10 Reasons to Be Happy About High Gas Prices

The other day we paid more than $4.50 for a gallon of gasoline. I never imagined I could find anything good about these high gas prices, but then it hit me. I realized there was an upside to hikes, and if I tried, I could find more than one reason to view today's gas prices as a positive thing. It is that old glass half empty or half full thing.

So here it is: ten reasons to be happy over higher gas prices.

1. I hate pumping gas. It probably has something to do with the fact that when I was a teenager I worked at my parent's marina and had to spend hot summer days pumping gas into boats and vehicles. With these higher gas prices, I realized it hardly takes any time at all to pump $20 of gas into my vehicle. What a time saver, it used to take me three times as long to pump $20 of gas.

2. I'm not crazy about people just "dropping in". I don't mean to be inhospitable, but unexpected visitors always seem to arrive when my hair needs to be washed, I'm wearing unflattering and moth ridden clothing, and in the middle of cleaning my walk-in closet, after hauling its entire contents into the middle of the living room floor. Now, with the high price of gas, people tend to call first, to make sure you're home.

3. I don't want to spend money on a physical trainer, but I need one to stay motivated. With high gas prices, you naturally tend to walk more. For example, our bank is located down the street from our office. I used to drive to the bank during work hours, but no more. Now I walk. With all this walking, who needs to pay a trainer to keep you on track?

4. I hate going to Weight Watcher Meetings. It is embarrassing standing on that scale. Now with the high price of gas, I have a great excuse to miss the meetings. And since I can no longer afford to buy junk food, who needs Weight Watchers?

5. A great time go buy a motor home. My husband and I have been dreaming of buying a motor home. I bet we can get an amazing deal on one now.

6. No reason to budget. I hate making and staying on budgets. With the current price of gas, there is no money left to budget. So one less depressing task I need to do!

7. Gets those Hummers off the road. I really hated the way people with money were showing off their brand new Hummers. Every successful Yuppie had to have one. Now they can't get rid of them fast enough. Ha! Shows them!!

8. Takes the focus off the war. Now the news is all about gas prices. We no longer have to think about the war, and all our young people in harms way.

9. Gets people thinking. Nothing like a major gas price hike to get the country's creative juices going. Discovering new energy sources and finding ways to stick it to the gas companies is becoming a national obsession. An improvement over our obsession with Paris Hilton.

10, Number ten.....what is the tenth reason for being happy with higher gas prices? Sorry, can't find one. There is just so much optimism one can muster.