Subj : Re: New to this
To   : hollowone
From : poindexter FORTRAN
Date : Wed Jun 04 2025 05:13 pm

-=> hollowone wrote to poindexter FORTRAN <=-

 ho> Well, I see. The way it works in my town is that with high-waged folks
 ho> prices went up... including plumbing and whatever so everybody can
 ho> afford his minimum.. I assumed this is how capitalism works.

 Tradespeople's fees go up, but not in pace with housing costs, which
 are being inflated as an investment vehicle. Tech salaries increase,
 tradespeople move to the suburbs and the balance is lost.

 ho> I'd love pay half of the price for some of the fixes or learn how to do
 ho> it myself. Even if I do... I don't have time for that as my hour needs
 ho> to be well spent to maximize profit and then free time. So I actually
 ho> am OK to pay twice what I was used to couple of years ago for home
 ho> services, assuming this keeps the folks in available..

 I picked up a series of Time-Life books from the '80s, it was one of
 those mail-order book of the month deals - all covering home repair. $5
 for the set of 15 books at a local thrift shop. It's been a great help.

 The internet is great, too - lots of people who offer tutorials, often
 with the message that if you want them to take care of it, give them a
 call.

 ho> Art and craft is a different story. But I also think a lot of that
 ho> moved to the internet eventually and for good art or craft I am able to
 ho> drive and fly far.

 They still need a home base. We have a couple of open studio events
 near me that showcase local art, and it's great to be able to
 contribute directly to them. I'm looking forward to the Oakland/East
 Bay open studios this weekend.

 Many are on Etsy, which is great at widening their audience.

 ho> I'd miss pubs and restaurants but with my age and family orientated
 ho> lifestyle I don't care that much anymore.

 ho> I like my backyard and deck and swimming pool and you name it.. and
 ho> also nature so for that sake I actually moved out from big city. More
 ho> to find silence than to afford better. Many also do that if remote
 ho> working is an option.

 I drive through San Francisco and miss the restaurants and the culture,
 but would need more money than I make to afford the things I'd need at
 this point - like a garage. Street parking was easy when I had a beater
 VW Rabbit :)

 ho> Then going to store to have a few crates of beer, meat and whatever
 ho> supplies and then back home and spending time with friends in the
 ho> backyard became a thing.

One nice thing about San Francisco was being able to have the best of
both worlds. I lived out on the west side of the city, a block from
Golden Gate Park and a few blocks from the beach, with a house and a
back yard. It was quiet in the Avenues, but you were 20 minutes from
downtown. Coming home, you could grab a drink, walk to the beach and
watch the sun go down over the ocean.


 
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