Briefly, here’s my story:
We’ve lived in El Paso, TX for the last 7 years. We moved there in 2007, chasing construction work, and were going to stay there for one year. Just to try something new and different. One year turned into two. Two years turned into four. Four years turned into 7.
Now, that was no problem for me. We live in a pretty nice house with an indoor pool. We just remodeled the pool room and it looks FABULOUS! If I don’t say so myself. I make pretty decent income working for a commercial construction company. They’re known, and have a high reputation, across the entire state of Texas. There’s consistent work in construction in El Paso, and minimal travel. I found the idea of permaculture and fell in love with the idea of greening the desert. I worked almost non-stop in my backyard implementing the ideas I’ve learned. I’ve developed a few friends, although none particularly “close.”
If you’re keeping score: Tim – Nice house, good income, good company, steady work, a hobby I love, and a few friends.
My wife, on the other hand, had one big obstacle she couldn’t overcome. Her family lives 800 miles away in a small town in SE Oklahoma. This was consistently a roadblock in our marriage and would come up as “an issue” every six months or so. I finally realized, It doesn’t matter how nice I make the pool room, her heart isn’t here. It doesn’t matter if I planted fruit trees in the back yard, her heart is with her family. Around Christmas time, we had another “discussion” about the issue, and I’d had it up to here. (See? I’m holding my palm at approximately to my forehead.)
I made arrangements with my company, and we’re currently in the process of relocating to Dallas, TX. That’s about 3 hours away from her mom & sister & family. By relocating, I mean that I am up here now, sleeping on the couch of my brother’s one bedroom apartment, and she’s coming up June 1 when the kids get out of school. We decided not to pull the kids out mid year.
The back story took longer than I wanted, but that’s the gist of it. Now, here’s what I wanted to share and get some feedback on. I get my news almost exclusively from TBP. I think Jim does a great job of aggregating current news stories from around the web that are relevant to our economic situation, the police state, Government Gone Wild, etc. I sometimes wonder if I’m biased to the point that I’m only gathering information that aligns with my current worldview. (Isn’t there a name for that?) According to everything I read, the US economy is in complete shambles. The stock market is poised for a major crash. Unemployment is at an all-time high. The Free-Shit Army marches on, taking, taking, always taking. Race relations are on the threshold of a major shooting war, The Fed keeps printing, Buy gold & silver now, while you still can.
Yet, my experience in Dallas for the last three weeks is exactly the opposite of that. To say that Dallas is experiencing a boom is the understatement of the year. Here are my anecdotal observations:
Every major highway is under construction. And I don’t mean a lane here, and an exit ramp there. No, I mean EVERY FUCKING MAJOR HIGHWAY IN THIS CITY IS UNDER TOTAL RECONSTRUCTION! If the infrastructure in America is failing, it damn sure is getting re-built in Dallas. From north-central Dallas out to the west side of Ft. Worth, they are rebuilding every fucking road in this town.
Commercial construction appears to be at an all-time high. In addition to the highway construction, they are building something on every vacant lot and every field. We met with our roofer the other day to finalize our contract. In making small talk, the roofer said there are eight warehouse facilities over 1 million square feet under development right now. He said that in 30 years of roofing in Dallas, he’s never seen that many of that size, at one time. He said he’s seen as many as four at one time, but never eight. One thing about the construction industry: If you want to know the heartbeat of construction, talk to the guys who make their living listening to the pulse. They know.
Traffic is everywhere. It takes me an hour to get anywhere, no matter what time I go, what route I take, or what I plan to do. (I hate that shit, by the way. El Paso wins in fucking SPADES, in terms of traffic analysis!) All the shopping centers, restaurants, retail stores, etc. appear to be full-throttle busy.
All this to say: I’m experiencing cognitive dissonance since I moved here. Things on the ground in The Metroplex don’t align with what I’m reading about in TBP. So, I’m left with a couple of possible conclusions:
- The alternative media is full of shit. I’ve only been selecting news that fits my preconceived notions. Now, I’m faced with the stark reality that the economy of the US is fucking boiling hot right now, and I don’t need to worry about keeping some dollars tucked in the mattress for safekeeping. OR,
- All economies are local. The local economy here is burning hot, but that doesn’t mean that major shopping centers in the NE aren’t emptying out at a rapid pace. Maybe both are true: Things are good here, not-so-good in other places. OR,
- The local economy here is over-heating and destined for a dump. The developer that we’re working with now on the current project mentioned to me that this is always the case: Real estate developers build as fast as they can, because the first one to open their doors wins, and they overbuild, and then, there’s too much space.
