Ignorance really can be bliss, but unfortunately what we don't know (or want to know) usually comes out at some point. The particular issue that I would prefer to be blissfully ignorant of recently is gas prices. However, my daughter feels compelled to drag me into reality, with me fighting it every second of the way.
It seems that once she returns from taking the car somewhere and puts in her token $5.00 worth of gas, she feels it necessary to give me a play-by-play of gas prices per station she passed while she was out. The scenario goes something like this:
Daughter: [speaking excitedly] Mom, are you ready for this?
Mom: [Knowing from experience what's coming next, speaking over daughter, in increasingly higher volume] DON'T TELL ME! I DON'T WANT TO KNOW!!
Daughter: No, mom, listen. You don't know what I'm going to say.
Mom: Yes, I do. I'm serious - DON'T TELL ME! I DON'T WANT TO KNOW!!
Daughter: [laughing while she speaks] No, Mom. Wait, listen. Gas prices are $4.10 a gallon. Its gone up 5 cents in just a day.
Mom: [speaking loudly over daughter, in obvious desperation] What part of this do you not understand? DON'T TELL ME! I DON'T WANT TO KNOW!!
Daughter: [continuing to laugh] Wait mom, there's more.
Mom: [speaking with total desperation now] I'm serious. DON'T TELL ME! I DON'T WANT TO KNOW!!
Daughter: [continuing to laugh, with great amusement at my reaction] The guy on the radio said its supposed to reach $5.00 a gallon by the end of May.
Mom: [speaking in a tone of total defeat] I told you I don't want to know. It doesn't matter. It will change by the time I get to the pump anyway and it won't change the fact that I will still need gas.
My daughter thinks this is amusing. Invariably this delightful conversation takes place upon her return from one of her night classes, when, instead of being able to relax and unwind, she has engaged the reality button and put me into full tilt, stress mode.
Like many professions out there, as a real estate agent there isn't much way to avoid the gas situation. Yes, we can purchase a hybrid car, but at some point you still need to visit the Bank of Gas and make a deposit. This has me wondering how other agents are handling the gas situation. I know I've made some changes in how I conduct my business, for example by trying to group my showing appointments close together, but it seems options are rather limited. Since most people perceive agents as being overpaid with high commissions, increasing them doesn't seem to be a viable option, but this is a significant cost for most busy agents, so I'm wondering how other agents are coping. I've discussed this with other agents I know, but thought I'd throw it out there to the AR family.
Have gas prices affected how you do business? If so, what changes have you made to try and reduce your gas usage?
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