OT: The economy

5/23/20, 1:07 AM #1

Kneale Brownson
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OT: The economy

kneale brownson

I posted earlier about needing to travel back and forth across a bunch of the country as part of a move. Have just been from Utah to Michigan and back in the last week. From the amount of truck traffic, I'd have to think business must be good most places. Motels, restaurants and fuel stations are all operating more or less normally with a modicum of accommodation for face masks and hand wipes. I've been on I80 many times in the last 20 years, and truck traffic is almost as high as any time I've traveled.

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I’m a fairly spry 82-year-old who had been a reader/participant at WoodCentral since the demise of Badger Pond. I started visiting BP to learn something about finish for a project I’d completed and became hooked on internet forums as a way of increasing my knowledge about all sorts of topics. I have been a moderator for a couple other forums on subjects I enjoy. My interest in woodworking began in the early 1970’s when my wife and I had contractors add to our house near Traverse City, MI, and I ended up doing the trim work to reduce mounting costs. I had no tools. I bought a P-C skilsaw, hammer, screwdrivers and one of those wooden miter boxes with a backsaw. I made trim for windows and doors from one-by lumber and started my woodworking career. At the same time, I started a 50-year career as a ski instructor. I got onto the night shift at a mental hospital so I could ski days, and spent my 30s and 40s with that schedule. I eventually replaced the PC-upside-down-in-a-board with a real table saw and began the purchase of enough equipment to fill a jam-packed 40-foot shipping container we used after we sold our property in Michigan. The ski instructing had taken us to Colorado and we were spending too much on maintaining utilities for two homes. A couple years ago, the dozen years spent at 10,000 feet of elevation was making my body produce too many red blood cells, so we had to leave my “forever” home in the mountains and we moved back to Michigan. Now I have to find myself a shop space for all those tools in the container.

Re: OT: The economy

5/23/20, 1:37 AM #2

Henry Higginbotham
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Re: "modicum of accommodation for face masks"

Henry Higginbotham

I went to the Birmingham, Ala., Costco yesterday. Granted I was in and out fairly quickly, but I didn't see a single person without a mask.

Oh, and I bought premium gas for $1.399. They were out of regular, and so dropped premium down to regular's price.

Re: OT: The economy

5/23/20, 3:55 AM #3

Bruce, a MN Galoot
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Re: OT: The economy

Bruce, a MN Galoot

Truck traffic on I80 can be a daunting presence, especially at night. How about passenger vehicles?

Re: OT: The economy

5/23/20, 11:52 AM #4

Kneale Brownson
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Re: OT: The economy

kneale brownson

There were plenty of travel trailers and passenger cars too. We were able to offset the high cost of nice rooms with the low cost of fuel--just a bit over $2 a gallon for diesel on average.

- - -

I’m a fairly spry 82-year-old who had been a reader/participant at WoodCentral since the demise of Badger Pond. I started visiting BP to learn something about finish for a project I’d completed and became hooked on internet forums as a way of increasing my knowledge about all sorts of topics. I have been a moderator for a couple other forums on subjects I enjoy. My interest in woodworking began in the early 1970’s when my wife and I had contractors add to our house near Traverse City, MI, and I ended up doing the trim work to reduce mounting costs. I had no tools. I bought a P-C skilsaw, hammer, screwdrivers and one of those wooden miter boxes with a backsaw. I made trim for windows and doors from one-by lumber and started my woodworking career. At the same time, I started a 50-year career as a ski instructor. I got onto the night shift at a mental hospital so I could ski days, and spent my 30s and 40s with that schedule. I eventually replaced the PC-upside-down-in-a-board with a real table saw and began the purchase of enough equipment to fill a jam-packed 40-foot shipping container we used after we sold our property in Michigan. The ski instructing had taken us to Colorado and we were spending too much on maintaining utilities for two homes. A couple years ago, the dozen years spent at 10,000 feet of elevation was making my body produce too many red blood cells, so we had to leave my “forever” home in the mountains and we moved back to Michigan. Now I have to find myself a shop space for all those tools in the container.

Re: OT: The economy

5/23/20, 6:53 PM #5

E Phillip Smith
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Re: OT: The economy

E Phillip Smith

Our refrigerator quit last night, 2nd Kitchen Aide to quit in 10 years. First one replaced replaced after numerous repairs under warranty.

Bought new one at HD. Soonest delivery is 2 weeks, they are backed up that much. Salesman said business is booming, everything from appliances to treated lumber. I live in east TN.

Re: OT: The economy

5/24/20, 2:47 AM #6

Michael van pelt
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Re: OT: The economy

Michael van pelt

Gas 1.89 today in Illinois. I am booked 6 months out with work! I am supposed to be retired!

Re: OT: The economy

5/24/20, 3:08 AM #7

Michael van pelt
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Re: OT: The economy

Michael van pelt

Gas 1.89 today in Illinois. I am booked 6 months out with work! I am supposed to be retired!

Re: OT: The economy

5/24/20, 10:22 AM #8

David Weaver
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Re: "modicum of accommodation for face masks"

David Weaver

In pittsburgh, we filled for $2.35 on Thursday. I guess the gas stations here (not to mention one of the highest gas taxes in the country) have always priced for their own good, especially when prices are down elsewhere.

It's the law here (at least as much of it that isn't challenged) to wear a mask in a business, so you will only see people wearing masks. Even a drive through - I wore a mask for the first time yesterday (wife is being overprotective and doing all of the shopping because she thinks moderate asthma will take me out) - drive through.

Anywhere else, no masks - maybe 1 in 100 people wears one. Walked part of the slippery rock gorge trail on Thursday and there's not enough room for distancing on parts of that trail, but nobody seemed to care.

PA on the eastern side has been hit hard. On my side of the state, not so much - a nursing home or 12 has had some outbreaks, but the public side of it (out in the open) we haven't really had. I believe one of the counties northwest of me is back to "green".

Re: OT: The economy

5/24/20, 3:25 PM #9

Yonak
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Re: Retirement Business

Yonak

Michael, my retirement business has picked up significantly, as well.

Re: OT: The economy

5/25/20, 4:33 AM #10

Michael van pelt
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Re: Retirement Business

Michael van pelt

Great! Although I am “retired”. I work more than full time in the shop and on the job. But I love the freedom of working when I want and taking time off when I want. I also have learned to walk away from some jobs and customers. Busier as ever!

OT: The economy

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