07Endeavor wrote: Just returned from Nascar Race at Dover, DE.
Thousands upon thousands of MH's and TT's.
I can say that I didn't see anything different from last year.
Well, except that the race wasn't as good
Tom
I was very impressed by all the RV's there at Dover.
Too bad the IROC/NASCAR race sucked.
We were in RV Lot #2 across from the track.
Where were you, Tom?
Bill, Shelley, 3 young teens, & Precious the Black Lab
2007 Jayco Jayflight 29BHS (from Jim's RV in Nichols, NY)
2007 Zeppelin Z291 LE(=Limited Equipment-Traded)
2002 Chevy Tahoe LT 4x4, Vortec 5.3, 3.73
NASCAR Go 1, 07, 8, 29, 31, 88!!!
Don't worry WTTC I got your back--still working and kicking in
Can't read this any longer===I'm still not finished getting ready for nuclear winter --silent spring and y2k---not to mention bird flu---so many disasters so little time
I've had to cut back on my travels becuase I'm to busy getting ready for the end
It is interesting that anyone who mentions the various downturns in housing, rving, plant closures, etc is deemed by the resident financial gurus as fear mongering and unaware of the true picture.
Could it be that those of us who feel thank the economy is not going to improve for a while are as liable to be correct as those who advocate borrowing a few million to invest?
If indeed the picture is so rosy, whey are so many posters talking about cutting back and worrying about the future?
I think to insult these people by making fun of their concerns is outside the mandate of this forum.
07Endeavor wrote: Just returned from Nascar Race at Dover, DE.
Thousands upon thousands of MH's and TT's.
I can say that I didn't see anything different from last year.
Well, except that the race wasn't as good
Tom
I was very impressed by all the RV's there at Dover.
Too bad the IROC/NASCAR race sucked.
We were in RV Lot #2 across from the track.
Where were you, Tom?
Lot 7 (Handicapped) I broke the Fibula in my right leg a few weeks ago.
Speaking of cost, I had to have the tanks pumped and water tank filled at the race.
$30.00 to pump the tanks (not bad).
$1.50 a gallon (I got a deal @ $1.00/gal) for water
Both guys said they couldn't keep up with the demand.
Tom
Shame on all you naysayers. This just one of those cyclic declines. See... it happened in 1986 too.
I have some last years gas left in the boat so I am going to burn it. Not going to put much in it after that though. I am just in a holding pattern myself. Not crawling under a rock but not borrowing a million either.
On this site without knowing anything about a person or even being asked your opinion the bashing starts. It is almost impossible to make a statement or observation, even one based in fact without the personal attacks and outlandish opinions to start flying. Too many threads are hijacked and take wrong turns.
Example, I read posts where someone asks questions pertaining to a new rig purchase and out of the blue some start attacking and inflicting their opinions which have nothing to to with the OP original question. Things like "your stupid for buying new, you can't afford it because your asking about financing"
Make a statment about fuel prices and your told sell your rig, you can't afford it. If you don't do as I do your flamed. There are many here that just do not deal with reality, are bitter and feel the need to bash every thing they do not agree with. I really think the ones who bash others are themselves lacking and bitter. It's usually the ones with no info about themselves or rig in their profile that do the most ranting. They might not even own a rig and are quite possibly bitter about anyone who is better off themselves. It is not necessary to brag how well you are doing and how much better your decisions are, while putting down others for their decisions. Sour grapes if you ask me. I really believe some live in a fantasy land behind their computer screen...
State's jobless rate up as workers flee
Highest unemployment level in 14 years leads U.S.
Louis Aguilar / The Detroit News
Michigan's unemployment rate in 2007 hit its highest level in 14 years, losing a total of 90,000 jobs as the state draws near to what everyone hopes is the bottom of a very deep hole.
Worse than jobs disappearing is the fact that tens of thousands of residents are, too. A total of 40,000 people vanished from the state's labor force -- signs that the state's economy has been weak for so long that many potential workers simply quit the state to try their economic luck elsewhere.
