If I could only save on gas money

I make my trek to my comic book shop once a week. Lately, for a reason unknown to me and even to some of the establishment's employees, the books I crave have not been there. It is a ten mile trek, which let's face it in the scheme of things is not that far.

Consider this though, I have an older car so a round trip of twenty miles is worth $3 in gas. At current gas prices if I make this trip once a week for a year I spend about $156 on gas alone just to go to the comic book shop (and of course to get back home).

In the last two to three months I have gone two to three times a week just to get my books (only a week's worth). I know I should call to save the trip but somehow that ruins the fun, not to mention a street date is a date the comic shop should have the books, not might have the books. I could also go to the comic book shop that is only a ten minute walk away.

I am loyal and this is what compels me to keep going to the comic book shop I go to. I also like to frequent other shops from time to time in search of a back issue or two (maybe twenty). The shop only ten minutes away will carry CGC books from time to time. I use the internet constantly to look for slabbed books I wish to purchase.

This is great for the selection but I love to see the books up close before purchasing. Since CGC started grading, it eases my mind on the condition. Of course some of the 9.8's I have bought I would never have sent them out to be graded thinking that they would have rated higher than a 9.4.

I have a graded copy of Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #12 in a 9.8. Two of the corners have a small bindery tear. In the Overstreet's grading guide it shows one of these are allowed in an otherwise pristine book, but only one. If I saw this in a store rather than online I would have waited to purchase another copy more pleasing to my eye (unless it was graded a little lower).

I critique my own books harshly. I want to send in books I think would get graded a 9.8, but I know if I sent them in and got a lesser rating then what I craved I would be slightly miffed. I could use the pre-screening process, but fear spending the extra money. At this moment I'm deep in thought on which books I'll bring to Wizard World 2010, or even if I should. I know if I do this I should only do it to encapsulate the books I love and want to keep rather then the ones I might sell if graded a high grade.

I have all these thoughts in my head if I should and if so, why? Am I grading them for investment reasons or for protection. I imagine if Shakespeare were alive today would he question "To slab or not to slab?" (OK so I am not...and he wouldn't)

I am slowly forming my opinion as well as decision on either purchasing CGC graded books or sending some out to be graded. Of course if I start going to the closer comic book shop I can take the savings in gas and add it to my comic book budget.

Thanks for reading.

Tnerb