussed on other threads.
Nothing wrong with living a new paradigm, even if it's forced out of necessity.
Scott