Most everyone is feeling the grip of the economy lately. Here in Upstate NY, we have felt the pinch for quite a few years now. This was at one time, quite a tourist area. Ski slopes were not that far away for the winter and the nearby lakes have been enjoyed by many throught the summer. The winters haven't been as lengthy or snowy as they once were.Many of the nearby areas built outlet malls to keep the tourists here and are finding that with it, they lost the charm of some very quaint little villages. Now with gas prices and the mortgage crisis, I wonder what will become of places such as this area, where so much industry has gone overseas, and the tourism dollars may be scarce.
The garden will be a little bigger this year, I am sure. Already, we are planning out what to plant. We decided last Fall that we really wanted to spend more time together with the kids. Picnics in the park by Tim's and some in the old cemetaries here are top on our list. Lazy evenings by the pool and an occassional movie at the Drive In are favorites here. We have a area that we make a fire at as often as we can~ the kids all enjoy roasting marshmallows and hotdogs. It is a time for us to talk about our day, voice our hopes and dreams and yes.. even a scarey story is told. Keep it simple...
The area has been seeing some regrowth this past year and should continue ahead. We are all unsure what the nation's economy will do in this area, but we remain possitive. We plan a little more, to waste a lot less. Slow down and enjoy what we have with friends and family. Realize in all of this, that we are rich indeed.
8 comments:
Oh my, I just Love that Darling whale below!
Sandra Evertson
Hi Stac,
What a beautifully written piece, what a great whale...Im lookin for Jonah...
Love the new look and blog makeover...great job...Hugs, Kat
Dearest Stacey, No truer words have been written. Amidst the troubling times as long as we have our health and those we love near we can weather what ever comes our way.
Perhaps walking or biking more often instead of jumping in the car would do well for Mother Earth and our pocketbooks.The simpler things like drive-ins and roasting marshmallows reminds me of when I was a child.We didn't have alot back then and we survived.
I've missed you.Have a wonderful weekend!
XO Susan
Hi Stacey. We have to stay possitive. We are living in some very interesting times, and I do believe things will get better, they always do. In the meantime my heart does go out to those that are struggling, and loosing their homes. I just can't imagine.
Carole
Hi Stacey, I'm a neighboring NYer and wonder these same thoughts. We are retired military also, my hubby from Liverpool came here to be in the boondocks. We also have a fire pit, love the warm summer nights around the fire; listening to the frogs croak in the background. As a child, I'd fall asleep listening to those very same sounds, I love it here in upstate. Just remember, If there's a will, there's a way... We will get through this just as our elders went through so many changes; for instance from trains to automobiles. I work outside the home as a caregiver and just thrive on their historical stories.
Hi Stacey, Mel here from Nickers and Neighs. I live in the Watertown
area. Been here now for 15 years, we retired from the Army 7 years ago now.
Oh Gosh Mel~ You are in such a snowy area! Hope the winter hasn't been too bad there. We've been in the ice business lately. Here's to a quick Spring!
I love your ideas of doing simpler activities - ones that don't cost and arm and a leg. We don't have to do recreational shopping to find contentment. Beauty is all around us and all we have to do is open our eyes and look.
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