House prices in USA, the gasolin price

[Teresa_Rae]

Are the house prices higher in the “Fly Over Country” than in NY?
Linne

Linne, the cost of living in “fly over country” is much less than in big cities.

I would love to be able to share one vehicle with my husband and drive together to work, but it just isn’t feasible. He drives 30 minutes in one direction and I drive 30 minutes in the opposite direction; if I were to take him to work, that would take me an extra 60 minutes twice a day, meaning that instead of driving for 1 hour each day, I’d be driving for 3 hours each day. My time is valuable and I don’t have 2 hours to waste every day on top of working 9 hours every day. It would also be an hour’s driving per day of wasted gas, because instead of 2 hours total driving between my husband and I each day (one hour each), I’d be driving for 3 hours.

Everything here is so spread out and without public transportation cars are very important.

I am all about being efficient and saving money (so I can afford things like vacationing in STJ every year ) but practically speaking my husband and I could never get away with just one vehicle.

We have the energy-saving light bulbs all over our house, but the mercury factor is something to consider. I’m very compassionate about recycling…I can’t stand the thought of throwing something into a landfill that can be reused or recycled.

Speaking of recycling, does anyone know if there is a way to recycle things like bottles and cans on STJ?? I hate throwing that stuff away every year when we're there.

[verjoy]

Dear Maggy-

Thanks for the info on the Prius. When I saw how expensive they are in Denmark, I wanted to go right out and wash mine!

That was quite a road trip that you took! In the '70's we used to do that in our camper to New England and Canada starting from VA where we lived at the time. Now we have to fly because driving for days at a time is too grueling.

There are several of the ethanol plants being built in southern MO, I believe they are going to use WOOD chips instead of corn. I hope that works to reduce the price of the ethanol, maybe it will become available in our area.

This is slightly off subject, but recently a restaurant opened in our area that serves all natural beef. Produced locally and sold directly to the restaurant, the cattle are never treated with hormones, antibiotics and medications. They say it is the first ranch to restaurant operation in the nation . Local paper also said this type of arrangement is common in Europe. Have you heard of this?

It seems too simple a concept for someone not to have done it in the US before.

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[verjoy]

SJ~
Thanks for the input, it never occured to me that due to demographics this place could be hard to sell. Have thought of buying a condo, only I would want it in Hawaii or the VI. We need to win the lottery first.~~

Seriously, I will do anything necessary not to burden our kids when we can't manage this place. Caring for elderly parents is a learning experience.

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[soxfan22]

I have been thinking about this all day long. After reading the post about you people who live in the extreme snow country, I was wondering why you stay where you are at. I am not being a smart ass, I just know that I couldn't take it. So I asked my wife what she thought. Her answer was she thought that it was just to hard for you to change. Family was another thought. My question is, if it is the hardness of changing, is that harder than all the cold and snow and not seeing the ground for 4 to 5 months a year. Again, I am not be a smart ass, I am just wondering what the attraction is. I have no reason at all to bitch about my weather here, you people deserve atleast 2 STJ trip a year. Luvya, Jorge

Jorge...That is a great question, and one that I battle in my mind for about 7 months of the year. I HATE the cold, yet I was born, raised, and live here in cold Connecticut. From about May-October 1st, our weather here is beautiful, and in my mind, tough to beat. But for about 7 months, it is simply miserable (my opinion, others obviously love it).

I should say too...I have traveled most of this country, and New England is by far the most beautiful in terms of it's topography and it's changing seasons. If you live in Boston, you can be on the ocean at noon, and in two hours time you can be hiking through the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

You touched on another factor...New Englanders tend to be for the most part, very traditional people. Most of the people that I know come from very large families that have been here for generations, which keeps people here. My wife, for instance, isn't terribly fond of the arctic temps from Nov - March, but she has roots here (family), as do I. It is tough to up and leave family. What is life about if not family?

I also have a different outlook on "escaping the cold"...I don't like to go to the Islands in the winter, because I'm not a fan of spending 1 week in paradise, only to come home to freezing cold weather. Therefore, I'd rather go during the summer months, so that I can return to warm weather. I know, that is certainly uncommon logic - just my personal preference.

