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Norwegian
Trad climber
Placerville, California
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Topic Author's Original Post - May 28, 2008 - 01:22pm PT
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i once applauded myself for my ability to thrive (as opposed to just subsisting) on, uh.. lets say 7 bucks a weeks. something like that. anyhow i creatively filled my spoon and my 12 ounce can each night. i spent very little on anything other than the essentials. as i was well stocked with climbing gear and a small pickup, my pastimes were essentially sponsored indefinitely. my feet devoured horizons. i was in excellent shape. mentally healthy. smiling most of the time.
as i sense an economic downturn, or recess (ion), i realize that all of you dirtbaggers and lifers are well equipped for most any economic somersault that rolls across america. ya'll aren't strung out on excess. you are mobile and flexible and able to dodge and outrun any cracks in the machine.
as i twist my wingnut a half turn in an attempt to hold this rattlin' beast together, the fukin threads strip and my wingnut is spinning.
well im up shite creek if people stop spending money. my recession skills have recoiled as my social status has advanced.
time to start nurturin em back to life. and teaching them to my daughters as well.
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Prod
Social climber
Charlevoix, MI
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May 28, 2008 - 01:27pm PT
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I hear that! Wanna buy a house in Michigan so I can get back to freedom?
Weren't you talking about buying more property just recently? With a loan?
Prod.
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Norwegian
Trad climber
Placerville, California
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Topic Author's Reply - May 28, 2008 - 01:35pm PT
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yea, i tell you im a big part of this experiment. i have lots of debt. i move a lot of money around frequently.
but alas, i have a secret weapon....
my wife is a nurse. that sneaky profession seems to be stable and bold in the face of economic wobbles.
you well know Prod that our industry is the tattle-tale for the rest of the markets.
i cant help but wonder if some of these folks that are forclosing on their homes are secretly ecstatic in their liberation? im sure theirs is a mixed bag of emotions.
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Prod
Social climber
Charlevoix, MI
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May 28, 2008 - 01:59pm PT
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"i cant help but wonder if some of these folks that are forclosing on their homes are secretly ecstatic in their liberation? im sure theirs is a mixed bag of emotions."
No question about the fact that I have thought that. I would assume it is like quitting a job or breaking up with a chick. The hardest part is doing it then you wonder what took you so long after it is done.
Christa, if you are lurking here, I love you and you are not supposed to worry about that last part.
Prod.
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Captain...or Skully
Social climber
Idaho
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May 28, 2008 - 04:00pm PT
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Yeah,I was thinkin', if I didn't have this place, I'd just hang in the free lands for a couple years & see how it turns out. Ah, well...
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Matt
Trad climber
primordial soup
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May 28, 2008 - 04:21pm PT
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rox, you don't make or lose that money until and unless you sell.
buying equity w/ some down payment to push down the rate could have been a good way to approach it, especially if your rate was/is fixed- the alternative could have been one of those teaser rate jobs that were so common a couple years back.
real estate will bounce back, just don't get forced out at the bottom. the folks that are screwed are those who counted on constant and regular appreciation to be there to enable their loan to be refinanced when their bogus teaser rate reset, only to find they had negative equity (orwere upside-down), could not refinance, and could not afford to sell because the loan was worth more than the house.
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
New York, NY
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May 28, 2008 - 04:44pm PT
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I could rent a share in my apartment for an amount that would cover the entire rent, if I really had too. I'd much rather get away from NYC instead, but if things do get tough, I know I am in a better situation than a lot of others who rent.
The good news - I just received a small unexpected windfall. My mom died back in 1999 and it was several years before the executor of estate got paperwork to us for a life insurance policy she had held. I sent the work in but never made a copy and for whatever reason, the check never arrived. Over the years I would occasionally wonder about it, but it was a small amount and I just had no idea even what to do.
Well - last week I thought about it, and would you believe that when I got home that day, in the mailbox was a lteer - "We have this money...."
Like I said, it is a really small amount, but the check arrived yesterday and I am going to put it onto a savings account, the start of my "Get Outa NYC" fund.
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TKingsbury
Trad climber
MT
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May 28, 2008 - 05:04pm PT
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There is a bunch of copper wire waiting to be salvaged near some of my favorite cragging and bouldering. Chopped down phone/telegraph lines stretching for miles...
Good way to pick up some extra money while being out and climbing...
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ontheedgeandscaredtodeath
Trad climber
San Francisco, Ca
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May 28, 2008 - 05:10pm PT
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Around here people are stealing all sorts of metal, including urns from grave sites and the caps that go on fire hydrants. Seems like a pretty easy way to make some money.
They are also drilling holes in gasoline tanks and stealing gas. Where do you buy and sell stolen gas?
Rok, to evict your deadbeat go to the library and get a landlord/tennant "how to" book. I'm sure ID has some sort of unlawful detainer procedure.
