This is my favorite time of year because I can pick up the best bargains right off my neighbor’s front yard. Rusty trucks slow down out front of my house to check out my trash, searching for their treasure.

That led me to ponder, with the price of gas and oil skyrocketing, maybe people should apply the trash-to-treasure activity more widely. Maybe I could tutor your son in math and you could cut my wood. Or we could list items at work we could sell to our coworkers; volunteer time to local organizations rather than splurging on dining out. Car pool, eat less, save more and enjoy the simple pleasures of friends and family.

I have no doubt that Yankee ingenuity will figure a way out of the gas and oil mess months before politicians can.

Suzanne Carbonneau, Auburn