- Maybe this is the last big hurrah before the hangover.
- Perhaps there are other options I’m not thinking of.
I know that several other TBP’ers are from the Great State of Texas. Your thoughts?
Tim,
Texas is one of the few states in the Union that has prospered in recent years due to good state leadership in the economic sphere and Dallas (plus Houston) is ground zero for the state in terms of wealth. New York (Manhattan) is also booming, as is much of South Florida. Don’t be fooled. These islands of plenty are propped up by the artificial injection of Federal Reserve money. Just wait a while longer…….
Dallas and Texas in general did not boom from 2000 through 2007. Therefore, the bust did not impact them very much. The state has created jobs because they are relatively business friendly compared to California and the Northeast. Dallas and Austin also have a lot of colleges which provide a consistent flow of economic activity.
But, at the end of the day Texas has benefited greatly from $100 per barrel oil and the shale gas boom. This generates profits for the oil companies which translates into tax revenue for the state. If oil were to drop to $60 per barrel and natural gas to $2, the Texas miracle would end quickly.
Secondly, the $2 billion per day pumped into the banks by Yellen/Bernanke for the last four years has to go somewhere. Dallas, Houston and Texas in general appears to be a good investment, so the money is flowing to developers. It sounds like Dallas is in the boom phase created by easy money and delusion. It will end badly. It always does.
If you get a chance, visit the east side of Michigan, or the west side, or the south west side. About the only city in Michigan doing good is Grand Rapids and that’s only because of the wealthy philanthropic families.
Yup, like sage said, remove the stimulus, remove the QE, remove the monetizing. Let’s see then.
Don’t be fooled Tim. I have friends in TX and all I hear about is how TX is booming. I have no doubt but the tidal wave of financial disaster headed our way is GLOBAL. The federal govt is insolvent and living on fumes.
When I visit family in Boise the place looks like a boomtown. Restaurants are busy, roads under construction and urban sprawl spreading out in every direction. It is not like that at all where I live.
Consider yourself fortunate and grab all you can with both hands. Try to get a place in a direction opposite of that that the FSA will head when the free shit runs out. Enjoy it while it lasts.
I_S
@Tim,
We experience the same cognitive dissonance as you – only in New York New Jersey Metro.
Manhattan and Brooklyn are booming – North Jersey’s largest growth industry are companies advertising, “For Lease”.
All of my favorite stores have shut down in our little city, only 7 miles from Manhattan. Virtually NOTHING has taken their place. Our local restaurants and shops are hanging on by a thread.
In upstate NY, outside of Albany, restaurants are packed. The malls are mobbed.
In Albany, the government bubble is propping up the local economy. In NYC, its Walls Street, and drug money laundered thru real estate purchases. The average price of a NYC condo is $1M – that only gets you a one bedroom with a peekaboo view.
So, enjoy the local boom while it lasts. The alternative reality gets kinda weird – but if you continue to hang around TBP, you won’t stay upbeat about the future for long. Heh.
@Tim, waaaaaaaaay up to the north, we are experiencing what you see going on there. I myself have had similar thoughts (is it real?) and can only offer this.
What happens when the cheap money stops flowing?
To me, that economic heroin is the reason for the high of highs we too are experiencing. The mal-investment is epic and not sustainable. We also did not participate in any other ‘recovery’ to this extent – and everyone…..and I mean every fucking one of my fellow citizens believes that this is all real, and are going ‘all in’……because money is so ‘cheap’. Nothing could make a banker happier to hear (I’m not a banker btw).
Not that you asked, but in my way of thinking, like how a rim/wheel can be balanced with a small weight – it’d take a ten pounder to make it spin when its not. WHEN the smell of rotting stink is first detected and those in the know decide to cash in – they may get lucky, the very, very first ones. The rest are going to START with a sharp ax and hack giant amounts off their asking price (for this, that, or the rest). But here’s the thing, the very real big thing – they can’t. Since money’s so cheap they’re all mostly a bunch of ‘paper tigers’, unable to take the heat and/or a loss (even a little in terms of %). Cue Jenga analogy.