[waterguy]

Hi Jorge
I love the change of seasons I have to see the leave change or the first snow fall actualy the only time I could do with out the weather is the last month of winter when the snow is gray and the brown grass is starting to show thru. I've worked all over the country i don't like the heat in the south in the summer or the rain in the pacific northwest I might be able to live in maine but couldn't take the crowds farther south in the east. I likr the moutain states but the lack of water would be hard. I guess we are all born where we want should be or we move. I do like my time on STJ but I'll go when ever I can. When I retire I'll probaly spend A month or two some where warm but I'll be back for the change of the seasons

[Kathyzhere]

I have been thinking about this all day long. After reading the post about you people who live in the extreme snow country, I was wondering why you stay where you are at. I am not being a smart ass, I just know that I couldn't take it. So I asked my wife what she thought. Her answer was she thought that it was just to hard for you to change. Family was another thought. My question is, if it is the hardness of changing, is that harder than all the cold and snow and not seeing the ground for 4 to 5 months a year. Again, I am not be a smart ass, I am just wondering what the attraction is. I have no reason at all to bitch about my weather here, you people deserve atleast 2 STJ trip a year. Luvya, Jorge

Hiya Jorge,

Coming from New England I will always love it and call it home, however at this time in my life I have chosen 8 months of fabulous weather over 7 months of not so great weather to be here in the sub-tropics. Yes June-Sept here in FLA can be brutal with the humidity, BUT I'd rather have that than 7 months of crappy weather up North. Family is very important to me but they're only less than 3 hours away via the cheapest non stop flight I can find

Plus, this is a great place to jump off to the Caribbean. What did it for us was the abundance of sunshine! Living on the coast of New England you know the fog real well and I require sunshine! Some people I have met think I am crazy for leaving Cape Cod for here, but they didn't live on the Cape their entire life either. Anyway, it was a GREAT place to grow up and to raise a family, but now it's "my" time and I'm going to enjoy it the best I can.

Now when I have my 1st grandchild...well that's another story. May have to move back. If Maine never had a Winter season I would be there in a heartbeat.

Sheesh this was long winded

Take care...

Kathy

[Maggy]

Dear Maggy-

Thanks for the info on the Prius. When I saw how expensive they are in Denmark, I wanted to go right out and wash mine!

That was quite a road trip that you took! In the '70's we used to do that in our camper to New England and Canada starting from VA where we lived at the time. Now we have to fly because driving for days at a time is too grueling.

There are several of the ethanol plants being built in southern MO, I believe they are going to use WOOD chips instead of corn. I hope that works to reduce the price of the ethanol, maybe it will become available in our area.

This is slightly off subject, but recently a restaurant opened in our area that serves all natural beef. Produced locally and sold directly to the restaurant, the cattle are never treated with hormones, antibiotics and medications. They say it is the first ranch to restaurant operation in the nation . Local paper also said this type of arrangement is common in Europe. Have you heard of this?

It seems too simple a concept for someone not to have done it in the US before.

Verjoy, about the restaurant, I honestly don't know about this kind of operation, but I wouldn't hold it for unlikely. I don't have enough knowledge about farming or the restaurant business. What I do know, is that we (at least in Sweden) have very strong restrictions regarding using antibiotics, hormons etc in animal food.

We have a farm 10 minutes from us, that sells very good meat of different sorts, in a little shop at the farm. It's very tasty and high quality and even if it costs a little more, it's so worth the money.

Yesterday I read in a Swedish food magazine about near produced food in New York. There was a story about a bee farmer (don't know the English word for that) that had his bees on the roof of a Manhattan house. His "Rooftop Honey" is obviously extremely popular.

Regarding the US-trip. We were young and I would not do a trip like that today. Far to many miles in too short time. But you learn as you live. We were four people and all of us drove, so we could take turns.

Today I am thinking about the environment, as I work from home. That will save 100 km (65 miles) of car traveling.

[liamsaunt]

I also have a different outlook on "escaping the cold"...I don't like to go to the Islands in the winter, because I'm not a fan of spending 1 week in paradise, only to come home to freezing cold weather. Therefore, I'd rather go during the summer months, so that I can return to warm weather. I know, that is certainly uncommon logic - just my personal preference.[/quote]

I am the same way! I almost feel like by staying here I build up an immunity to the cold. If I went away and got all warm and then came back to the snow and wind I would be miserable. By staying here, I almost stop noticing the winter weather after a while.

[linne]

Hi to all of you.

It’s so interesting how this topic has developed, and I simply have to make a reply.

First I need to say

- I’m not a saint myself. I often take my car instead of my bicycle or the bus.

- I know of course that distances in USA cannot be compared with DK, but I don’t know so much about the states or the society in USA that I’m able to judge the individual.

- I’m not an absolutely Al Gore admirer. I know that not everything he says, is the truth.

But generally speaking I’m thinking of how to save energy, and I’m sure that a change of habits in USA really will count (big is not always better ). But it seems, as if many of you already have made changes, which is promising. Not only for the environment. Also I don’t like the thought that countries outside the West can spoil our economy totally, if they lower the production of oil.

As you know now energy is very expensive in DK. But that force us to try to solve the problem.
So we try to save energy, and we develop. Windmills, geothermal heat, solar heat etc. Our rules about how to isolate our houses are very strict. You will not get a permission to built a new house
without fulfilling these rules. Our cars are very expensive too, so most families have only one car.
Our young cannot have driving license before they are 18 (it’s not anything to do with saving energy, but it helps too), we buy “green” white goods etc.