Before you call me a whiner, I have a secure income, my house is paid for, don't gamble, and helped my daughter and SIL, their 3 kids when my SIL lost his job within hours of Cerberus buying Chrysler. He started a new job a couple of weeks ago, he did look hard for months, he isn't a whiner.
I live in a subdivision of 58 homes. 13 have been repossed and sold or are still bank owned. Property values have dropped roughly 20% in the last 2 1/2 to 3 years. Three of the homes are for sale, no repossession involved. One is my immediate neighbor, it has been for sale for 2 years, they have dropped the price $40,000 to reflect the market. Several different real estate agencies, on the internet with a tour, roof and siding, 28x28 10 ft wall garage all about 4 years old, etc., etc. One 'looker' has gone through the house in 2 years.
About 1/4 mile away a large sub was started, there were to be 340 $300,000+ homes. 3 were built, 1 is occupied, the builder abandoned Michigan. Spent weeks clearing acres of big trees, leveled the property, buried the utilities, paved the roads, gone. There is no construction in this area, there are thousands or empty buildings and houses. There is a fairly large mall the owner is considering tearing down because it is all but empty and he can't find tenants, strip malls with one or two tenants, for lease signs everywhere. It is real, and it is scary.
It amazes me people who claim to be doing so well and present themselves as movers and shakers have such a narrow view overall. It amazes me the people who quote the government GDP figures trust the government GDP figures, but pooh pooh the 'liberal media' and their reports. It amazes me posters believe the only reason others have problems is because they gamble, are lazy and don't want to work.
I don't know what is going to happen. I do know 1 million homes in foreclosure, record credit card default, record bankruptcies, is not a positive sign. I do know there are a lot of people in this area who have paid their bills, lived within their means, who are having a hard time because of factors totally out of their control. The business climate in Michigan is not good, it isn't going to improve anytime soon.
Yes, there are jobs. Lots of minimum wage to $7 an hour, part time retail jobs. But when you have unemployment hovering between 7.2 and 7.7% good jobs are hard to find. When big companies leave an area they take good jobs, leave a lot of unemployed good workers competing for fewer and fewer good jobs. And there were a lot of good jobs in the 90,000 jobs lost last year. There was a lot of talent and experience in the 40,000 people who gave up and left last year.
A new Walmart opened a year ago, there were 5000 applicants. There used to be help wanted signs on the door of every fast food joint, now they have so many applications on file they don't bother. If you have a job you are reluctant to quit to find a better job, because you will probably be unemployed for 5 or 6 months at the least, and (hopefully) end up with a similar job and income as you left.
If you own your home it isn't as simple as leaving for a better area. Unless you are willing to sell for repo value, no one is interested. And when you see the dumpsters in front of the repos being loaded with garbage you know they are trashed. You can sell it for 50-60% what it was worth 3 years ago and quickly, but you aren't going to have much to start over with if there is money owed on the mortgage. It's a hard decision but some are doing it to survive.
Open your eyes and minds. Because your area has seen minimal impact from this downturn doesn't mean other areas haven't. How would your state's economy fare if 90,000 jobs were lost, 40,000 workers gave up and left last year? It's more than petty to group everyone who is having a hard time into whiners, over extended, gamblers. You are blinded by your ignorance if you think it really isn't happening in some areas.
Well said.
I have a friend in Michigan who sold his long term business incuding buildig several years ago.
He carried the financing.
So, the new owner ran the business into the ground, sold off any machinery etc, walked away and now my friend, mid seventies is working construction trying to hang onto the building, the only asset he has left.
Similar storys are everywhere, some refuse to see them.
I admit that I will be severely curtailing my trips this year. My wife is a realtor and it feels like she hasn't made any money since President Bush's father was in office. Damn I wish the housing market would pick up a little. If things don't start to move soon the reserves will run out and we'll be in survivor mode. Translation, very little camping and riding.
Offline
) for water
