November 10, 2005

StreetTalk

by Carol Rosen

Have you changed your Thanksgiving plans since gas prices have begun dropping?
(Asked at Almaden Oaks Plaza)


“Not really; we’re not going anywhere. Everyone is coming to my house because I have the biggest turkey.”

Robert Ledford, 62
Almaden
Retired


“We’re going to fly to Las Vegas, but we do drive a lot. Our plans haven’t changed. But we [my husband and I] are from Europe and we find that we have to drive almost everywhere. I wish there were more possibilities so we didn’t have to drive so much. Driving is bad for the environment but out here we have no alternatives. If you don’t drive, you’re stuck in your house, there are no other options.”

Peri Wilkinson, 44
Almaden
Homemaker


“We aren’t changing plans. We’re staying home, but we may go to see friends.”

Steve Herrold, 69
Almaden
Retired


“We bought a Prius and traded in our gas guzzlers. We will drive to San Francisco to be with my family.”

Lisa Tilmant, 41
Almaden
Homemaker


“Actually, we’re not going anywhere because we are moving out of the area. We’re moving in early December to North Carolina. We’re getting out of the area because it’s too expensive, especially with gas added it to. My entire family is going, my brother, sister-in-law, her ex-husband and all the kids. It’s a mass exodus!”

Bruce Sandefur, 41
San Jose
Rite Aid store manager


“The price of gas hasn’t changed any of our plans. We are flying to Southern California and had planned on flying. It’s a one-hour flight, but an eight hour drive.”

Pat Briggs, 58
Almaden
Registered nurse


“Even though the price of gas has dropped, we’re still being pretty conservative with it. Our family is coming to us.”

Mary Abrahams, 50ish
Almaden
Homemaker


“We’re going to San Luis Obispo to our daughter’s house. We would have gone anyway, no matter what the prices of gas was, although we are glad the prices are dropping. We drive a lot, up to Eureka, to Los Angeles and to San Luis. But with a couple of ecologists in the family, we are trying to walk more. We now walk to the post office, the library and grocery stores. I even walk to my volunteer job at the Unicorn.”

Sandra Mueller, 66
Almaden
Volunteer and grandmother