Given the choice between having a car and having a vacation, what would you choose?
According to a recent automotive survey by Canadian Tire, more than a quarter of B.C. residents would rather give up vacation than give up driving despite the rising gas prices.
The study also shows that one of the ways B.C. residents are offsetting the cost of driving is by taking on a do-it-yourself mechanic's role to save on car-related costs, and Squamish residents are no different.
"I'm definitely learning a lot more about how to take care of my own vehicle - changing the oil, changing my tires and topping up fluids," said local Shawn Trudel, adding that making sure to maintain tire pressure also helps save on gas.
"If it saves you that extra $50, that's $50 you can put towards gas."
Trudel said the rising gas prices are hitting Squamish residents where it really hurts - the pocketbook.
"In my financial bracket, which I think is very common in Squamish, you always have to be aware of how much you're driving - but especially now," he said.
"Like anywhere in the world, if you're making money, you don't think about it but I think about it, people like me think about it."
He said in towns like Squamish, driving your car is often a necessity for life and work.
"If you look at the typical North American small town with average to poor public transportation, you're often dependant on a vehicle for your job and just to get around town for groceries and things like that," he said.
"For example, if you live in Garibaldi Highlands, you need a vehicle to get groceries or you'll end up eating a lot of lunches at Quest University."
Garibaldi Highlands resident Bruce Leenstra works in Vancouver and said he needs his vehicle to get to work.
"The thing with vehicles is we need them," he said. "Especially living here and working in North Van, I need my vehicle. What else do you do?"
However, he said his driving habits in Squamish have changed over the past six months.
"My wife and I carpool a lot more, even if it's inconvenient, and we've been doing a bit more fixing and repairs on our own."
The survey, conducted by Canadian Tire and Vision Critical and including more than 1,000 Canadians, shows that 59 per cent of B.C. drivers plan to roll up their sleeves this spring to take on some automotive maintenance tasks - such as changing their own tires or changing air filters, services they might otherwise have paid for.
Cleaning the car is the top do-it-yourself job B.C. drivers will take on this summer as 94 per cent don't think it's worth having it professionally done. Seventy-six per cent of B.C. drivers think they could take on monitoring and topping up their vehicle's fluids and 34 per cent of B.C. drivers would attempt to change their own tires.
B.C. drivers resolve to take on do-it-yourself jobs was stronger than the Canadian average, according to Canadian Tire Automotive communications manager David Gollum.
"B.C. was unique - B.C. actually scored above the national average in almost every area when it comes to their willingness to take on automotive tasks themselves," Gollom said.
"It looks like B.C. drivers are really looking to save money where they can and roll up their sleeves to do it."
However, they were much less willing to choose their cars over vacation time.
"Thirty-six per cent of Canadians on average revealed that they would rather give up vacation time than give up driving," he said.
"But interestingly, only 26 per cent of B.C. residents would be willing to give up their vacation rather than driving, so I think that's very telling - they're willing to do some things but they will draw the line somewhere."
Local Dave Samsqanch said there are varying levels of sacrifice.
"I wouldn't not take a road trip, but I would make sure to take a car instead of a truck," he said.
Some residents have made more life-changing moves because of the rising fuel costs.
Dan O'Connell lives in Squamish and his wife works in Squamish. He used to commute to Vancouver every day. Four months ago they decided the commute wasn't worth it.
"I used to work in Vancouver and I found a job here because of the time that it takes and the amount of money it was costing in gas," he said, adding that the decision is saving them $600 per month in gas, not including insurance and maintenance.
O'Connell said the move, his new lifestyle and the couple's decision to live downtown are a result of rising gas prices.
"Now I walk or ride my bike and so does my wife."
According to Shelley Jhandi, Squamish Petro Canada gas station attendant, people's new habits are actually taking a toll on the amount of gas that's being sold.
"When gas was 1.21 and 1.22 we would always sell a lot of gas on the weekends - like 23,000 litres per day - but now it's only about 13,000 per day," she said.
Working at the counter, she's heard her share of grumblings in the past few months.
"Mostly when people come in they just say it's too expensive, they can't afford it and something will have to give," she said.
On May 12, Tony Clement, the former federal industry minister and newly appointed treasury board chair, said he wants the petroleum industry to explain how it sets gasoline prices. He plans to ask executives from refining, distribution and retailing companies to appear before a parliamentary committee to answer questions.
According to CBC, Clement told reporters that the way gas prices are set is "not very transparent" and no one has been able to explain to him how prices have come to their current levels.
"No one can understand why last year, when oil per barrel was around $140 or $150, we were paying $1.37 per litre, when this year oil is south of $98 a barrel and yet we're paying more," Clement said.
"That's just one issue. There's a lot of issues that have to be addressed. People deserve the answers to these questions."
