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optimistic view of the future
#1
First off, I'm a self-proclaimed idiot (and have been called as such on several occasions) so take me as you will:

Baby Boomers - There's lots and lots of us. As a matter of fact, through no fault of our own, we're the ones f****** everything up. There's just too many of us and too few to follow. Anyway, to state the obvious, we're just now starting to retire. I see a lot of negativity and an undercurrent of fear (no offense) as to the future of The Big Island and no wonder. We're talking about a sparsely populated Island in the middle of the ocean. Being isolated can be scary especially in our unique economic times. With the price of oil skyrocketing the future is unknown and the unkown is always scary as is change. As I said I'm an idiot, but I think the rising price of oil is a good thing. Okay, I know it is bringing real and difficult hardship now but it had to happen sometime and let's face it, we deserve it. We're the generation that brought consumption and consumerism to a high art.

My Grandma was born in 1892 on a farm in NYC. She saw the entire Industrial Revolution start, develop, and begin to decline. What a crazy time. Everything from the automobile to the the airplane to landing on the moon. Whoa!But what a price. When I was born there was no TV but by the time I was three, we were watching full time. Unfortunately we were the beginning of the Industrial Decline which is now starting to come to a head. It has to die if we are going to have the Non-Industrial Revolution to follow. Viva la Revolution!

So, The Big Island. Lots and lots of Baby Boomers are sick to death of winter. And I'll tell you what, if you think Puna can be scary, try living in the Northeast or Detroit or LA. Many of you know what I mean. Where I live you try not to make eye contact with your fellow drivers on the highway. An incorrectly perceived glance can lead to road rage. The Big Island, with it's many subdivisions is in a unique position to accept many newcomers without too much congestion. If oil stays high, traffic won't be a concern. As population thickens town centers will pop up. it's already starting to happen. Retail business will move in much as any frontier area with necessities first. Businesses in the service sector will increase for those unlucky enough to be born after us. But the big business will be - retirement. Fancier adult and long-term care facilities will start to pop up to the North in the Waimea and North Kohala area. Where would you rather be, a crumbling post-industrial city or looking out at Maui and Mauna Kea? Duh!!!! As these are successful, businesses in the field of Old People will recognize the Profit Potential of Puna. Old People. No joke. The price of gas becomes moot as driving becomes more and more dangerous. Services will come to us much as they do in the continuing care facilities on the Mainland. From a working class point of view it's hard to imagine that there is still $$$$$$ out there but there is and plenty of it. It will only take a small percentage of the total amount of people retiring in the next ten to twenty years to fuel this industry. The real beauty of The Big Island is that it can be largely self-sufficient. Three real growing seasons, plenty of livestock and still enough fish. Heat is not an issue. This is a big one. Last year when oil wasn't nearly as high, landlords in the North East weren't filling oil tanks for heat because they couldn't afford it. This winter could bring a public disaster in heat. The Heat Riots of 2009.

Security is another issue that is easy to handle but anyone who has read this much, no offense, but you might be as big an idiot as I am.

Best to all
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#2
Aloha and great post.

Being also a self proclaimed idiot, (who else but a self proclaimed idiot would read news on the web for hours a day on sites like whatreallyhappened.com, rense.com, madcowprod.com, truthout.org, mapinc.org, ect.), when I think of the future, I think of the youtube video, "Shift Happens".

Worth a look for perspective on the future and after all, the future is where we will all spend the rest of our lives!

I find the area to have plenty aloha and Punaweb is a super resource.

Cheers!
Lee Eisenstein
http://members.cruzio.com/~lionel/event

"Be kinder than necessary, as everyone you meet is engaged in some kind of strudel."
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#3
Interesting,you guys have a lot in common ,even you forum names have the same set of letters (-1).
___________________________
Whatever you assume,please
just ask a question first.
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#4
Whoa! That is interesting. I hadn't noticed. And no, we're not the same person. I have to question someone who would notice that. You sound like some kind of idiot to me Smile Sorry, I can't help it. But seriously, I'm serious about my first post. I think that Hawaii and The Big island in particular are in a great position now to start shifting from tourism to Old People. This really is possible and properly thought out could lead to a phenomenal economic model. It would certainly be a boom times for the medical industry. Hospitals would be building rather than laying off and jobs of all kinds would be plentiful. Our future survival depends on our quick adaptability (with no offense to the non-evolutionists). I think it's time to adapt. The condos in Kailua could change their names - "Casa de Old People" "White Old People Sands" "Old People Surf and Racquet" All right, sorry, I really can't help the idiotic joking. I really do think this idea has merit.

With Aloha to all
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#5
No doubt.

Before I became a self professed idiot, I actually thought that the USS Liberty was a movie!

Now, of course, I know better.

Ciao!
Lee Eisenstein
http://members.cruzio.com/~lionel/event

"Be kinder than necessary, as everyone you meet is engaged in some kind of strudel."
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#6
OK; Elbee as someone about to retire to Puna, I resemble that remark about old folks. You may have hit on the key to making up for the tourism loss. Course those of us with one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel, need more medical care and a endless supply of Geritol, so there may need to be a shift in infrastructure, anyone know is you can extract Geritol from Strawberry Guava? Might solve that pesky problem too.[Wink]

dick wilson
dick wilson
"Nothing is idiot proof,because idiots are so ingenious!"
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#7
Another example of net-misunderstanding.I never implied that you are the same person.I guess,I'd better think about 100 possible ways of how my post could be misinterpreted and include the same amount of disclaimers)):
Anyway,no offense taken.

But just remember what Rob suggested:

"When in doubt,assume the best and then ask a question".

Aloha! I am disappearing from your serious thread.
But you wrote interestnig staff,and I still be reading it)):
___________________________
Whatever you assume,please
just ask a question first.
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#8
The price of gas may be moot, but not the high fuel cost of shipping just about everything that is bought in Hawaii, some people just can't afford it. Very few things that are store bought are made or grown in Hawaii. So what if many baby boomers want to live in Hawaii, they will soon realize that they just can't afford to.

Always do what evers next.
Always do what evers next.
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#9
Those retirees who either have a good bundle of savings or can substantially reduce their lifestyles (of consumpton) will be ok. The problem will be medical, the state and counties aren't making it as providers of same. Even If you can pay for it, insurance is hard to get, and for those with pre conditions, near impossible. This will be the governing factor on retirees.
Incidentally, a major medical device maker (medtronics) owner, resettled to Hamakua side, and sponsored a hospital in Waimea! He recently removed himself from any further work with them! Did the state or county have anything to do with that?
If the medical business is anything like any other business, coming to Hawaii is more a curse than an investment.
Gordon J Tilley
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#10
I guess it would depend on what side of the demographics curve you live on, but the thought of wiping butts for 8 bucks an hour is hardly optimistic.
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