TheJackMan

I think on a subconscious level all men compare women to their mothers to some extent but I don’t think I actively compare women to my mother.

For me I think its far more about being introverted and just not being socially smooth around women. I’ve been dumped by women in the past so I think I’m always in protection mode as well. With a stripper I don’t have to be in protection mode.

Langland what has God done for me besides leave me single and lonely?

Besides, being single with no kids I’m not cheating or anything. Am I even committing a sin? Not trying to have an attitude, I just don’t see it as something wrong. I don’t like that I’m becoming addicted to it but I don’t feel like it’s wrong legally or even morally.

As for family luckily or unluckily they all live out of state so the chances of them finding out are pretty close to 0. I take precautions as well.

But you are right that I probably should take the chance of family finding out as a deterrent. I just don’t know if that’s enough for me. I’ll admit I don’t have a lot of willpower on things like this. I know I’m weak mentally.

Rachel’s in Orlando is by the airport. That’s the only major one but it’s just topless. Not even sure if they do lap dances.

It’s one of those weird clubs that’s a mix of being a steakhouse and a strip club.

Tampa has full nude whereas Orlando and Daytona Beach are just topless. Two of the girls in the club actually commute from Orlando because the Orlando clubs are trash.

Tampa clubs are also a lot looser with touching whereas in Orlando and Daytona Beach no touching is pretty strictly enforced.

I'll break my cities down this way:

Small Cities
Savannah - The smaller little brother version of Charleston and NOLA but I like the architecture, food scene and bar scene in Savannah more than Charleston. Plus you are close to Hilton Head and Tybee Island.

St. Augustine - My favorite city in Florida and it's not that close. One of the few cities in the state that has history and it's a history you truly feel. Plus not completely overwhelmed by people from the northeast or midwest. Still has a southern feel to it.

Burlington - Great outdoors city that is super underrated IMO.

Gatlinburg - Obviously very popular and probably not underrated but if it's not the super busy summer season or October the traffic is manageable and it's easy to have a lot of fun and is just a great town in general.

Mid-Sized Cities
Pittsburgh - Probably is leaving the underrated level but just a wonderful city in terms of activities to do, nightlife and a great pro sports scene.

Cincinnati - Another underrated cities with some great bars and people who for the most part are pretty friendly. Plus I do love the chili.

NOLA - I know, I hesitated to bring it up. NOLA obviously has its big problems but it's still one of the few American cities that actually has an identity. It's one of those cities that could be so much more if it could get its act together. I hate the crime and corruption problems as it holds back the city in a major way but I still love visiting.

Portland - Another one people here will trash but they have the best Japanese Gardens in the U.S., never mind some beautiful historic homes. Plus the beer scene out and being so close to the Columbia River Gorge (and all the amazing waterfalls) as well as being close to the coast and many state parks, I truly find it underrated. Like NOLA if they could only get the crime and protesting problem downtown solved Portland would be an amazing area to live in.

Big Cities
Chicago - I've not been to Chicago but I always hear the weather there from mid-May to mid-September is the best in the country. Plus the crime, as bad as it is, is mostly located in the south side away from downtown and most of the areas people go to. Plus there always seems to be an even to go to. I haven't been to Chicago yet but it's on my bucket list.

It's really amazed me up to this point that more hasn't been made of the rising gas prices. People were furious back in 2008 when it got up to $4/gallon. And I would remind everyone that back in 2008 it was just gas that was affected. There wasn't the inflation problem we have now so people had a better ability to absorb the extra gas cost. But yet currently it seems like most people either don't care or have just accepted it. Sorry but I can't accept it, not when gas was $2/gallon just over a year ago.

At what point does it really start to hurt the average American? $4/gallon? $5/gallon? $6/gallon?

For you all personally, have the rising gas prices affected you every day plans or travel plans? Have you changed vacation plans or decided to stay closer to home due to the increase in gas prices?

I know for me I was up in the Smokies last May. I decided to stop there for a few days on my way up to see family in Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky and then drove back through Nashville and Chattanooga on my way back. I really enjoyed the Smokies and was planning on doing a 7 trip to the Smokies, Blue Ridge Parkway (section from the entrance of the National Park to Mount Mitchell) and Asheville. With these gas prices though I am seriously going back and forth on whether to do that, stay closer to home or visit a city instead.

So what about you? Have rising gas prices affect your every day life? What about your travel plans?