The Detroit Free Press has a story today called Gas it down – how metro Detroiters are changing their driving habits because of gas prices.

A snippet:

Steve Dull of Ypsilanti and his partner, Bryan Whitt, also limit how often they visit his mom, who lives in Dearborn Heights, and close friends in South Lyon.

“Sunday dinner at Mom’s was a regular trip,” says Dull, who works in computer support for the Dickinson Wright law firm. “I never used to think about hopping into the car. Now I second-guess whether to go anywhere once I get home.”

Most of our immediate family lives an hour away too. We have relatives in Canton, Toledo (Maumee and Sylvania areas) and Fremont.

People constantly in and out my parents’ home in Fremont, especially with two sisters and their families currently living in that city, so a Sunday afternoon visit and dinner was part of our routine even after we moved to Monroe.

That’s not automatically the plan anymore – once or twice a month is more likely. We call or e-mail a few days ahead and book as many appointments or visits as possible. I’ve already got a lunch appointment scheduled with one friend, and I’m trying to contact another friend to meet up with, during my next visit there.

And for our relatives in Toledo, family parties and dinners are scheduled when everyone who lives in town can get together on the same day.