Make the distance: the breakdown of road tripping

I left for L.A last week took Thursday off from work and couldn't wait to get the heck out of dodge. My dad loaded up the family van Wednesday night and we drove down to Clovis and stayed the night at a family friends. in the morning Dad drove another four hours to L.A.  We managed to check into the Marriott Hotel and had a great afternoon at the beach. This Easter weekend was awesome, much needed reprieve/break and let's just say moxie fell asleep on the beach after frolicking and became lobster red without even knowing it! Hopefully that will turn into a tan! As we drove the full 7 1/2 hours home, we stopped for gas and my heart briefly stopped when I saw Dad's price for the van. $100.00 dollars for a full tank! Imagine if he had a truck, that'd be even more. I considered the price a person pays to take a trip for a weekend against flying down there roundtrip would cost more depending on when you bought it, or who with. However, I myself have wanted to visit people, Oregon, Boston, Texas, Washington, Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, etc all friends who live there, but haven't found the effort and the organization to do so. Here's the problem. We all say we will go visit one another after college or make the time to see a person's family or new place, but it all adds up. Gas prices aren't cheap and neither is going out to eat. if I calculated how much we spent this weekend being spoiled probably close to if not more than one of my paychecks at work. I know it sounds like I am complaining, but if you have a full time job, and make it a priority to see your own family, you will know what I mean. It really stinks when you do miss those people, but you also feel like you went to see them and the timing wasn't right or they weren't there at all. This goes hand in hand with trying to make friendships work when you don't live even in the same state anymore. Go the distance, sure, just make sure it's worth it. I am probably super rude when I say this, but I would rather spend my money checking off my bucket list, or buying groceries, or needed items, and gas to help out a sick friend or something tangible than drive super far to see someone who maybe can't see me either. Road trips are fun when they are spontaneous or planned and when you know between you and your passengers the cost will be feasible to your expenses, your time, and your effort to go on it. For example, I went to Apple Hill for the first time with my friend and that was a worthy expenditure to me, because it wasn't super far and I wasn't traveling alone. A little insight, I hate driving somewhere way outside the timeframe of two hours. Why? I get sleepy, and I also don't drive well to begin with, as most of you know.  After my accident in February I'm scared to make longer distances without being accompanied by a buddy. I really learned a tough lesson, and I wouldn't want to trust a soul for a lengthy time of my driving skills! If you make the distance I recommend splitting gas, buying food, and mapping out your plans. Just because someone wants you to be there doesn't mean you can pick up all your stuff and go unless it's urgent. I know because I've been asked and I feel horrible as a friend, because a couple states away isn't the best place to be in when your friend misses you just as much as you miss them. Consider what will happen if the trip happens, and will you be satisfied with the trip you made; there's still time to go, just don't want too long.