Family reunions. This is the time of year for get-togethers, and my family just had ours in North Dakota. Yep, you betcha, North Dakota – the motherland of the mid-west. It was a miraculous, magical, fun, eventful and engaging time!  

Below is a quick bullet of the families that came and their round trip mileage:

Sacramento, CA to Dickinson, ND ………..3,210 miles

Seattle, WA to Dickinson, ND……………2,074 miles x 3 trips

Chicago, IL to Dickinson, ND……………..1,946 miles x 2 trips

Colorado Springs, CO to Dickinson, ND…...1,362 miles

Fayetteville, AR to Dickinson. ND…………..2,236 miles

Highmore, SD to Dickinson, ND……………642 miles

Pittsburgh, PA to Dickinson. ND…………....2,798 miles

Kalamazoo, MI to Dickinson, ND…………..2,150 miles

Killdeer, ND to Dickinson, ND …………….34 miles x 62 trips

That, and more, totaled our family reunion – the getting there, the in-between, and the going home. Over 25,600 miles and $5,255 in gasoline costs. It took something for the entire family to be there; and I am grateful that all could afford the trip as so many families are cutting back or creating new-close-to-home family vacations this year due to such high gas prices. Throw in the lodging, meals, entertainment – ok, we didn’t have to pay for entertainment as going to The Farm had no entry fee whatsoever. Who cares that my grandparents sold their farmland 30 years ago and they themselves “transitioned” in 1986? We all showed up and pulled into that scoria covered driveway and walked through many of the old 160 acre homestead, just as we had when we were kids. Possession is 9/10’s of the law indeed. (Show up, and if the current owners raise a ruckas, why, a girl just simply asks for forgiveness.)  

Here is to cursing gas prices teetering at $4 a gallon. On the other hand, here is to the gas which propels the vehicles in getting the entire family together again for a great time of love and laughter!

Be in the Driver’s seat,

Anne

It’s a little ironic; that sales of new truck and larger SUV are tanking quicker than the dollar against the euro. And, what is it attributed to? Not the fact that these vehicles are oversized and don’t really match our need. Not the fact that the greenhouse gases of these huge vehicles has had an extraordinary negative aggregate effect on our world and our children’s future. Not the fact that the truck or SUV owner pays over $30,000 - $40,000, leaving their monthly car allowance to be a huge percentage of their take home pay.

No, the truck and larger SUV market is taking a quick hit because gasoline prices are now at and above the $4.00 threshold. We have no emotional meltdown around buying an oversized car, our speedsters having such an impact of the environment, or costing us over $450 a month! No, it’s gasoline at $4.00 a gallon that sends us over the edge.

Ironic, don’t you think?

However/whatever the reason, at least our thresholds have been shaken. Now, at last, we are looking at vehicles that are smart and efficient for our actual transportation needs. Bring on the electric cards and the hybrids. And, the automobile industry working in a new realm around creating real gas efficiency. It’s a new playing field indeed.

 

Check out the latest in new SUV hybrid updates on fuel efficiency, style and speeds in Jim Gorzelany’s thorough and great read on www.forbesautos.com <http://www.forbesautos.com/advice/toptens/fastest-hybrids-2008-story.html> 

Be in the Driver’s Seat,

Anne

I have had several industry and non-industry folks asking me what is the origin of www.women-drivers.com. Here is the short of it:  

A few years ago I decided to buy a new car. While having numerous positions where I managed millions of dollars and traveled the world for my employers, I found that buying a car was something I was resisting and didn't really want to do. The truth is, I wanted the car, but didn't want the "process" that goes with it. I decided to hire a negotiator.

While women are responsible for buying and influencing 80% of all new car purchases - at the same time - over 90% of all salespeople are men. This Venus- Mars communication gap showed up for me as "real" and I wanted no part of it. I located the perfect negotiator who went to the dealership with me and I got the deal I wanted. It occurred to me that while I was a powerful and effective negotiator on behalf of my employer, I wasn't comfortable negotiating for ME. Women are typically not accustomed or comfortable with negotiating in our culture and country. And, on occasion, we make the dealerships wrong for our own lack or interest in the dance of negotiating.

Women-Drivers.com was created as a powerful resource to provide tools and tips on how to negotiate, save money, locate women-friendly dealers and revolutionize the dealership experience for women. Be in the driver’s seat by doing business with dealers who already have a great relationship with women. 

Be in the Driver’s Seat,

Anne