Off Topic: The Thread

[gilber33]

Haha. Let me know when. August is shaping up to be a busy month.

[7 VII 7]

Quite different when you own, isn't it? Add on tons of landscaping and a pool - my house would be a wreck if I didn't work at home.

Very different. The landscaping is the part that is driving me nuts. I know what I want to do, I know how to do it, I just dont have the time right now. We are still trouble shooting our flooring issue which I hope to have resolved before Sept.

[gdizzle]

Plenty of people (including me) believe that it's a smart financial move. But the way so many typical middle class families live, I wonder if they really save any money over a lease. All the money people spent customizing and maintaining their home, plus the time... Landscapers, new brick walls, yard furniture, snow blower, weed whacker, ride-on mower, the cost of owning all these motorized tools, every single thing sold in a Sears etc etc.

Well it is a smart finical move. My mortgage is not much more than what I was paying for a 1 bedroom near the city. I am buying a lot of tools for the house but I will use those tools more than once. I rather put the money and effort into the house rather than a lease.

It i just time consuming and the perfectionist that I am, it gets annoying.

The buying of the tools will taper off as the years go on. The only tools I buy now are to replace tools broken, or tools to make my life easier because I'm too lazy to keep doing it the hard way.

[Honeyman]

In this case sweat equity = real equity, Dave. Keep after it!

It will ease up after you get it the way you want it.

[Fudge_Brownie]

The buying of the tools will taper off as the years go on. The only tools I buy now are to replace tools broken, or tools to make my life easier because I'm too lazy to keep doing it the hard way.

For you and I, probably. I similarly wonder how much I'll have spent on tools in my life by the time I have all the ones I want/need versus the cost of just taking it to a mechanic.

But you know the people I'm talking about. The mower sputters a little cause the carbs need cleaning, so its time to buy a new one. Spend $30k redoing their kitchen every 10 years. In between, they add a deck, a pool, a new shed etc. They simply like pimping their house. I'm sure they enjoy it. But I'm not sure the cost benefit is there any more.

[bdimag]

I imagine there's still benefit in being able to afford that new deck after going from renter to owner, though...

I can get a steak from a restaurant and enjoy it just fine, but if I buy it from a store and cook it myself, I can afford some beer to go with it.

[Mesoam]

Or as a renter, you tell your land lord to fix the shit. Then proceed to the restaurant and eat/drink whatever the hell you want

[Fudge_Brownie]

I imagine there's still benefit in being able to afford that new deck after going from renter to owner, though...

I can get a steak from a restaurant and enjoy it just fine, but if I buy it from a store and cook it myself, I can afford some beer to go with it.

I'd say most of the time, people do not free up their budget when purchasing a home. The difference between just the mortgage payment and rent, sure. But then there's taxes, home owners insurance, heat/cooling bill (stand alone building, likely a little larger too, and probably drafty). The point when you afford all kinds of shit is if/when you pay off the mortgage. The stereotype I'm describing usually moves in to a bigger home as they build equity and continues having a payment. Otherwise, home equity loans are quite popular to pay for a lot of the shit I'm describing.

[ErikS]

If you rent you never build equity. Period. If you have 20% to put down on a house in the right area and can get a low rate, it is the best investment you can ever make. The earlier you do it in life, the better.

[survolvo]

http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3522/

This fire is moving its way towards me right now. If you look at the map on the link, I live right next to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. The fire is about 7 miles east of me right now. 500 acres, 0% containment, and some of the most rugged terrain to be had in the area. We have a high pressure building up right now, forecast calls for 100F+ tomorrow inland. I am already getting smoke and ash falling at my house. Hotshots are hiking in as I type. I hope they get a handle on it, but as its almost dark and all air support is going to be leaving I have a feeling this might be a big one. Getting my gear ready and preparing myself for it. Might be a long next few weeks for me. Sending my thought and good wishes to everyone out there on the line right now.

[Mesoam]

get your shit together and make a plan if you can, be safe

[andyb5]

Stay safe Jon, hope your property is ok too!

[survolvo]

Getting my shit together right now, making sure the engine is well stocked and everything is operational. Getting maps out and trying to figure figure out what our most dangerous spots are and who might have to be evacuated if it does come our way.

Fortunately the main part of the property is pretty fire resistant. Being on the ocean, there is a lot of moisture and everything is green. The other 120 acres is pretty dry and can go up in a second, but not much to worry about up there besides our water system.

I'm hoping it calms down a little this evening, but will be hesitant to leave the area the next couple of days.

[Smithwicks]

Are you able to pick up any chatter on the radio's?

[survolvo]

Yes been listening to it all night. They have lowered the estimated acres burned to around 250 and have a few hand crews cutting line, we'll see how the lines hold, sometimes they work, sometime not. No road access, so they are limited on how they can fight the fire and most of it is indirect attack such as cutting line. Some of the hot shot crews have been dropped supply caches, which include pumps and hose, so if they are able to find decent water sources they can lay some hose and try to do some direct attack. Its burning in an area that was burned back in '08, so it has its pros and cons. The pros being, that most of the trees have been burned already, so its harder for them to really start going off, but on the other hand, there is a lot of dead/dying trees and shrubbery that is easily ignitable, and acts as kindling for the rest. It sounds like it has slowed down a little since sun down, but we do have some offshore winds blowing, so hopefully they have some good hand lines in. They have a bunch more air tankers and helos ordered for sun up, so we'll see how they do. The fire is burning in all directions, but the main concerns are to the west, coming towards us and to the east, towards the 101. I am hoping they get some containment on it tonight as the heat has dissipated and spread has slowed. I'm a feeling a little better about it hearing the reports of it being a slow burning fire, so hopefully there will be some progress made tonight. We'll see how its going in the morning, and hope they get the air attack back on ASAP.