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TKingsbury
Trad climber
MT
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May 28, 2008 - 05:16pm PT
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I have heard of the metal off of graves being stolen as well...kind of sad that people stoop to that...
Fortunately the copper wire is legitimate for salvaging...and at $.80(with insulation etc)-$2.50(clean) a pound for wire, I feel that I'll be hauling a fair amount out of the woods...
As for stolen gas, I just assumed people were just storing it for future use or transferring it to their rigs...
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purplesage
Trad climber
Bend, OR
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May 28, 2008 - 05:24pm PT
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It's all about making things as simple as possible. Get back to your dirtbag roots and teach the skills to the young'uns. My kids take way too much for granted and have a hard time with even the concept of "saving" money or other resources. I think they'll be learning about it real soon.
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ontheedgeandscaredtodeath
Trad climber
San Francisco, Ca
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May 28, 2008 - 05:30pm PT
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I have a bunch of romex left over from a back yard project, I'd best get down to the salvage yard! TK- nice that your woods cleanup is going to be profitable!
Last night on the news they said folks were stealing guard rails from the sides of roads and man-hole covers. Sometimes it seems like the wheels are coming off the cart.
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Mtnmun
Trad climber
Top of the Mountain Mun
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May 28, 2008 - 05:30pm PT
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What state are you in Rok? That will determine your eviction action. Start by asking him to leave soon.
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TKingsbury
Trad climber
MT
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May 28, 2008 - 05:40pm PT
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That's the idea! I'm starting to wonder what else is laying around for salvage...A buddy in town who works construction has been getting pretty good copper hauls from the scrap piles of his job sites...not a bad idea...
In the Montana Gathering thread I mentioned it too, since people could make some extra $ that way to help cover their gas expenses etc...
Guard rails and manhole covers?! This is getting a bit extreme...
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Prod
Social climber
Charlevoix, MI
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May 29, 2008 - 08:35am PT
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Hey,
It sounds like Rox is actually a compassionate guy. Maybe a curmudgeon?
Prod.
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Dick_Lugar
Trad climber
Indiana (the other Mideast)
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May 29, 2008 - 11:05am PT
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My wife and I and new baby just scored a 4-bdrm house w/FREE rent for the next two to three years. The owner was a PhD student and bought a house, moved back to the UK, didn't want to sell during the economic downturn, asked my wife if she'd like to "house sit". Life is so much simpler and pleasant when you remove a rent or mortgage payment from the equation. I pay our last $600+ rent payment today for our 2-bdrm appt.! Yippee Kai Yeah!!!! The added bonus is we are just blocks away from the local co-op grocery. We can walk or bike to the store. We're on the busline for wife's school. I work from home, so technically we don't even need our car!
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Bart Fay
Social climber
Redlands, CA
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May 29, 2008 - 11:51am PT
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DL,
Sounds like one of those "If it sounds too good to be true..." stories. How long before he
figures out that $2000/mo is a better deal than $000/mo ?
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Elcapinyoazz
Social climber
Joshua Tree
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May 29, 2008 - 11:54am PT
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Matt said:
"rox, you don't make or lose that money until and unless you sell."
Tell that to UBS, BOA, CITI, JPM, Credit Suisse, etc who use mark-to-market accounting and recently wrote off billions in losses on mortgage backed securities that they cannot sell (illiquid market).
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Dick_Lugar
Trad climber
Indiana (the other Mideast)
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May 29, 2008 - 01:32pm PT
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Bart, I know, I know...I'm the worlds biggest skeptic when it comes to deals like that. I'll still be happy if we get 6 mos. or so out of it. The homeowner has been doing this for several yrs. now, hope it last another several! As George Michael once said, "You gotta have faith, faith, faith..".
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crusher
climber
Santa Monica, CA
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May 29, 2008 - 01:47pm PT
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Oh please - talk about things being stolen for salvage? Mr. Crusher and I both had the catalytic converters stolen off of our Toyota trucks recently. Middle of the city, one truck in the carport (well lit) and one on the (busy) street. Sucks. We had to pay for new ones and have them welded on. Police said it's becoming more and more common - platinum and other metals in the original converters. Toyotas picked on especially because they're not welded or bolted on (they are now). Wish they could bust the places that are buying the hot converters.
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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May 29, 2008 - 02:00pm PT
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According to some on the "7 yrs later, how are you/U.S./World better off b/c of Bush?" thread, things couldn't be better in the US. So either some of you are doing something wrong ;-) or else those people on that thread who feel that everything is peachy keen in the US are a bit out of touch (read, reality).
And to think that I (and the fiancee) was/were thinking on moving back home (my origins, she's Irish) to California in the next six to 12 months. Perhaps I (we) am/are better off here.
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crusher
climber
Santa Monica, CA
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May 29, 2008 - 02:13pm PT
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Rok,
That's funny - haven't heard about anyone getting them stolen while sitting in traffic - wow, I guess that would mean total anarchy had started. We live in a very safe, very "upscale" part of SM (in a dump apt. but a nice area) so we ain't parkin' in the barrio. The trucks sure as hell aren't upscale either - both are over 14 years old - but those are the ones that have easily removed converters, unfortunately.
