For a child of the 60s, you sure must do a lot of driving. I put about 5 gallons every week in my '88 Sentra with it's 116,000 miles and all. I buy at least that much in milk and OJ at the grocery every week for the family. I'm out about $19 for milk and OJ, about $10 for gasoline. So gasoline isn't all that big of a part of my weekly budget. 20 gallons of gasoline each week seems like a lot of driving miles for a '60s-type person.
Hmmm, I'm not sure how to respond to that [after I stop laughing]. How much should I be driving? Is it OK for me to be out after dark, by myself? [chuckle].Seriously, what image do you have in your mind? BTW, what I mean is that I came of age in the 60's & had a LOT of fun doing so. But, that does not mean I am a converted peacenik or reformed leftie.
Actually, I am figuring both cars that I own in the equation. Plus, even though you may not put a lot of miles on a car, many others do. And for good, productive reasons. I buy a quart of milk a week & probably a half gallon of OJ. So, there is lots of variance in people's consumption patterns.
Anyway, the point I really mean to make is that IMO the items used in the comparison are not comparable in a useful sense. The price of gas is neither more nor less reasonable because a gallon of milk is greater. It just makes for interesting conversation.
In 1972 I took home about $90 a week. *BUT* I paid 25¢ a pack for cigs, $2.00 a case for Busch, $6 a week for health insurance, $90 a month for a new Datsun on a 36 month loan, and $75 a month for my share of the apartment. Less than $20 per week for all of my food. Oh, yes, 30¢ a gallon for gas. I quit the cigs in 1977, but I am still paying for everything else. I do drink much higher quality beer, though [oh yeah]. Oops, almost forgot, about $10 a week for premium weed. Yes, yes, that too went by the wayside quite some time ago ;-)