The Portal to Boomeranger World

On the Road Again--Across NJ, Pa, Ohio...

I was prepared for gas sticker shock--since NJ has some of the nation's lowest gas prices, plus we get great at the pump service. But zowie, I did not imagine that diesel prices would be almost $4.90. I pity the truckers...

Well, I guess I am one of the whiners Phil Gramm is whining about.

What do I have to complain about? I have a roof over my head, my health, no "mental recession", a great daughter, lots of wonderful friends..so what if my taxes jumped  7.4% this year after almost 5% last...who cares? Right?  Phil Gramm certainly doesn't! His banking and energy deregulation policies set us up for the Enron debacle and the sub prime mortgage bailout. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/.  Cute, huh?

On a brighter note--I was reminded again why "America the Beautiful" is such an apt song...NJ and PA especially around the Delaware Water Gap are so lovely.

Dinner in a diner near Heritage, PA.The local shopper available for my dining pleasure reading was called The Senior Shopper.

One article advised how to dispose of expired prescription drugs--DEFINITELY DO NOT FLUSH THEM DOWN THE TOILET. That is one reason our water supply is contaminated. But the article also advised mixing crushed outdated pills with an inert substance like kitty litter, sealing in a coffee can and tossing in the garbage--YIKES..where does the doc writing the article think the can will end up? It's going in a land fill to leak into the water system. There must be a better way...

Boomers & the Mortgage Crisis -- Help Your Neighbor--Buy Housing and Provide It as Resonable Rents or Prices

I never think of the future, it will come soon enough, says Albert Einstein (www.alberteinsteinblog.org). He makes the point that if you are too future oriented you miss you life right now. I agree and disagree with this insight. If you never think of the future, you might end up as many home owners have--which is--OUT. Even some renters are out on their ear, because their landlords have not looked ahead adequately. But I do agree in general that if you ONLY look ahead you miss life right now and so you have MISSED life by never living it here as it is actually happening.

I am hoping that some boomers will boomerang by banding together, buy devalued homes, fix them if they need to be and then find a way to offer them to families and people in need of housing.

But a word of caution here. As with any real estate purchase and especially when the sharks will be swimming, look carefully at the contracts. Make sure you get a fine tooth inspection. Follow the rules of responsible home buying. Don't look for get rich quick financing. And if you partner, be clear about your responsiblities to and with each other.

I think boomers can do a good turn here. They can make some money and provide help to families and people who need housing.