05-22-2009, 10:11 AM
Hi KathyH, I appreciate your comments. I assure all of you that I am not into judging others on an individual level. On the other hand, I do have to admit that I have been saying for many, many years that by and large (stereotyping, I know) Americans are pigs. I grew up when the average family size was 5 and the average house was 1200 sq. ft. with one bathroom. Now the average size household is 2.something and if you don't have the formal living room that no one is allowed to use, plus the casual living room and maybe another "great" room as well as 3 or 4 bathrooms enclosed within 3,000 or more square feet... well you must be poor or something. Looking at new housing developments around here, that's the only thing they are building (well, maybe starting at 2500 sq ft). I mean....WHY??? And the vehicles.... that's a whole 'nother story that parallels the housing one. I've read articles about new housing developments in India and other countries that are developing a middle class and are following the US model. If the whole world goes that way, I'm just afraid that this planet will be nothing but a dead cinder when we are done with it. Just because we can afford to consume and waste doesn't necessarily give us the right to do it. One thing I've noticed is a difference between quantity and quality. Many want the quantity. I said I have little in common with the stereotypical American Dream. I just don't see bigger and more as being better. That's just me, and each to his own.... really. I just have no use for it. Given a certain amount of money, I would much prefer a small, very well built home than the typical 2500-300 sq ft with the shoddy construction that is so common in this country. But again each to his own. I am a mainlander, and I just happen not to aspire to the same things that "most" mainlanders aspire to. Does that make me a different kind of mainlander? I really don't know. I am who I am and it matters to me that I will be accepted by people that already live on the island. I still say it's sad to see lots bulldozed just so the owner can build the same thing in Fern Forest as the thing they left on the mainland, when there is so much beauty in the natural flora of the place. But again, I DO TRY not to be judgmental about those that do. I just really have nothing in common with that way of living. Live and let live is always the best way. The worst thing that can happen, and I hope it doesn't happen in Fern Forest is this.... Living in Seattle for many many years, starting in the 70's, there were really GREAT beach communities, such as Alki Beach where kids, causing no harm to anyone, regularly "cruised" the strip along the beach, just to see and be seen (It's what kids do, and was harmless). People from other parts of the country with much higher home values started moving in and driving up the prices. Once people who paid $1,000,000 (minimum) and up for their homes became the norm, they started complaining about the street traffic, and that they paid all this money for their home and want it stopped. Well, money talks, city council caved in, and they started ticketing people that drove past the beach more than 3 times in a given amount of time. When that kind of thing happens, it's all over as far as I'm concerned. All the kids have to do any more is sit at home and do drugs. And please don't accuse me of being anti-drugs for making that statement, I am definitely not. I just think it's sad that some of these alternative forms of recreation that used to be available for kids or not there now. And heaven help those that don't want to conform to the "new" breed that moved in. People who lived there in peace their whole lives....they don't make it/are force to move out. Call me judgmental, but I would really hate to see something like that to happen to any place in Puna district. It is entirely possible.