When put into perspective, we find: while in 1958 we were paying 25-cents per gallon for gas, our average income was under $4,000 per year, with home sales averaging at $12,500. Today, the average cost of gas is about $4, the average income is about $50,000 and the average home sells for about $264,000. I'd still rather live in today's world with today's prices and today's wonderful time savers (especially in regards to quilting).