Reply #27: I also live in a very rural area, and commute everyday.

[MadHound]

But there are things that you can do to offset your fuel use. My personal favorite is my scooter
A Bajaj Chetak, it cruises at 55-60mph, it gets 100mpg. I use it everyday that it is above 25 degrees and dry on the roads. My next purchase, when my truck finally dies is to get a diesel pickup and run it on biodiesel that I make. Cheaper that regular diesel(about eighty cents/gallon) and much easier on the environment. It is quite easy to make your own biodiesel, and there are many books out there to help. As far as food goes, why not grow some of your own? Fresh veggies are tastier and better for you, and you won't be contributing to the cross country madness which is modern grocery store produce. Living in the country, you could also set up your own wind turbine and/or solar panels, which pay off in the long run.

There are many things that you can do to save on energy, even when you live in the country. Sure, the good ol' boys might look at you like you're crazy, but pretty soon they get used to you and start asking how they can join in.