Our carbon footprint

Today I brought a hybrid.  It's not new, it's a 2003,

but it's mine and it gets 47 mpg.

I traded in my SUV, a Toyota Highlander.  It wasn't easy.

I had to put down hard earned cash as the value of my SUV

has plummeted while the value of hybrids are up.

With three children and a large dog it as hard to give up

the space offered by our Highlander with the third row seat.

But I did it, really, we did it.  This was a carefully thought out decision

after much research and discussion with my husband, who also happens to be

one of Al Gore's Climate Project presenters.  He also owns the exact same

Honda Civic Hybrid.  Our carbon footprint did come up more than once in the discussion.

To tempt us more was the current market value.   We learned that hybrids are selling

above value; and to our distress, some dealers won't even take SUV trade ins.

The market is just dry for large, gas-guzzling cars and trucks.  Go figure!

There was more justification.  My Highlander averaged 19 city/24 highway.

Based on $4 a gallon gas, it's a savings of $2000 per year in gas.

Basically, we break even in 2 1/2 years.  The rest is gravy.

I feel good about the decision.  Europe has had smaller, more efficient cars

for a while now.  It is time for America to follow suit.

While no one wants high gas prices, it has forced us

to reexamine our ways, our choices, and buckle down.

Now we lovingly gaze at our his and hers hybrids in our driveway.

Will the children complain a little about the 

cramped space on a long trip?  Sure

Will it now be impossible to haul large items?

Yep.

Will I feel good commuting in Northern  Virginia

in a hybrid that gets 47 mpg?

You bet.