Sorry to blab, just my thoughts.
@ Treemagnet:
I did ask for your opinion. Yours & Jim’s and Mary’s and all the other TBP’ers. I guess I just wanted a sounding board to bounce my opinion off of others.
This move has kind of uprooted my plans, but nevertheless, going to keep moving forward with plans of awareness & preparedness. I’m going to work with my wife on a plan we can both live with. This move has us hemorrhaging money out the seams right now. I want to build up a bank roll, quick, and start looking at properties to continue my permaculture designs on. Would like to start a side business that incorporates the permie principles. Maybe rain collection systems.
Maybe now not the best time to buy property. Maybe wait until the downturn hits and everybody is looking for cash. On the other hand, the best time to plant a tree is 10 years ago. The next best time to plant a tree is right now.
Nice post, Tim. Hope to hear more from you.
As others have said, all economies are local. You may be seeing a boom in Texas because of a positive investment climate driven by
(1) strong state financials, a well-run, fairly conservative approach to spending / regulation
(2) influx of businesses from California (remember how Texas pitched companies there in 2013?)
(3) as Admin points out, Texas didn’t have as much of a bubble burst to overcome
Here in Chicago and Illinois, our infrastructure is falling apart. Water mains, streets, transit systems all need overhaul but there’s no money for it. Schools have to be closed and, even then, the Education system runs massive losses. Regulations are killing small business (see Admin’s “Interesting Reads” post), our f-ed up parking deal has put a damper on local retail and entertainment districts, housing is almost impossible to sell and restaurants are near-empty most nights of the week. And we all know that lack of employment means too many yuuts with nothing better to do than kill one another.
We had our heyday during the housing bubble. Now we suffer the hangover from it. And that’s before our unfunded pension liabilities really begin to rear their ugly head.
This is explained in the book “The Fate of the States”.
Have been to DFW a few times recently. Rush hour traffic is exactly as you described, but there are an awful lot of “for lease” signs and empty buildings in formerly busy business centers too. The larger areas in TX seem better off than most states for the reasons mentioned by Southern Sage and Admin.
Here in the fairly wealthy SW suburbs of Houston, while I’m not sure I would say the economy is “booming” it certainly is solid. There is still quite a bit of housing and retail construction going on…all high end stuff.
The company I work for is doing pretty well and is in fact expanding (a tiny amount of our work comes from the Houston area), but we do quite a bit in Dallas/Ft. Worth.
Just the other day I read that Occidental Petroleum, which is based in Los Angeles, is moving their headquarters to Houston.
PS, If anyone is contemplating moving here, watch out for cops. They are everywhere and they seem to have nothing better to do than “traffic enforcement.” I bet they are on a quota.
I go to Houston a lot and it has a booming oil and gas business.Jobs of every kind are there for the taking.I also read that Texas is debt free and energy independent .Don’t know how long it will last but right now Texas is a good place to live and work.
From the standpoint of a national average, “Hey, we’re in trouble!” But, obviously, there are pockets of financial health–and Dallas is one of them.
For how long? I’ve no idea.
I’d be living and enjoying life there, but still prepping in order to deal with an uncertain future. IMO, some rational thinking about “the possible oopsies” allows one to live in a minimal-stress manner. It’s the old Six-P deal: “Prior planning prevents piss-poor performance.”
Texas and various other areas mentioned above are benefiting from the initial “cheap-money” phase of the “Crack-Up Boom”. However, no one in his right mind would “want” to live in Texas, BC-LR to all.
Wasem,
People get defensive about the places they grew up. I know of a lady in Detroit Michigan who wouldn’t live anywhere else. You couldn’t pay me enough money to move to that shithole. In fact the entire NE part of the country can just kiss my ass and the same goes with most of the Great Lakes region. Texans are very proud of their state; I am really not sure why. There are worse places to live but there is little to the place that I can see which is endearing, that is unless you like 110 degree summers @ 99% humidity, flat and uninteresting countryside and an shallow gulf with no surf that is brown from mississippi river silt.
