And here I thought we were in the throes of a recession: what with the housing market and sub-prime loan fiasco; companies closing their doors — laying off thousands; and, banks cutting off credit! But the other day, I went to a real, old-fashioned, California backyard barbecue — that had all-of-the-fixings one would expect from a good American barbecue. The host of the party is in construction (go figure) and his wife is a teacher: they have three sons and many of their friends were over. The bar under the beach Cantina –next to the swimming pool and flagstone jacuzzi — was well-stocked. And the rock-and-roll band played any number of Beach Classics for super listening fare. Everything was really, really cool!
There were only a-couple-of-homes for sale in this upscale So Cal neighborhood – and I was reminded of carefree Summer Days in my home state of Michigan – with children laughing and playing on the trampoline on a lush green lawn (OK, maybe we didn’t have trampolines set up in the Michigan Sixties – but you get the point). It didn’t seem like ANYBODY in attendance was worried about the economy; everybody was just hangin’! And to top-it-off; one-of-our-hosts’ son’s showed super manners.
I was dumbfounded! I just finished 30-years-of-working for the man – and still have to work another five years to get a decent retirement (largely due to my own stupidity – cashing out 2 years of retirement for #2’s Dream Honeymoon – and then, paying into social security one year instead of the California State Teacher’s Retirement System) – but everyday I long for the aforementioned leisurely lifestyle. I want the California lifestyle every Goddamned day! And like so many millions – I throw a-couple-of-bucks away each week dreaming of the Big Score! El Lotto!!
So maybe I don’t have to worry!? Maybe the State’s (and the Nation’s) school districts will stay solvent – and I won’t have to scratch around for something in the next few years: I’ll be able to “kick it” in 2013. Because if all-these-folks at the party, and those folks living around the party, are doing as well as they seem to be – then maybe there’s a hellova a lot more than 5% of the population enjoying the nation’s wealth! But what if what I observed at the party was just another So Cal mirage – and, the illusion of credit suckered me in? What if all-of-these-folks are into debt up-to-their-eyeballs? I never ask these questions – preferring never to add insult to injury, or, rubbing salt into anyone’s wound, or raining on somebody’s party.
And what if, like I read in a recent business article in my beloved Times, the Chinese may be prepared to disrupt the world economy for 18 months – to two years (apparently believing that they can survive a massive dollar dumping)?! Wouldn’t this make any dollars I now have saved – pretty worthless? Would credit debt be forgiven?? Who would start collecting if it wasn’t??? And would I ever realize my retirement with a valueless dollar?
I would hate to think that I will have worked 35 years – teaching the ME generation; the X generation; the Why-oh-Why generation; and, the No Child Left Behind generation to not be able to pay off that 30-year mortgage. But, heck, perhaps I am too cynical – as many of my acquaintances suggest I am! Publisher Arash tried to assure me last night that everything would be fine. I reminded him that I said Obama would get “whacked” before anyone else did – certainly well before Hillary suggested it. So if I’m right, and Arash is wrong, I might be working for the Woman…