And we'll need Gen X and Gen Y to help!
We care about our parents, we care about our kids and grandkids. We thought we would retire, but we like to work anyway, at something. We know that our kids can't afford to pay for our Social Security and Medicare without an economic engine that has a forward motion. 
How do we make this happen? Think about it? I don't have the answer, but I think we can figure this out. I know we can. I personally am looking right down my own main street. We have a healthy business culture right here in our city and state. There's a lot of things that work here, and I bet most of you have communities that have the same situation.
I'm saving for a solar hot water heat system and a solar electric system. I have a lot of friends that are thinking the same way. We probably won't buy a new car until we can plug it in at night and charge it with our windmill, we'll just keep fixing our old cars and trucks (we have 5 of them we don't need any more). Our patchwork electric grid is rediculous when you try to figure out how point A connects with point E, so many different owner companies, lines that are too small or old to transport new wind energy. We live in the dryland, average 15 inches of rain per year, I bet a few people would benefit from rainwater collection systems from their roofs/gutters.
There are a lot of things we can save and spend on now and in the near future which will help to utilize our manufacturing capabilities and workforce. We need to make things. We need to buy the things we make.
The Quilting Realtor
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Many Dream Of Living In Montana I'm One of the Lucky One's That Already Do! Wanda Thomas Call or Text 406-698-8640 for help with all things Montana. |
Wanda...
I agree. Whatever happened to buy American? Awhile back BB and I were shopping and trying to buy things made in the USA. Problem was nothing is made in the USA anymore. No matter what we looked at, regardless of price, everything was made outside of the States. At least this comment was made in the USA :)
TLW...ROAR!
We need all generations. tough times require inventive responses. good post
Wanda....good food for thought. There is so much we all could be doing but just don't get around to it. Thanks for the reminder and inspiration!
Anna Banana, Phoenix AZ www.annabananarealty.com
Right on Wanda. I think we need to get excited about the possibilities and get back to basics. We need to support our neighbors, recycle and stop and think. We need to be brutally honest with our seller clients and help get prices back to AFFORDABLE. Remember those days. I do. One way to buy American is to support the thrift stores in your neighborhood. Maybe it wasn't originally made in America but by being recycled in the thrift stores it is now an American product. You will be saving money and supporting your neighbors when you buy there. We'll survive and thrive. We've been around this cycle before.
I would have to agree with the other comments here. This is a time for all hands on deck. Hard to believe that we are in this position but here we are and we have to save ourselves..Thanks for the thought provoking post..
We all need to do our part. Eventually the govenment will realize that they can barely govern let alone rescue the economy! It is going to take a monumental effort by all of us to get us back on track. Blogs like yours are a start to get us thinking and hopefully acting.
Marian...
I love thrift stores and frequent them on a regular basis. Lucky for me I am somewhat eclectic :)
Things don't have to be brand new in my world. Just new to me :)
TLW...ROAR!
Nice thought...... It is a double edged sword....the more we save the better we are personally but the more the country and world suffers. Sadly, we are going to have to play this one out. Hang on as it will be a rough ride this year. This is a buyer's dream market.......
As a Gen X, I feel that for a long time our generation has had it very easy.
We were the group that perfected teen angst. We complained about our lot in life (despite the fact that we had it pretty good) and had the opportunity to vicariously explore our options on the back of our parents' hard work and success (boomers).
For a long time, we have been looking for a rallying cry. Something that we can tackle and overcome.
If this isn't that time then what is. The time to self exploration is over. It is now time to look at the reality of the crisis a top of us and make the sacrifices that previous generations have taken before us to continue the great American way of life.
Yes it will take every one to do their part. But some will need to use their energy and talent to propell us forward.
In these times we can also barter. We've been a throwaway society for far too long. We need to fix things and take care of things instead of just throwing them out.
Some of these posts bring a tear to my eye. I know we are so much more alike than different.
I am on my way to quilt guild to figure out what the next step in my "mystery quilt" project will be. Funny thought, get directions, cut-sew-iron-quilt (use whatever's handy for fabric, even favorite kids clothes) and see what happens! Maybe our economic future is just the same as the "mystery quilt", you don't know what it will turn out to be, but if you work at it, you know it will be great!
Boomers are no longer in power. We have spent more than our share and are passing on the debt on to other generations. Not much is made here any more.
We get over 60 inches of rain so we can send you some. Obama may however just take it or tax it.
Hi Wanda -- I agree with you. I think the rapid pace of change with demand outstripping supply as developing countries continue to grow, coupled with global warming demands, an aging baby boomer population, and many other things -- all these things will force us to reevaluate and repurpose, whether we like it or not.
Embrace change!
Wanda,
I agree with everything you said in this terrific post, and I think that in order to sustain this type of manufacturing, the private sector needs to lead the way. We can't depend on the government to sustain these types of jobs.
Here are some slides that would suggest the boomer's market is over
I almost agree with you... but, some punk that might still be in high school right now is going to think up something... and he is going to revolutionize the world. Maybe the next FaceBook... maybe a battery that weighs half as much and delivers twice the power.
