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218 comments on DrumBeat: December 14, 2006

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Leanan on December 14, 2006 - 11:58am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
That's about where I stand.  There are some things that are obviously good things to do, like reduce expenditures/debt, buy PCF bulbs, live close to where you work, get a bike, etc.  But for the rest...I'm mostly just trying to keep my options open.  

I do find that peak oil has sort of infused my life in fairly subtle ways.  I've written about how I decided I did need a car, though I seriously weighed just getting an electric bike.  But I chose a small, reliable car, that I expect to drive until I retire or until the end of the age of oil, whichever comes first.  

I used to be a real technophile; if not for peak oil considerations, I'd probably be thinking about buying a plasma TV or some such thing.  Now, it's not even on my radar.

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GliderGuider on December 14, 2006 - 12:18pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
I've had the same reaction to the techno stuff, with one exception.  I'm a major addict of tube-driven uber-high-end stereo.  While that has hampered my financial ability to prepare in other areas, when I sit down and listen to some majestic-sounding Bach, Beethoven or Taj Mahal it does much to soothe away the cares built up by reading this board :-)
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sgage on December 14, 2006 - 2:39pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
"some majestic-sounding Bach, Beethoven or Taj Mahal"

Just a fantastic juxtaposition - I love it!

- sgage

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dbarberic on December 14, 2006 - 12:33pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
Get the Sony 40" LCD.  It is Energy Star rated.
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Will on December 14, 2006 - 12:43pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
Whether you package it flat, thin, or energy star'd... it still represents the same conundrum: more stuff .

 

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Leanan on December 14, 2006 - 12:52pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
Exactly.  

I used to think I needed a larger home.  Now I realize I don't.  I need less stuff.

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Dragonfly41 on December 14, 2006 - 4:50pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
Same here...my wife and I thought about getting a larger house when we had our second child in 2002.  By that time, I had started researching Peak Oil pretty heavy and we decided to stay in our 1800 sq. ft. house, fix it up to be efficient, refinance the mortgage to 4.15%, cut the mortgage to a 15 yr instead of 30 yr., buy some decent bikes, buy a Prius, I realigned my 401K to a different strategy (heavier in developed international, midcap value), bought a little gold/silver, connected with a KC Peak group, and developed more friends of like-mind.

I have also bought efficient light bulbs, canvas grocery bags, have my "emergency" kit stashed away with about two weeks of food/drink supplies, books on gardening, camping, and survival.  Next year we are going to research permits and installations for solar panels on the house.

Lastly, we have a couple of friends with land out of town about 30 miles that are willing to put us up if need be for short term duration.  They have cows, chickens, pigs and stream close by.

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Byron Walter on December 14, 2006 - 3:12pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
Plasma TV's aren't really quite as power-hungry as some folks think. For example a 50 inch set might be rated at 480 watts but that's its peak draw. it might typically be crusing at half that. They generally do about as well as an LCD set of equivalent size. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I have a fifty incher and a house full of high-efficency light bulbs. My electric bill rarely exceeds 25 bucks a month... and that's with an old 'fridge.

Okay... I do walk around in the dark more than most...

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218 comments on DrumBeat: December 14, 2006

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