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TGT
Social climber
So Cal
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May 29, 2008 - 03:15pm PT
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Karl Baba
Trad climber
Yosemite, Ca
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May 30, 2008 - 11:26am PT
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It seems to me that the coming financial downturn is likely to more than a bump in the road that we have to ride out. It will take the housing meltdown a long time to unravel and high energy prices are here to stay (or get way worse) with consequences all the way through the economy.
Fortunately, nature and friends make life sweet without anything fancy so let's consider simplifying our lifestyles. We don't have to remodel the house to live well in it, nor stay in $300 hotels to have a vacation.
Just as we can make the moves on a led-out pitch by not letting fear overtake us, we can carry the burden of uncertainty in our financial lives without holding suffering in ourselves and transmitting it to our families.
The adventure comes home now, that's all
Peace
karl
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Raydog
Trad climber
Boulder Colorado
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May 30, 2008 - 11:31am PT
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RE:
"Mr. Crusher and I both had the catalytic converters stolen off of our Toyota trucks recently."
this strikes me as kinda amazing...
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crusher
climber
Santa Monica, CA
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May 30, 2008 - 12:29pm PT
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Hey Raydog,
Yeah it struck us as amazing too. Especially since it's real quiet in the middle of the night in our hood and you can hear a pin drop. No one heard a thing but then all they had to do was unscrew them, drop 'em out and take off. It's frickin' infuriating. When I called the muffler shop to make appts. for new ones they said they had people (locally) coming in every day for the same reason.
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Dr. Rock
Ice climber
Castle Rock
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May 30, 2008 - 04:52pm PT
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You know those Social Security reports you get every so often that shows how much money you made, year by year?
Well, for 1975 and 1976 I made a Grand Total of twenty dollars.
Yet, as I look back, it was one of the best times of my life.
How did I survive? I do not know. Friends and family, I guess.
Oh, and that Oklahoma credit card, a siphon hose, thats that long piece of rubber...
Abbie Hoffman - Steal This Book.
Check out the video also.
Check valves in new cars make getting the hose in a problem, so people drill through plastic tanks.
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Norwegian
Trad climber
Placerville, California
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Topic Author's Reply - May 30, 2008 - 05:18pm PT
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a whole new twist on drilling for oil.
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Dr. Rock
Ice climber
Castle Rock
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May 30, 2008 - 06:51pm PT
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That is an amazing story.
I am checking the place right now.
You know when gas is more than a gallon of Gallo Burgundy, we are in big trouble.
We used to walk into the Safeway and crack hard liquor bottles.
A couple of quick tugs and put the bottle back for a free buzz.
Not exactly shoplifting unless they pump your stomach.
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Captain...or Skully
Social climber
Idaho
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May 31, 2008 - 03:16am PT
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Crusher, You should know that 'Anarchy' does not have to imply Chaos....Ask the Lakota or other indiginies that figured that part out a LONG time ago.
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Raydog
Trad climber
Boulder Colorado
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May 31, 2008 - 11:15am PT
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RE:
" Hey Raydog,
Yeah it struck us as amazing too."
**
it is a modern world...
recession skills -
I'm impressed w/ the thriving progressive nature of the
second hand industry, love thrift stores so this trend
is really cool, to me :)
in all humbleness my folks were prototypical
old school-self reliant and ultra practical
in terms of the "tool kit" which was they...
walking talking home-steaders?
"settlers moving west?", in the 50's
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Dr. Rock
Ice climber
Castle Rock
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May 31, 2008 - 02:48pm PT
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Yes on the backyard mechanic.
I just put on a couple of 15 inch premium grade radials from the pic n pull, $12.99 ea plus $6 ea. to mount. Screw the balance, at that price, who cares, and besides, now my car is ROHS compliant.
A tip on the tires, buy them on the rim. If they have been sitting in the yard for a couple of years, then you know the will not leak.
Also, aged tires last longer, never buy tires in the summer, buy them when it is cold, so by the time they feel the heat, they are pre aged.
Used to steal them from out behind the gas station, but I have since then moved up to the wreckers. I was bummed when the gas station guy told me he would Pay me to steal them.
Wallmart has oil jugs in 5 qt containers for cheap.
It is about time the oil guys figured this one out.
Wear your climbing shoes in case you have to boulder over a traffic jam of customers.
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webee
Trad climber
colorado
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May 31, 2008 - 09:32pm PT
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I wish I was landlord.
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Raydog
Trad climber
Boulder Colorado
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eating a balanced diet and getting your rest,
that's a recession skill :)
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Raydog
Trad climber
Boulder Colorado
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shoot,
I save a bunch with generic laundry stuff:
and gearing up for Nanga Parbat:
some people paint...
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