Wanda,
I fall into the generation before the boomers, so I remember no television, 1 bathroom, sharing a bedroom, everyone sitting down to dinner, reading, one car in the family. To our grandchildren it might sound like we were deprived, but to me it was just simpler. I do not want to go back in time, but, I would like for younger people to know we got to where before this mess, and WE can do it again, and will be more careful next time.
Thanks for a great post
Lets hope so!!!
Wanda
I am of the same generation as you and I know we will all be O.K.. We can do without STUFF and be happy. Yes I thought life would be easier at this time in my life but what would I do with myself. I love real estate and I love people so I'll continue to work.
Wanda, your last two sentences "We need to make things. We need to buy the things we make." just hit the nail on the head. We have become a society of consumers too much dependent on others making things for us and in the long run that has gotten us into trouble economically. I'm not considering myself a protectionist or isolationist by no means but I do believe that there are certain things a people needs to do to maintain their independence and autonomy.
Wanda; You have definitely put a lot of thought into the concept. I'm still trying to be a good citizen and recycle but I know the concept is catching on; especially nowadays. I'm working with a client that does not let me leave the lights on when agents are showing her home because she is "totally green" and of course, I respect her wishes.
Great ideas, and glad to come across this blog on here. Thanks for sharing.
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Wanda, Thanks
We have become a now society, and people are going to have to learn.Parents always their kids better than what they had, but I never had it that bad.A roof 3 squares and what else did I need. I had it pretty good.
I educated my 3 kids, and they are raising their kids.The philosophy is to be thankful for what you have, and not what you hope to have
Funny, I just said to someone today, "Americans will begin to drive their cars for ten years and repairing will trump replacing." Wonderful we can do it attitude!
Wanda - I was reading a biographical story that took place in Tawain after world war II. A comment made by a Chinese merchant really inspired me. He had just returned from a trip to Japan and said to his son:" I don't know why those people haven't just quit trying ... Hiroshima and Nagasaki we totally destroyed." After reading this I thought to myself, if the Japanese can rebuild after atomic bombs were dropped on 2 of there major cities and losing the war then certainly we can rebuild after this crisis if we just work on it together.
Wanda - I think we should all be thinking about solar energy and how we can be more resourceful. And definitely buy American whenever possible! Congratulations on the Gold Star!
Thanks so much for the great comments! I appreciate the graphs about the "boomer market" being over. I get the point spending may be over! Now's the time to suck it up and save, save everything, money, energy, credit score!
And I hope to God that there's a kid in High School who's gonna dream up the next battery that will store my wind and solar energy so I can plug in my car every night. I will have the money to buy these things if I save now and not waste my money on stuff I don't need.
Had lots of fun reading your post Wanda and the comments! Luckily us boomers can continue to do real estate sales at almost any age - as long as we think young!
I think that people need to adapt to the environment. Think about it...gas prices go up and everyone with an SUV starts crying...then the government comes in a subsidizes it! Rediculous! We need to reinvent ourselves as we always have over the numerous cycles that have taken place over the past century. What happend to evolving and "survival of the fittest"!! When someone hands you a lemon...make lemonade! We can certainly do it.
I think a lot of people are making a lot of changes, and I'm hopeful they'll bring about good things.
Great post, Wanda! It seems like every new generatation (Gen X, Gen Y and ??) want everything bigger, better, faster, cheaper... now, now, now! It really is time for everyone to take a step back, think about what you really NEED, what is important to you and your family and re-prioritize.
I hate to say but I think you hit the nail on the head here. Maybe things will correct itself over time... Or not..
Hi Wanda -- I've enjoyed your post and all the comments. We are definately going through a phase I never expected to experience in my life time. My husband and I have worked very hard to provide for our "twilight years/retirement" and saw a VERY comfortable nest egg dissapear in an instant!! Like a magician came in and waved a wand!!
You would think that this had been taken of after "The Depression" so it could never happen again. Obviously -- not so. There are many reasons that it has happened/is happening again but the guilty parties (and these parties/participates aren't one sided! -- it has taken many more years than 8 for something of this magnitude to happen!) just don't want to fess up to their greed and power aspirations. Now we, the regular folks, are suffering the consequences. Anyway, many of us -- there are also many bad apples amongst us -- think of all the SPAM, etc!
I could, but will not, go into a total rant about how I feel about the economic situation -- which neither I or many or folks had anything to do with creating. But, as a 67 year old I can so relate to Ann Hayman's comments and agree that when we American's will come to our senses and demand the politicians do the right thing we will come back better. The world has become a scary place since the time during which I grew up -- gosh, can't even play dodge ball anymore! We have gained so much but I think also lost a lot! I just hope I'll still be alive to see us make a comeback.
Sue -- a Realtor and Robin's Assistant
http://NC-Hendersonville.com
great ideas and thanks for posting them
Hi Wanda,
Great post. Thanks for sharing your ideas.
-Lisa
Everything does not need to be new. It's something I continue to tell my daughter and when it's broken, try to fix it before just throwing it away. Great post.
Wanda, I agree with you, the boomers will make it work. Personally, I am turninf 53 and plan on working for the next 20 years.
Awesome post, Wanda, seriously! Let's hope that we CAN turn it around. "We need to make things. We need to buy the things we make." Love it, very true!