We have a proverb that says something like: “every little helps” (sorry, cannot translate it better), and if everyone follow these words we have already made progress! And “Follow the money” Soxfan says.
I know it’s not meant, as I said: “ So my point is that the economy can get you to do things that are sensible”, but anyway, if you cannot make people to change habits, because no one shall order them to change their lifestyle, my experiences tells me that it helps if money are involved.

About light bulbs:

I have read the article, but that won’t prevent me from using them. So many things are dangerous.
I drive with my grandchildren in my car. The traffic is dangerous, but of course I make it so secure as possible with a car safety seat. Just do as they say in the article, if something should happen. I can see the problem with recycling. We have a special box, where we collect used batteries, bulbs etc. When it is full (take more than a year), we bring it to a collection centre. Most of our trash is recycled like in Maggy’s and Verjoy’s town.

Verjoy, I don’t know a restaurant as you mention, but I think it’s so fine that the meat is from a place near the restaurant. We have restaurants with ecological food, and we also eat much ecological food ourselves. But sometimes I fell guilty about that, it’s perhaps good for us, but not for the environment, the food has to be transported from countries far away.

Jorge, I love sunshine, but like Tom, I also like the season changes. Today outside my window is
snow and sunshine. So nice! (see my latest pic in the Easter topic). But in DK we haven’t 7 month with winter, it would perhaps change my mind. Actually we have a small house in Spain, many people believe that we will move to Spain, when hubby retires too. But that’s not our intention. We like it here, and if the weather is too bad, we can look forward to our vacation or go on vacation. But I must admit that the family also play a role. We wouldn’t like to be too far away from our lovely grandchildren.

Teresa, thank you for your information. I can see that I misunderstood that about the house prices.

Tom, maybe we will come to USA one day. Not because of the cheap dollar, but because I’m being more curious about the States, and I have seen some nice pics in this forum (among them CG’s from the desert).

Linne

[soxfan22]

About light bulbs:

I have read the article, but that won’t prevent me from using them. So many things are dangerous.
I drive with my grandchildren in my car. The traffic is dangerous, but of course I make it so secure as possible with a car safety seat. Just do as they say in the article, if something should happen. I can see the problem with recycling. We have a special box, where we collect used batteries, bulbs etc. When it is full (take more than a year), we bring it to a collection centre. Most of our trash is recycled like in Maggy’s and Verjoy’s town.

Linne - My main point about the light bulbs is that there is NO RISK associated with the incandescant bulbs (other than stepping on glass if they break). I believe one recommendation in that article says that if you break one of these bulbs on your carpet, it would be wise to actually CUT OUT THAT PORTION OF YOUR CARPET. That is crazy! Also, being from DK you probably don't know that the Boston Globe, the newspaper where this was published, is not exactly a bastion of Conservative thought (I say that because it is generally liberals telling us to install these things...Not to say conservative don't use them, but they don't seem to make a practice out of telling other folks how to light their reading space).

Also, as for the disposal. In Maine, it is illegal to dispose of these things in the normal trash (as I suspect it is or will soon become in most states). You must take them to a recycle center, and again in Maine, you have to PAY to recycle them! Is this some sort of joke, or what?

I will also remind you that in 1972 (maybe '73), there was a headline on the front of Time magazine proclaiming that we were headed for the World's next ICE AGE. That was what, 36 years ago? A nano-second in the history of the Earth. Yet things have changed so dramatically that we are headed for a catastrophic Global Warming? We just had the coldest winter in years on record worldwide, and the major Ice Sheet in Greenland is 15 cm's thicker today than it was at this time last year.

Notice politicians over the past few months have not been calling it "Global Warming"...No, now the vernacular is "Global Climate Change".

[Steve S]

I love living in the North and I love the snow. I'd probably move farther north for a longer snow season if not for family ties. Changing seasons, clear lakes and streams, chopping firewood, wouldn't give it up for anything. I read a poem the other day that closed -

the woods behind her house receive the snow
with a faint ticking of flakes striking needles
and dry leaves—a sound you would not believe
unless you've held your breath and heard it.

If you've heard it, you'll understand.

[linne]

Soxfan, have you heard about the Dane Bjørn Lomborg, author of "The Skeptical Environmentalist"? I have read many of his articles, not the book, but he is, as you can understand, very sceptical about all these doomsday prophecies. I don't know, (and who knows?) what is right or what is wrong, but for me it sounds reasonable to try to save energy, if not for the environment, then for the future.

Steve, a beautiful poem and I understand you. I never forget our visit in Greenland. The nature is so beautiful there, and I start crying the first time I saw the ice fiord with the icebergs in different colours, the bright air, the sunshine, the white snow, the calm- SO beautiful, never forget it!

Linne

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