Other than the shrimp, compared to the pacific nw, the seafood here sucks. Tilapia?..nigger please.
I know quite a few people in Midland/Odessa area. There was never any traffic there (10 years ago) and now there is traffic all of the time. People are coming in from everywhere looking for work. The property values have skyrocketed. The reason for people coming out to this piece of flat dirt is OIL!!! Cha-ching!
It’s the same story in Austin, Texas. I got flipped off in traffic on an icy day by somebody with an Alaska plate. I have seen licenses plates from states that I even forgot existed, like New Hampshire. People are coming in from everywhere in droves looking for work and clogging up the interstate.
Texas has no state tax. Lots of land. Great climate. And lots of natural resources. We are in a bit of a drought, though. We get chemtrailed on a daily basis. Texas is a pocket of resistance and I expect TPTB to coming raining down on it at any second. That’s why I pray for not just our country but the great state of Texas. God bless you all and Jim Quinn for running a site that is filet mignon for my brain!!!!!!!!!!
Just a couple more anecdotal entries:
We travel to the San Diego area fairly frequently. And nearly every time we comment on how much things seem to be booming there. Restaurants full, parking lots for stores full, even at times like after Christmas when you’d think it would die down. The only hiccup was this last December, for the first time I started to get a sense of less-than-full.
The Seattle area has rising housing prices, and in fact is a fairly hot market. Tech, biotech, Boeing (even with the corporate HQ moved out of state), and related aeronautics industries anecdotally are keeping things moving along.
I guess there are several of us regulars here in the mitten state. In Michigan, the nicer areas are puttering along pretty much just fine, and everything else is in a continuing gradual slide. If you stick to the professional/elite burbs things are fine, although not growing at all. Leave those burbs for areas that were traditionally middle class – whether college degree, skilled trade or blue collar – and they are all stagnating and slowly dying. For my metro area overall, I would say there are about five restaurants closing for each one opening, and about 3:1 on retail stores. The shopping malls are in rough shape with more empty stores and nontraditional uses (like kid play areas, large fitness clubs in the mall, junky worthless retail, etc.). There is only the tiniest bit of new home construction, in a very few areas. Traditionally depressed areas are staying that way or getting worse. In the big city I see more people on foot and fewer gang-banger style cars driving, so I think the motoring population is shrinking.
I’m not in Grand Rapids, but I don’t think it’s super healthy either. I sure read a lot of crime stories about GR these days. Up until 3-4 years ago I thought GR was almost totally safe, leave your doors unlocked at night kind of place.
From Northern Indiana, and in construction. I expect this year to be better than the last, things are picking up slowly…nothing to brag about. Most of the michigan guys come down here to work. Probably 75% of our employees live in Michigan. We stay away and rarely bid up there as you can’t even break even for current prices. Mall by N.D. in Mishawaka is always packed as well as all shopping centers, but it is a college town.
Government work is scheduled to pick up quite a bit as far as roads, bridges, sewers etc.
Timing is still to early, keep prepping. Check out Armstrong on timing economy should get interesting end of 2015. This year is suppose to be an interesting year on the war front though.
I think if people have a job they just keep spending and borrowing. Those that don’t notice the decay as its in their face. I suspect is was no different during the 20’s.
http://blogs.marketwatch.com/capitolreport/2014/02/19/the-incredible-gdp-map-that-shows-half-of-output-generated-by-a-few-cities/
The incredible GDP map that shows half of U.S. output is generated by a few cities.
No other real data, just a map….
Tim,
I second the replies already made to your story. The only thing really holding up our economy is the Fed’s Quantitative Easing and propaganda about economic “recovery”.. It’s the main (perhaps only) reason for stock market gains too. So instead of wondering if many on this site are biased (nothing wrong with considering this), when you look at all the facts from a variety of sources to avoid bias, you should find that things are actually not going well for most citizens. Some may question this but the government is providing some type of monthly subsidy to over half the population of our country. They wouldn’t be out shopping and spending money if this weren’t the case.
