The Old Folks Home

[Arielle]

Quote: I sent link to my email so I can view it at the library tonight.

We have lost many of our stores since Wlamart shifted from a regular store to a super sized one. IRonically the quality of the products are poor. THe wonderful jewelry store/ gitf items closed when Walmart got the go ahead from the town. THe Ace hardware closed last fall. Many store fronts are empty as I drivethru town-- I stopped looking as it made me sad.

I had grown up in a town where no chain companies were allowed, until one slipped in during the holidays when locals were busy focusing on family instead of politics. That opened the flood gate and the town has lost its charisma.

At this point, I keep looking at what I use and tryto find an alternative that I can make. OR go without. I look at the trash each week and think how to decrease that to nothing. ALready we put outhalf of what the neighbors across the street put out bag for bag, and we have 4 people living here vs 2 in their home.

In Germany, because of the landfill issues, the products are truely durable. We passed up on a german made vaccum cleaner because we did not have the cash; the vacuum we bought is now malfunctioning after 2-3 years of irregular use. My old machine had lasted 20+ years. THis one 3?? THat first one was worth the $300 when I made minimum wage!

We are restructureing how we spend our money-- to help the kids get ahead of other kids now so they will be better positioned to get into college and better able to have a good paying job. ( IF you think this is selfish, consider that i did volunteer for 3 yrs on school council inhopes of improving my kids school-- without one change i mplimented.) My focus is my own kids, but as a society we need a lot more jobs, especially for the unskilled laborers, as we sure have a lot of them.

My son was pointing out all the mills in town that are now boarded up or filled with other businesses or houseing-- how times have changed since the mills closed. We still have enough people to work in those mills but the mills are closed and the jobs gone elsewhere. I have come to understand, in the last year, that we need all people working because those that are working are paying the SNAP to those that are not. WE have manyover worked people because empoyers won't hire more people. ( Please don't misunderstand, i'm all for supports like SNAP; but would rather have everyone working with their heads held high. I have noticed many of the needy are aplogetic and feel ashamed-- that is not living; that is a slow death of the spirit.)

Sorry for the rant-- but my eyes have opened to seeing people I did not see when I was busy getting to work and sitting at a cubicle. We have many needy people that specialize at being invisible. THat keeps me thinking. . . .

 

[tnspursfan09]

Wisher, I'm digging up some plants for you today and tomorrow. Hopefully they will be in the mail before the end of the week.

 

[ozexpat]

I am guilty of destroying the local economy.

Dont just blame wallyworld, blame the internet.

I get 99cent widgets with shipping included direct from China, amazon is my best friend and even the double whammy - powdered whole milk from walmart on line. If I can get it shipped for free, why bother wading through those special people that seem to concentrate in walmart.

The local mom and pop store is going to die. While I love the service you can get there, consumers want the $1.98 eggs.

There are ghost towns all accross this country from each century of new settlement that lost their purpose. Rail Roads killed some, interstates others.Now the information super highway, wallyworld and home depot is causing losses.

Towns need to reinvent themselve or die.

 

[Arielle]

On a lighter note. I thought I knew a lot about geography but I had no idea Vietnam had a desert.
A few pics and a few posts.


~Drove 4 wheelers in the desert today! So cool! — at Mũi Né.




~~~Sand dunes — at Mũi Né.




~~ ~Sunset over the dunes. — at Mũi Né.




~~ ~Boats for days. — at Mũi Né.




~~ ~Mui Ne, Vietnam.



"~The way every traveler gets to know each other in 5 easy questions.. 1) What's your name? 2) Where are you from? 3) How long are you traveling? 4) Where have you been? 5) Where are you going?... boom! New friend."

THis is as good as National Geographic!! Ididn't know tere was a desert there either-- always imagined the jungle given the history.

 

[Arielle]

Eggs are one. They often sell eggs for less than it cost's the egg farm to produce them as a loss leader to get people to come in and buy the junk they make a profit on.

Has anyone offered to sell eggs for $3 or so and someone exclaim, "I can get them at WM for $1.98"?

THat price is hard to beat-- we bought by the flat at BJ when all our eggs are going to customers--however I have now learned how to freeze eggs during the bounty months for the lean months. ANd to have a few pullets hatched at the right time!!! SHeesh. TOo early they molt . . too late they wait!!

We hardly buy at BJ's anymore either-- we have found less expensive alternatives. LIke NOT buying or making our own. Like yogurt. Kids eat homemade at home, and single serving at school. Haven't found good containers that don't leak in their lunch boxes.

 

[ozexpat]

I missed something... whats BJs?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I am guilty of destroying the local economy.

Dont just blame wallyworld, blame the internet.

I get 99cent widgets with shipping included direct from China, amazon is my best friend and even the double whammy - powdered whole milk from walmart on line. If I can get it shipped for free, why bother wading through those special people that seem to concentrate in walmart.

The local mom and pop store is going to die. While I love the service you can get there, consumers want the $1.98 eggs.

There are ghost towns all accross this country from each century of new settlement that lost their purpose. Rail Roads killed some, interstates others.Now the information super highway, wallyworld and home depot is causing losses.

Towns need to reinvent themselve or die.

You make valid points. As Canukbuck would say, "onward and upward".

I still see problems. One is the exponentially growing income inequality gap. Currently, in the US, the class structure resembles 1960 Mexico much more than it resembles 1960 U.S.

THis is as good as National Geographic!! Ididn't know tere was a desert there either-- always imagined the jungle given the history.

I was shocked when she said she was in the desert.
Now she's in Da Lat, canyoning and rappelling waterfalls.
As strange as it sounds, I feel sorry for her.
When she gets home she will have major adventure adrenaline withdrawals and reverse culture shock. I've been there.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I missed something... whats BJs?

must be a store
At least I hope so.

Maybe like a piggly wiggly

 

[dsqard]

BJ's is a wholesale club like Sam's Club or Cosco

 

[Arielle]

BJ 's is a near whole sale store. A warehouse type--members store.

I occassionally buy on the internet. BUt 99% of my purchases are in a store. ANd I shop with cash in hand. Stopped using debit card about a year ago, and I find I can save a lot more money by using cash only. Remarkable how many extras really are just extra and not a necessity.

I too have realized the gap is growing. I am grateful that we bought land many years ago--