So is the s*%t starting to hit the fan for you?

[tortoise]

I think for us the stuff has not only hit the fan, but the fan has blown it all over the room now, too and it is starting to dry.

Such an eloquent way to say it.

 

[framing fowl]

So that's when you scrounge up a can of paint and a brush on freecycle, paint the room and call it an expensive faux finish right?

Plus if it's dried, it doesn't stink anymore...



Trying to laugh about it so I don't cry...

 

[SKR8PN]

I think for us the stuff has not only hit the fan, but the fan has blown it all over the room now, too and it is starting to dry.

Since I just got back from buying dog tags, I'm not laughing AT you, I'm laughing WITH you.

 

[Bubblingbrooks]

This past year he has stressed getting Passports. And having them ON you! This may just be a "Jewish" thing. In Europe, many waited to "get papers", thinking things couldn't possibly get any worse. And very quickly we were not allowed to leave the country, except to go to concentration camps and be converted to smoke.

When you see the storm on the horizon, leave before it hits.

We have also maintained passports for similar reasons for me.... but the question now is..... where to run to? where to hide?
Would one be any safer in Canada or Mexico? Africa? England? Netherlands? without property, without money?
Tell me? just where?

I love Mexico.
If the SHTF here to the extent we are considering it will happen most everywhere

Batton the latches!

One thing, since 1999, my husband has said "DO NOT GO SOUTH!"

The Northwest Territorries of Canada, Alaska nice cool places where people are less violent, more room to roam.

Will we leave here? Who knows? But, without a passport, you can't go anywhere. This will be a worldwide "learning experience." So we will not escape it no matter where on the earth we go. We need to be doing what is right to do, because it is right to do, regardless of where we are. Maximize our ability to be blessed and minimize our need for correction.

You cannot get to Alaska by car or ferry now, without a passport.

 

[moolie]

You cannot get to Alaska by car or ferry now, without a passport.

Yup, pre 9-11 we Canucks could travel freely to the US and vice versa, just had to state nationality/hometown and destination/for how long at the border crossings or have suitable photo ID at airport customs. No more. So since you leave American territory to get to Alaska, now you need a passport. Same for Americans who live in Point Roberts WA--it is a little bit of America that is cut off from the rest of WA state, and local residents need special ID (not necessarily passports but this may have changed--I think they can just use a Nexus card) to get to the rest of WA.

It's interesting to me as a Canadian to read threads like this. Canada has been out of the recession for 6 quarters now and our unemployment numbers are starting to stabilize, but most Canucks still believe we're in a recession (as of latest poll as heard on CBC radio last week). Our government/banks didn't make the same mistakes that America and other countries did, and our mortgage system never allowed for sub-prime lending. And twice now since the economic downturn our government has made it even more difficult to get a mortgage.

Housing prices in western Canada dipped slightly two years ago (allowing us personally to get pretty good profit out of a home we'd owned for 10 years and afford a slightly bigger one) but have remained pretty steady.

However, Canada's economic "map" has changed in the last 10-15 years. We here in Canada have always referred to certain provinces has "have" or "have-not" provinces. For years the "have-not"s were just about everywhere other than Ontario/Central Canada because the seat of government has always worked to take care of itself. Much of Canada's GDP and economy has always centered on resources (petroleum, timber, fish, minerals) with a strong manufacturing culture in central Canada. For years the resource-rich provinces like Alberta have propped up the resource-poor provinces and the manufacturing center has taken care of itself. Now the Canuck dollar is so much stronger on the world stage and manufacturing (particularly steel and automobile production) has fallen off because our product is more expensive. So now the Maritmers have found new work in petroleum and the former "have-not" provinces are working to keep central Canada going since all the automotive lay-offs in the past two years.

This is all background, as I've learned over the years that America and American news is pretty insulated and many people may not know what goes on in Canada. The sky isn't falling everywhere, people are just having to adjust to new realities.

That said, I feel so much for my American neighbors who are struggling. I have many American friends who have lost jobs and/or homes and cannot imagine starting life over with nothing. I'm very thankful that most of you who have posted here are doing ok, even if at bare minimum.

Both of my parents grew up poor, in extreme poverty at times. My Dad came from a large prairie farm family badly affected by the Depression. My grandpa worked two jobs, mostly away from home, while my Grandma worked as a cook or cleaned rooms at their small-town hospital whenever she could get the work and they needed money--all while running a small family farm. My Mom was born to German-speaking Russians who escaped from Europe during the war just before she turned a year old. Her Dad worked in a saw-mill while trying to make a go of farming, and died when she was only 18 leaving my Oma with 4 girls at home and very little income.