The next question everyone wonders is when will our economy decline enough to eventually collapse. Some believe it should already have happened. I can only speculate that the Fed can’t keep the Ponzi scheme running forever especially because of growing debt, lack of growth of the millions of good paying jobs nationwide needed to reduce unemployment and allow people to prosper, grossly underestimated joblessness, and the Federal Reserve’s money creation which devalues our dollar plus their zero interest rate policy that prevents people from building savings and therefore hurts them and our economy. Of course if the Fed tries to raise the rates too quickly, hyperinflation will kill our economy.
I’m sincerely glad you’re doing well. But the Fed, government, and the media tying to hold our economy together with nothing more than propaganda and artificial props from the Fed can’t keep things going indefinitely. Other factors such as climate issues that negatively affect commodities, resource depletion (food, water, energy, etc.), and others will also contribute to dragging our (and the world economy) down.
There are several things at play here, and I think what the admin and others have said is true. But let me add my perspective.
There is a huge demographic shift going on in the U.S. I live in the Austin area, where I practice dentistry. There has been a large influx of medical professionals into this area from all over the country, and especially from states that were hit hard in the bust, and also from states with high state income taxes. My own business, although decent, is NOT as robust as it was pre-2008. Whether this is true because of increased competition or due to less money in working people’s pockets is hard to say. Probably some of both. Many of my long time patients have struggled to find work in recent years, regardless of the employment stats.
There has also been a huge influx of wealthy Americans, particularly retired people. Lake LBJ is in nearby Llano County, historically a low population rural county with an ag based rural economy. Now it has become home to a huge influx of extremely wealthy retired people from other states.
Starting in 2009, I attempted to make some small investments in residential rental properties here. By 2011, every property I considered buying was snapped up by investors from out of town. People with deep pockets, willing to pay cash and outbid the asking price within a day or two of houses hitting the MLS. I stated then that I felt real estate was in a bubble here, and I’d say that still goes at the moment. A much higher percentage of residential real estate here is in the hands of big investors now than has been the norm, and if they ever do start to deleverage I think the market will be affected much more than it was in 2008.
The state coffers have been buoyed by the shale oil money. However, as recently as a couple of years ago the state was forcing public schools to cut teachers and staff (no teachers union here) and there is still talk about raiding what is known in Texas as the “rainy day fund” (a set-aside from oil and gas revenues). The elephant in the room is the drought, which has cost agribusiness 8 billion dollars so far, with no relief in site. This is approximately the amount of money in said rainy day fund.
So there has been a boom of sorts, but it hasn’t been the kind of tide that lifts all boats. And it’s not the kind of recovery that tempts me to borrow money to invest in my own business or anything else at the moment. I’m trying to stay lean and mean, because I do expect the other shoe to drop and for us to see some serious asset deflation within a couple of years.
Tim – Fill your pockets while the boom is rolling because it won’t last forever. I think you hit on the reasons why the economy is so strong in Texas when you stated why you went to El Paso in the first place, you were chasing construction work. With the booming build out comes jobs and opportunities and other people will follow behind you to get those. Areas in the north have had factories shut down and jobs disappear, the people that had those jobs still want to work and will go to the places that can offer employment and affordable housing. Right now Texas is that place. Look what $220k will buy you in the suburbs of Houston or Dallas versus what that same amount will get you in the Northwest or Grand Rapids and etc. It’s not even close. $700k will get you a 1200 square foot brownstone in Philadelphia but outside of Houston it will get you a 4,000 sq ft McMansion on one acre with an in ground pool in a gated neighborhood. It will stay that way until prices are driven up by the new money coming in, wages will increase to keep up with the cost of living and so it goes.
We experienced a similar cycle in the Northwest back in the late 80’s and 90’s, especially in the Seattle area. People in California were dumping their million dollar bungalows in SoCal and coming up here and building huge estates with the proceeds, which of course drove up property values for everybody else, starting the cycle of higher costs of living, higher property taxes, higher costs for new infrastructure and on and on. Today the economy is still vibrant due to the industries in the area that continue to thrive, but new construction has come to a virtual standstill compared to what was happening 10/20 years ago and housing is stagnate for the most part. Will it come back who knows, probably but not like it was before.
So for now I guess it is good to be you.
Tim,
All you had to say was “wife” and I could have inferred the rest. Interesting, though. THANKS
We are blowing and going in west texas and south east new mexico. Oiland gas plus farming. Need work and drug free you got a job. A little common sense your a manager.
