Not your typical "man on the street"

From a NYT article on Norway's high gasoline prices:

"Personally I have no need for a new vehicle; I'm proud to hold on to my own for as long as I can," said Johannes Rode, 69, a retired art and music teacher and owner of a 29-year-old red Volkswagen Beetle in Ramberg, a coastal town in northern Norway. "To do otherwise would be wasteful and play into the oil industry's hands."

Such outrageous gas prices must depress the economy and contribute to a much lower quality of living, right? That would explain why Norwegians have an annual average income of $51,700 per person, an average work week of 37.5 hours, and receive five weeks of vacation per year. Not to mention that there is no national debt. Whatsoever.