While I have been vacationing on the Gulf Coast of Florida, I have been reminded time and again how much of a stranglehold the increasing price of gas is having on the economy. We’re in a crisis, and its tentacles are reaching everywhere. I think a lot of people are underestimating its devastating impact.

We know about the price of gasoline and how it has affected everyone’s driving habits and sadly has forced cancellation of many vacations planned by hard-working folks. We know that SUVs and other gas hogs will soon go the way of the station wagons of yesteryear as hybrids and four-cylinder vehicles step to the forefront.

While I’m in Florida, I enjoy buying fresh seafood and cooking at the condo a time or two during our stay. I walked into my favorite fishery last week, and the price for Florida-caught seafood is going through the roof. The cost of marine fuel, more expensive than gas for our cars, is driving prices sky high, and putting a real crimp in recreational boating.

How about the airlines? Talk about an industry in trouble, with no realistic solution in sight. They are experiencing layoffs in the thousands, cutting fleets and flights, and all the while, prices are soaring higher than jets themselves.

Industry leaders forecast that within a year, the price one pays for an airline ticket will cover only the flight, mirroring the European model. Everything from seat selections to all bags, including carry-ons, and snacks will carry a fee. For example, an aisle seat will cost more than a window seat. The one in the middle will be the cheapest of the three. Everything will be ala carte.

In a recent news item, USAirways is removing the in-flight entertainment equipment from most of its planes in order to reduce weight and fuel consumption. It’s estimated that such equipment on each jet weighs 500 pounds. It all sounds ridiculous, but the airlines are fighting for their lives and looking for any way to save a dollar, including the removal of excess and decorative paint from their fleets.

And for everyone who has been saving frequent flier miles? Good luck. Northwest Airlines said last week that it will begin charging $100 to redeem a frequent-flier ticket award. Considering that it’s getting more difficult to redeem the miles, if you fly Northwest, it will cost $100 when you can. Others will follow suit.

(Hopefully, Allegiant Air, which provides quality service at reasonable prices from Youngstown Municipal Airport to Sanford (Orlando), Fla., will be able to maintain its niche in the market.)

Newspapers are filled with stories about how the price of gasoline is holding everyone hostage. High schools and colleges are worried about attendance at athletic events, and the cost of transporting teams.

Communities are fighting to keep from drowning in overpriced fuel, notably trying to figure out how to maintain safety forces while monitoring police patrols and the number of cruisers in service.

Municipalities and school districts are dealing with the cost of public transportation and the busing of children to schools. The trolley at Clearwater Beach that runs along the barrier islands to St. Pete Beach used to cost 25 cents a few years ago. It’s $1.50 today.

Taxi service, the prices of groceries, the delivery of all goods and services, UPS and FedEx rates, the list is unending. It all brings to the forefront our reliance on oil, and really, how little we can do about it as the market spirals out of control. The really scary part is that no one can answer when it will end, and how much rubble will be left in its wake.

The Lube thankful for cooperation

It was great to read about the success of the annual Small Ships Revue, a staple in Sharon every summer sponsored by Quaker Steak & Lube. It’s an attraction that draws thousands to the area, and like the defunct Bavarian Fun Fest, has become a rite of summer in the area.

This year’s revue could have been disrupted from work on the Connelly Boulevard bridge, but great cooperation among all involved avoided any problems. I got a letter from Gary J. Meszaros, co-founder of the Quaker Steak & Lube Franchise Corp., lauding the city and PennDOT.