Just found this map which explains everything:
http://blog.expertmarket.us/america-map-by-gdp
Good piece,Tim.. It’s great to get first hand information from those actually doing it and being there.
Nothing falls apart (or shoots to the moon) in a straight line. There are rotten pockets that fall through here and there while there are locations where everything turns out right and they prosper (for a while and that may be a good long while).
One good thing for Texas is the absolutely awesome movement of individuals and corporations out of California. California, in addition to it’s drought, is home to an absolute idiotic government and tax system and that government (as well as county and local) are really trying hard to squeeze blood out of what few turnips survive. They are driving people out of California in ever increasing numbers.
Now, Texas is a good stop on the way out of California on the way most anywhere. No state income tax, a pro-business attitude (and all the other good things that come with that. Texas is syphoning up a significant number of those companies and people leaving CA. Those companies and peo[le bring money with them to invest, rebuild and expand if they are in the right business.
You are in the business of serving that influx of people. Things should be good and may continue to be good until our National Fiscal and Monetary policies come a cropper and drag everything down with them.
Make your preps – you’re a smart guy with good ideas. Don’t for a minute think that Texas is going to be immune from the train wreck that is going to happen as the Fourth Turning continues its unstoppable roll across two generations. Take advantage of what you’re doing and how you’re doing it for as long as the good times roll.
Be sure and have a Plan “B” that is in place as soon as possible. You will sleep better at night and work better during the day!
All the best and keep us posted!
‘ol Muck
I’m in Central Massachusetts. Things are . . okay here but very uneven.
A previous responder mentioned that things always seemed good in San Diego. Maybe I’m wrong about this but I thought that the San Diego area was practically dripping with “defense” money. (The best “defense” is a nation subjugating offense!). “Defense” is an industry that has been impervious to business cycles.
Here in Massachusetts, we’ve been the beneficiary of two other industries that have been legislated into being impervious to business cycles. I speak, of course, of the “education” and “health care” industries which as presently configured need quotation marks just as much as our “defense” industry.
If not, I think this would be one big economic wasteland. Regulation is ridiculous. Years ago, a then riding high computer company wanted to open a sort of conference center in a central Massachusetts town near me. This podunk put obstacle after obstacle in the way of the computer company and tried to extort one thing after another. Finally the computer company got sick of it and decided to move some of its operations down south. The City of Atlanta pretty much said, “Tell us what you want. We’ll make sure you get it.” So, a dumb little town in Massachusetts wasn’t as welcoming to an utterly benign business project as the City of Atlanta which comparatively wouldn’t have noticed whether the thing was built or not.
Eventually, the impossibility of the “education” racket and of the present setup of the “health care” industry will have to reckon with reality. And that will be a verrry bad time to be living in Massachusetts.
There are space available signs sprouting like daisies in commercial spaces.
Dallas is not an island, when this bitch blows up large population centers will be the last place on earth you’ll want to be. Look at the riots taking place on your TV, its not taking place out on the farm some where. I live six hours northeast of Dallas and that’s a huge concern of mine. Dallas is the reason I keep my relocation plans in order, six hours out May not be enough.
If you believe like I do that a major war will happen in this fourth turning before the collapse of the dollar, it would be hard to overlook the fact that major populations centers are targets which would include Dallas. When the next major war comes our way the US will get hit, no doubt about it. (Z stands and applauds)
“I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.” Albert Einstein.
This fourth turning will be magnitudes more devastating than those that have gone before. There will be no do overs, the only chance is to prepare before the storm hits.
Tim, I am sure someone just like you rolled in to Ancient Rome and experienced similar things, oh the coliseum, look, money everywhere. Rome is the center of the world she will stand forever.
Don’t go to sleep the future belongs to the vigilant.
Thanks, Sensetti:
You’ve hit on probably my biggest misgiving of this whole adventure (Besides the fucking traffic!)
So, on the one hand, I can earn a better living in the city than I can in the country. If I move to small town Oklahoma, then my income gets chopped by some fraction. But, you’re right. When the free shit spigot stops flowing, the Free Shit Army goes apeshit crazy.
