Don't stop believing!

[Jennifer]

Thirty-five thousand dollars on landscaping? Jesus jumped-up Christ, even if peak oil and economic decline were never an issue I'd still roll my eyes at anyone below Bill Gates-level of wealth who'd blow that kind of money. And I'm going to guess he'd didn't actually PAY for it, but BORROWED the money, no? Jackass.

[MEA]

I think the general personality of the person has so much to do with our response. First person (and so far only) who ever said to me, "You know what, you're not nuts. And what's happening is terrible," is a nice co-worker, who, even though he though I was nuts, was very helpful in finding the right tools and hardwares for jobs on my little doomstead in the 'burbs." I'd always thought I'd say "Told ya so, told ya so." What came out of my mouth was, "Yes, it sucks."

MEA

[houseoftang]

To be fair, it's not hard to spend that kind of money on landscaping, or any other kind of work.

The job I was working on today for a guy I subcontract out to is something like a $150k job.  The windows/materials are in the $50-60k range (and this is NOT fancy stuff, it's off-brand windows and cedar siding), and we've got something like 4-5 guys for 3 months straight.  Even the contractor himself is getting about $60/hr if my calculations are right, which isn't bad money, but isn't a ridiculous Wall Street killing.

Get $8k of plants and dirt (which adds up fast), and put one foreman at $20/hr and 4 laborers at $10 an hour for 44 days 8 hours long (doing it all by hand, perhaps, or count in the cost of machinery), then mark it all up 20% so the company itself makes a profit.  That's your $35000.  How much landscaping work could any of us do in a month and a half?  If you're totally re-leveling and re-shaping and re-planting the yard, it adds up fast.

[Jennifer]

To be fair, it's not hard to spend that kind of money on landscaping, or any other kind of work.

I'm not saying it's hard, I'm saying it's asinine. Especially since, based on what DoS has said of the man, I'd lay good odds this guy didn't even pay for it, but went into debt for it. If you're debt-free, have money in the bank and want to some of that on landscaping or any other luxury, go for it -- I myself have spent money on things that I don't "need" at all, but simply "want." But I only ever spent money I already had, and furthermore I've never spent enough so that, if ever I find myself in a bad financial bind, I'd think "Oh, if only I hadn't bought that thing I wouldn't be in this financial mess!"

[TheDignityofStruggle]

I can't say for certain how they paid for it, but I do know that when they moved into the home, they felt they made a fair profit off their previous house.  However, the new one where they now reside, I'm sure was far more expensive than the amount they sold the old house for, hence their upside-down mortgage.  So there is a chance they paid for it in cash, thinking it would add value to the ever increasing price of their house that couldn't possibly ever dip below what they paid for it.

Either way, the yard looks stupid. The gas fire pit is never used and can't even cook food.  The plastic grass is...well, plastic. The mountain views and natural landscape should have been enough for them.  Sadly enough, if they think they have it rough now, they are going to be in for a big surprise when TSHTF.  Arizona is mighty hot and mighty dry.

[Chickengirl]

I haven't been unlucky enough to have anybody THIS thoroughly unpleasant come into my life.  I will say though that there are about four catgories in to which I place people in regards to Peak Oil:

1).  Believers.  Unfortunately, I don't know many of these outside of these boards.  My father and my brother, but that's about it.

2).  Receptive.  People who when I talk about Peak Oil don't look at me like I'm from Mars.  I know a few of these.

3).  Clueless/Denial.  People who have no idea and look at me like I have two heads if I mention Peak Oil.  This category comprises the vast majority I know, though I hold out hope than some of them will "wake up" at some point.

4).  Hostile.  These are the people I wouldn't bother talking to about Peak Oil because I know they would get angry/defesive.  These are the ones I totally write off as James suggested.  Fortunately, I don't know many of them either.

Incidentally, my wife is somewhere between catagories two and three.  She knows there is something to it, but doesn't want to deal with it.

+ 10

my DP is inbetween 1 and 2 - he believes in PO, and is actively supportive in prepping etc, but doesn't feel quite the same urgency about it - he sees it as something that is going to impact more on our children that us. He is gradually coming round to my more urgent assessment

My aunt and one brother are between 2-3, closer to 2 I think.

most everyone else I know IRL falls in the last two categories...

[Hope@ZeroKelvin]

 

+ 10

my DP is inbetween 1 and 2 - he believes in PO, and is actively supportive in prepping etc, but doesn't feel quite the same urgency about it - he sees it as something that is going to impact more on our children that us. He is gradually coming round to my more urgent assessment

My aunt and one brother are between 2-3, closer to 2 I think.

most everyone else I know IRL falls in the last two categories...

Your circle is smarter than mine. 

My husband supports me because he is The Prince Among Men.  My brother thinks I am a complete loon, but since he is an airline pilot and doesn't even know that oil at $75/barrel is the death zone for airlines, there you go. 

My sister-in-law thinks I am a racist redneck because I didn't vote for Obama and owns 2 horses that she can't even ride and complains about having no money while also living in the highest tax state in the US - CT.   

My Mom is moderatly demented and still thinks Bush is president, but to her credit doesn't like him very much.

My doctor friends are still talking about extending their 10,000 square foot homes by 20%.

And I live in Texas where the subject of Peak Oil is total anathema.

Why do I feel like a Stranger in a Strange Land?

