Fuel prices are high, no doubt about it. But, having been thru two different sessions of NO fuel (or very little), meaning gas lines, gas rationing, odd and even fuel days, working graveyard shift, going to court all day, then sitting in gas lines for hours every other day, just to get enough fuel to make it back and forth to work for a couple more days, I am not all that stressed out now. Sure fuel is expensive, sure I am retired and the state of CA doesn't give out COLA raises very often (I just got my whopping $20 raise, first in two years), sure my ex gets 44% of my retirement, but at least I ain't sitting in those damned gas lines...