So, a few thoughts:
#1) I rent a house in the city and buy some rural land in the sticks. Spend every weekend and free time getting it permie’d out to produce.
#2) Talk my wife into just going ahead and moving the final distance to rural Oklahoma.
Anyway, at this point, it probably devolves into things more personal than I’m willing to delve into here on a public forum. Suffice it to say, you all have helped me to solidify my thinking on this issue.
Dallas good now, not so good long term.
Hey, was anyone in the South for the megastorm? I’m wondering if anyone visited the grocery stores to see them picked clean? I would like to see on-the-spot eyewitness info on what was taken and what was left.
I saw the bread was gone.
Eggs and milk, too, I imagine.
How about microwave meals?
Steaks and beef?
OJ?
Canned goods
Now, I’m really curious-
How much did they take of:
Flour, Wheat, Oats, Rice, etc
Spices
Baking ingredients, i.e. sugar, yeast, lard/crisco/cooking oil
instant soup
instant potatoes
dried beans
I’ve never seen a grocery store picked clean, even with a bad storm, so I’m curious what folks saw. I know everyone makes survival french toast when there’s a storm, so they need bread, eggs, milk. But I wonder if anyone gets staples to make their own stuff?
Texas is definitely experiencing a boom. I was unemployed in CA, at the end of the year I took a job in a town near the Gulf Of Mexico 45 minutes South of Houston. After I got here, I found out that there is about 5 BILLION Dollars worth of investment going into already established plants. There are oil/gas refineries here, plastics plants (polyethylene?- the core product that closed cell foam & every plastic is base on,) and chemical plants (like chlorine, etc.) They are all tearing down and building out, and these plants are big…..one of them looks like Cybertron from a bridge, pipes as far as the eye can see. There is also a port in this area that brings in all kinds of stuff.
I could go on, but I have to go to work….to sum up: CA is dogshit with no jobs TX (where I live) is currently flush with money.
Tim,
Your anecdotal observations …. well, that’s a fine piece of writing that I enjoyed.
Things are going well for you. Again .. great!
So, you came here asking for opinions. (I almost sense “survivor’s guilt” on your part …lol)
So, are you happy now? I trust that the answers have CRUSHED your dreams and VANQUISHED your hopes. Your “good times” are BUT AN ILLUSION!! You’re goin’ DOWN, baby … DOWN!!!
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card802 and westcoaster provided a link to a map which basically reflects the majority opinion here.
Remarkable.
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Tim nothing wrong with living anywhere, just have an exit plan, a fall back position, and keep your head up. It sounds like you have them all. Good luck with your new job.
BTW one of my fall back locations is in the Kiamichi mountains I have a couple acres of land there. But once again I am concerned if the population of Dallas unloads, how many and which direction will they scatter. New Orleans and Katrina are a good example, the cops of Slidell Louisiana held off hordes of New Orleans residents trying to cross the bridge into their town. The lesson to be learned is locals will lock down their own regions and will defend territory with lethal force. Having a legit reason to enter the area is the key.
I’m in Houston. We’re growing but NEVER to the rate of Dallas. I have a sis and parents up there. It blows me away every visit. I’m at a total loss to understand where all the money is coming from. It can’t ALL be QE, can it?
I don’t care. I’m getting ready for the worse. The sun might be out today, but a hurricane is on tap for tomorrow.
I don’t live in TX, and I didn’t read all the comments. I just have only one thing to say.
My older brother lives in Bismark, ND. He is a (fairly recent) college grad who does architectural/planning drawings for a company there. When he started, he was doing layout plans for oil drilling pads. Then he was doing drawings for housing complexes, roadways, etc to facilitate various city’s expansions. These days? He’s getting sent home early due to lack of work.
The fracked wells are not producing enough to cover the expense of their creation. They’re not producing long enough to warrant pipelines being built to take their flow. Truckers come and pick up what they produce and deliver it to rail-heads. The sweetest spots have been hit, it’s increasingly getting marginal.
I too would have trusted your “ear to the ground” listening to the construction industry guys, but I’ve learned if you want to be “even closer to the ground,” listen to the guys doing the planning for just that. The bakken is about to go bust. I have to wonder just how far behind Eagle Ford is.
V what you say is true I know the oil and gas biz.