[TheDignityofStruggle]

Where in TX, Hope? I'm in Austin.

[Hope@ZeroKelvin]

Where in TX, Hope? I'm in Austin.

10 miles west of Conroe, in Montgomery, TX.  The Birthplace of the Texas Flag!

Hope you guys got some rain out there.  Drove through Austin on the way to Junction this summer and the Austin area looked like the surface of the Moon!  Of course, we had to make our annual journey  to Cabelas in Buda, but I was able to keep Mr. Kelvin on a tight leash and not buy another firearm, or scope or knife or hunting jacket or anything else he has 10 of.....

I used to take the kids camping up there at Inks Lake and do the Enchanted Rock, Longhorn Cavern, Johnson's Ranch circuit.  Good times, pretty countryside.  That Highland Lands area is just awesome, IMHO.  Great golf around Austin also.

Other than OdessysysNTexas and Satori, what other Texans are out there?  Texican?  We should plan a get together.

[TheDignityofStruggle]

I think Hendrek is here, in the military though I believe.  DimLightBulb is here too, if he is still a member.

We have had SOOO much rain lately.  Dry summer, for sure, but of late we have been getting plenty of water.  Only had to water my garden from the spigot once this week.  Three days worth of rain, plus bucket collection.

I would be way down for a Texas LATOC meet up, but I'm sure were all spread out to hell.  There do seem to be doomers in town, even if they arent on LATOC.  Walking my dog I see some intense gardening projects, and even what appear to be some doomsteads set back in the trees. 

[TheDignityofStruggle]

Oh, and duh, UnrepentantCowboy is here too.

[Hope@ZeroKelvin]

I think Hendrek is here, in the military though I believe.  DimLightBulb is here too, if he is still a member.

We have had SOOO much rain lately.  Dry summer, for sure, but of late we have been getting plenty of water.  Only had to water my garden from the spigot once this week.  Three days worth of rain, plus bucket collection.

I would be way down for a Texas LATOC meet up, but I'm sure were all spread out to hell.  There do seem to be doomers in town, even if they arent on LATOC.  Walking my dog I see some intense gardening projects, and even what appear to be some doomsteads set back in the trees. 

UC!  **head slap to self**.  Am just too tired, off to bed soon.  Drank a big cup of java at 8 pm and I have been WIRED since I got home but am fading fast.....

Thank goodness you're getting some rain.  Central Texas has been in a 100 year drought just about.

It is weird you mention the intense gardening.  There are a lot of 5-20 acre spreads going in around me as the bigger plots of land are divided up.  Also up around our deer lease near Crockett.  When you look, there are gardens, solar panels, chickens, goats.  With big fences.  And dogs.  They don't look like "hobby" farms to me.

There is clearly something going on. 

There is an awesome nursery near us that has evening and weekend classes in all aspects of gardening.  These classes have been packed for months.  When I went to pick up my Brazo's blackberry bushes, I commented on this.  The folks there thought it was just some kind of "back to nature" fad going on, but I wonder.

Same story for the courses for concealed handguns, packed, with waiting lists and you pay in advance.

Texas isn't all that big, okay, but here 100 miles away is just next door!

 

[TheDignityofStruggle]

I think Hendrek is here, in the military though I believe.  DimLightBulb is here too, if he is still a member.

We have had SOOO much rain lately.  Dry summer, for sure, but of late we have been getting plenty of water.  Only had to water my garden from the spigot once this week.  Three days worth of rain, plus bucket collection.

I would be way down for a Texas LATOC meet up, but I'm sure were all spread out to hell.  There do seem to be doomers in town, even if they arent on LATOC.  Walking my dog I see some intense gardening projects, and even what appear to be some doomsteads set back in the trees. 

UC!  **head slap to self**.  Am just too tired, off to bed soon.  Drank a big cup of java at 8 pm and I have been WIRED since I got home but am fading fast.....

Thank goodness you're getting some rain.  Central Texas has been in a 100 year drought just about.

It is weird you mention the intense gardening.  There are a lot of 5-20 acre spreads going in around me as the bigger plots of land are divided up.  Also up around our deer lease near Crockett.  When you look, there are gardens, solar panels, chickens, goats.  With big fences.  And dogs.  They don't look like "hobby" farms to me.

There is clearly something going on. 

There is an awesome nursery near us that has evening and weekend classes in all aspects of gardening.  These classes have been packed for months.  When I went to pick up my Brazo's blackberry bushes, I commented on this.  The folks there thought it was just some kind of "back to nature" fad going on, but I wonder.

Same story for the courses for concealed handguns, packed, with waiting lists and you pay in advance.

Texas isn't all that big, okay, but here 100 miles away is just next door!

 

Do you guys have a doomstead or a bug out location?  It might be smart if some of we Texans found a central Bug Out spot, just in case shit got nuts.  Maybe even drive out there and bury a few cases of food or something.

And yeah, I have noticed an uptick in the interest in all things gardens and guns.  Maybe its the circles I hang in though.

[MEA]

My sister-in-law thinks I am a racist redneck because I didn't vote for Obama and owns 2 horses that she can't even ride and complains about having no money while also living in the highest tax state in the US - CT.   



Totally lost here -- why does the fact you own 2 horse you can't ride make you a racist redneck?

[TheDignityofStruggle]

Because non-racist white necks ride Priuses, not horses.