My parents worked very hard to escape that life and have had more in their lives than I think I will ever have. Somewhat by choice as well as by circumstances.

I'm a Girl Guide leader and take our motto of "be prepared" seriously in all areas of my life. I believe that everyone should learn the skills required to survive, no matter what the odds. And I do my best in my own life to tread lightly on this planet, live by faith, be charitable with my time and money, and work hard for what I have. But even if the "end times" or a new world order (every empire has to fall eventually) are near, I don't believe there is any true way to be prepared for any and all potential outcomes. I don't think that all the fear that paralyzes so many in this day and age is healthy or necessary--the terrorists have truly won, based on America's response to 9-11 and events since.

I believe that it is far better to think positively and be responsible for my own actions as they relate to the planet and to others on it. Stockpile and seclude yourselves if you feel it necessary, but I think too much of that occurs at a loss to society as a whole. If something big is coming, I believe we all need to work together in community in order to deal with it.

Just some thoughts from an errant Canuck who wandered into a forum she wouldn't ordinarily visit, but who surfs SS by "recent posts". Please take any and all comments I make as my own personal opinions based on my own personal experiences and life-outlook, with however many grains of salt you feel necessary to make them palatable, and above all in love for my American neighbors who are enduring hard times.

 

[Bubblingbrooks]

You cannot get to Alaska by car or ferry now, without a passport.

This is all background, as I've learned over the years that America and American news is pretty insulated and many people may not know what goes on in Canada. The sky isn't falling everywhere, people are just having to adjust to new realities.

Journalism in America is all about creating a sensation. The news is a joke more often then not.
Whay they call investigative journalism, is more along the lines of gossip columns anymore.

 

[TanksHill]

Moolie, that was a very good read. Very informative. And yes your right we Americans are a bit insulated as to what goes on with our neighbors to the north.

g

 

[i_am2bz]

It's been kinda tough around here. Several houses either empty, for sale or for rent. Some have been sold and others have been put on the market. Alot of people underemployed, including us.

As for us personally, we've been on a slow yet steady decline. Last year our money situation just kept getting tighter & tighter, so I got a job (after 10 years as SAHM). About a month later DH's job cut his hours from 40 to 32. That's not much, but it sure has hurt us anyway and my job pays less than half what he makes and my hours fluctuate from 16 to 36 per week.
In November, DH had to have cataract surgery on one eye and will soon have to have surgery on the other one and we'll have to pay approx $3600 out of pocket for copays & deductables for both eyes.

Although I'm not sure what is worse, to be 'all of a sudden' SHTF or this slow agonizing drain.

This sounds a lot like our personal situation, oldfashioned. I'm as frugal as they get, & it's tough to keep our heads above water.

Since being laid off from IBM 10 years ago, I'm making 65% of what I made there (plus the nice benefits), this with a 4 year degree. No raise in 2 years, & none anticipated this year either.

DH has a small disability check, and used to do a couple of odd jobs every month. Even those have dried up.

My doctor is pushing surgery (possibly the Big C, but the results - after $1500 in tests - keep coming back inconclusive), but my sucky insurance requires me to pay 30% of hospital procedures. I despise the thought of going into debt for something that may be...well, nothing. :/

It's depressing to have gone from a pretty comfortable life to being one of the "working poor."

But as DH always says to me, when I get morose, "Don't ever say it couldn't get any worse, because it could." And he's right. I keep telling myself, it could be worse. A lot worse.

Fortunately I'm pretty strong-willed, & will do what I have to do. (I think I was a pioneer in a former life. ) I've paid down my debt, bought some chickens, & started gardening again. At least I won't go down without a fight.

 

[Icu4dzs]

. I hope some of the bad guys tries it out here. One can never get to much target practice.

just remember, brother, we'll all get together to bail you out
;-)

and yep, oldfashioned, hang in there. remember this is a season and it will pass. dont give into temptation to panic. be thoughtful, plan well, and dont waste anything. you'll be ok.

Hang in there oldfashioned, better times are coming, at least that's what they keep telling us.

Glad to see you have my back OFG. I already have my speech down pat. "He threatened my life" , "I had to use deadly force to stop him" and lastly, "I want to talk to my attorney". Then you shut the h e l l up.

The most important part of the speech is " I aimed for his knee to stop him, not kill him, but I missed and it killed him. Sorry..."
That way they can't say you intended to kill him. VERY IMPORTANT.
Either that or have 2 guns...one for his hand that put a bullet behind where you were standing, and one in your hand for him. That way there is no question about defending yourself.

 

[Wifezilla]

It does depend on the state. I think in Colorado "Some folks just need a' killin' " is a legitimate defense. (Well, not in Boulder, but we don't count them as being in Colorado anyway )