On the Other Side of the River
By Jim Bauer
@porwest (92696)
United States
December 15, 2024 7:39pm CST
Without divulging too much, my wife and I live in Southern Illinois near St. Louis, Missouri and my wife works "on the other side of the river." These are terms we use often around here since we essentially live "on the border."
"That side of the river," we might say. "On the other side of the river," is another common term. "It's across the river," is another thing we tend to say.
My truck needs gas, and it's $2.85 across the river and $3.19 here on this side of the river.
So, I asked her, "How much is gas on the other side of the river?" She told me and I was like, "Do you mind taking the truck across the river to fill it up?"
Perhaps conversations you only have when you live on a border state that is separated by the Mississippi? I have no idea, but I had nothing else to write about, so that's what I chose to write about.
Either way, when my wife goes on the other side of the river tomorrow, she will get some gas for me and bring it back to me on this side of the river.
It still works out since I drive a Ford F-150 that gets about 15-17 miles per gallon, and she drives a Nissan Rogue that gets about 22 miles per gallon. I think considering the 34-cent difference in price, and her drive is about 18 miles, we'll make out mathematically.
Around here, crossing the river for cheaper gas is our version of extreme couponing.
8 people like this
9 responses
@kareng (62072)
• United States
16 Dec
When we lived in Louisiana, it was suburbs of Baton Rouge, so we used the term "across the river" or "going across the river often." One of our daughters lives across the river.
Speaking of gas, the head of our department at LSU, a well-known professor of soil science, went "across the river" to buy gas because it was cheaper! He was a hoot!
2 people like this
@kaylachan (71918)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
16 Dec
I can see why you'd do it. George and I have our own way of how we talk. And it can be funny sometimes, too. When people hear us talk, they might not understand him, but I do. Even after the stroke, he still tries to correct himself when he's talking to someone who isn't aware of how we talk.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (71918)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
16 Dec
@porwest I'd have to agree. I think all couples have their own secret love language. We have our own sayings for things and it just comes so naturally.
1 person likes this
@thislittlepennyearns (62946)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
16 Dec
It used to be that way with us and Alabama, we would drive across the border to Alabama to get gas. But it isn;t that big of a difference anymore.
2 people like this
@akalinus (43366)
• United States
16 Dec
In NY State, we lived near the border of three counties. We lived in one county and the kids went to school in another county a few miles away. The grade school kids went to one country and the older kids to another. Our mail address was for a county we did not live in and emergency services was a long-distance call. Borders and rivers are confusing and maddening.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (181932)
• United States
16 Dec
Gas prices have gone up here and, not per the usual, they vary from station to station. Have a good week.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (35770)
•
22 Dec
If you are close, it is worth it. I'm not close to a border state that is cheaper than ours, but I live on the border of 2 counties and almost always drive to the one away from my home to buy gas. Hey, at times it 10 cents or more less.
Many New Yorkers drive across the border into my state for gas. Heck, in that state there isn't a bargain on anything!
