You Don't Get To Live Here
I
have heard lamentations from young people that the rent on the West
Coast is sky high. They are priced out of Seattle, Portland, the Bay
area, and any housing in LA near the beach. You know what that means?
You don't get to live here.
Call me when you have a
real problem. If you have a toothache and need a ride to the dentist,
I'm you're man. If you lost your job and need another one, maybe I can
help. If you have a sick child needing medical attention, that is a
serious problem that trumps any difficulty of mine. Those are real
problems.
But if you want to live in this cool urban
environment and you can't afford it, that's not a priority for me. Look
for neighborhoods that aren't cool. The rent is often cheaper in those
places. Think Nebraska. Go there and make it cool.
I
talked with a friend in Venice last month. Adam is a moderately
successful screenwriter, age 49, with spouse and child. "I could never
buy a home in Venice," he said, "but I visited Bellingham earlier this
year. I might be able to buy property there."
Yes, but Adam better act fast. Housing prices in all these coastal markets are rapidly rising.
Better
to think long term, think about climate change -- maybe moving inland
to higher ground is a good bet in the long run. Go there and make it
cool.....Fresno and San Bernardino in California, any place in Kansas
-- the people in those communities would be so glad that you considered
living there. Columbus, Ohio is a great town. Go inland, forget the
coast.
Election Forecast. I spoke
with fellow Democrat Stuart Welch. He is the former owner of the
Rexville Store in LaConner and widely considered to be an expert on
almost everything. "I'm sticking with my prediction," Stuart said. "It's
going to be a close race right to the finish, but Hillary will pull
ahead at the last minute and ride to victory. A lot of people like Trump
for his shenanigans, but when the people vote they will get serious and
they will vote for Hillary."
Stuart remains steadfast
and calm, but Jimmy Schermerhorn is getting nervous. Jimmy lives next
door to Stuart's woodworking shop. He is an auto mechanic by occupation
and a very sensitive man. He worries that Trump might pull it off. I
share that same nervousness.
What consoles me is this
-- I don't like either candidate, but in a way, it doesn't matter who
occupies the White House. This nation is good and great because of the
whole-hearted efforts that all the people make, all 300 million of us.
No one man, and no one woman, can ruin it. I believe in you, and I ask
you to believe in me, and together we can make it better........
I guess that sounds a bit tooty-fruity. Of course it matters who wins the election and I am voting for Hillary Clinton.
I guess that sounds a bit tooty-fruity. Of course it matters who wins the election and I am voting for Hillary Clinton.
Jim Smith Dies. Practically
my best friend ever, Jim Smith died in his sleep in the early hours of
Friday, September 16. He was 76. His wife Janet said he went peacefully.
Jim's health had been somewhat poorly in recent years and he seemed a
little fuzzy the last time I spoke with him on the phone about one month
ago. But there was no indication of any serious trouble. He just had a
huge heart attack at 3 a.m. and bought the ranch.
The
coincidence is that three weeks ago, without any premonition, Laurie and
I had bought plane tickets to Seattle, primarily to visit my daughter
Eva and see the new home she bought with her wife Lara. We planned to
spend the weekend with Eva and make a day trip up to LaConner to see Jim
and Janet and some other friends.
Turns out we will
be seeing them, at Jim's memorial service, Sunday, October 2, at the
LaConner Methodist church. A lot a Jim's friends, who are mainly my
friends as well, will be there.
Janet lost her husband
and we must be of great sympathy to her. He was such a good man. But
many people do not know that Jim had a twin sister Joan who lives in
Seattle. Jim and Joan were as close as brother and sister can be, being
twins, and this is a big loss for Joan.
Frog Hospital keeps selling subscriptions. I've
been getting checks in the mail from faithful supporters. I received a
$50 check from Ted, a realtor in Boston, a man who has been on the Frog
Hospital mailing list since the beginning of this newsletter in 1999. I
will send him a thank you note by email.
You would
think, after 17 years of this newsletter, that I would want to coast
into the sunset. Nope. I have big plans -- to increase income and
increase readership. I am meeting with a marketing specialist for this
reason. A hopeful growth is coming to this little Internet rag.
Driving Miss Mabel. Mabel
lives across the street from us. When she got to be 95 she stopped
driving her car, so now I take her to the grocery store once a week.
When we got to the produce section, she asked me to pick out a good
cantelope. Assuming the wisdom of her advanced age, I said to her,
"Which one looks ripe?" She said "How would I know?"
Working for Nice People. I
worked for Italian lady this morning, putting organic spray on all the
roses and fruit trees. She is a very kind woman. She said, "Just act
like this is your own garden and do whatever you like." That sure puts
me at ease. There is nothing better than working for nice people.
Subscriptions. Frog
Hospital is free and hundreds of readers have enjoyed reading 25 issues every
year since 1999. but if you really insist on paying for a subscription, then
you will be remembered in the editor's bedtime prayers.
To subscribe, you must go to the Frog Hospital blog and hit the
PayPal button with your contribution of $25 or $50. Or mail a check for $25 or $50 to
Fred Owens
1105 Veronica
Springs RD
Santa Barbara, CA
93105
thank you very much,
Fred
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