High gas prices and rising airfares can be a good thing.

The media of late is ablaze with dire warnings about a "fundamental shift" in the in the ability of casual vacation flyers to afford the quick rising airfares for their middle-class family vacations. I say... so what.

Give the average American some free time and suddenly it's time to leave, fly to some distant place and enter a world of make believe. To do nothing constructive and accomplish nothing while wasting resources... we call it a "vacation". It is high time we found a better use for all this pent up energy, not to mention all the cash we waste each year to live a few days like rock-stars.

Camp out in the backyard. Paint your ugly home (4 people, 5 days, 9 rooms, no problem!). Fix those defective brakes. Buy new tires. Throw a party and "GASP".... invite your neighbors! Do something nice for someone. The list is infinite.

Travel is an artificial need fueled by the relentless advertising of airlines, cities, states, casinos and other mouse-like establishments. Surely we can sell the airline/travel industry short and make a quick fortune while simultaneously reminding OPEC that there need not be a supply if there is no demand.

So to this brave new world I offer a slogan: Dream globally, vacation locally.

Remember.... you heard it here first.