the good old days

hi live in a small town in s.w. ontario near the water. i once lived in toronto and i experienced a big city. to-day i went to the corner butcher and bought some meat . somehow he always takes care to wrap each serving carefully. i feel good giving him the business versus a big chain. we are now going to be hit with very expensive food and gas. why??? we make the gas here for god's sake.my son lives and works in the middle east. he pays 29 cents a gallon. why do we pay this senseless price while taking away money for maybe fun? or is fun a thing of the past? just me venting on the realities of our lives in spring 2008 here in canada.was it not better when life was simple. i think so jess

7 Comments

I remember the "good ole days"

by Swedeheart - 2008-05-02 01:05:45

Jess,

Here in California we have the same issues... as a retired person I constantly battle the money choices. I was raised in a small farming community. We grew a lot of our own crops, raised our own cattle, had a dairy... shared with the neighbors and they shared with us. One would grow peaches, the other maybe almonds... or olives... or whatever. I never purchased meat in a store until after I was married! I purchased what looked "edible" not by price. Wow! was that a shocker! I never purchased gas at a filling station either (we had our own fuel pump on the ranch) until I was in college. I didn't know how to work the automatic pumps! (Ours at home was a hand crank!)
When a neighbor was in need, everyone pitched in and helped them out, whether it was to feed their cattle, plow their field, or watch their kids, or give them food... somehow a lot of that has gone away in our busy lives. For those of us a bit older it is rather sad...

But, there is hope. I was in a very serious earthquake and saw the same helpful kindess come out of total strangers... maybe this current economic and transportation fiasco will help us all find the good in others.

Swedeheart

Because we accept it...

by dward - 2008-05-02 03:05:13

When it comes to paying rediculous prices for gas - I am amazed at how "accepting" the masses are.
I have seen a few times when it is posted all over the internet to "stop buying gas from just one company for one day"
But we don't bother.
It's easier to "do nothing" and "complain."

(Not saying all PM club people are doing this - I'm talking the general public in North America.)

THIS is why they get away with it... simply because they can.

Think about this - If the public DID organize (help each other out) and for one day (or better yet, one week) bought no gas from, say, Shell.
With the statement that we will continue to target any particular Oil company at any given time if prices get out of control.

I would think that would get their attention.

This group has members from all over. WE could start this movement.

I can see the headlines now: "Pacemaker Club starts mass effort to combat gas prices!!!"

Remember - All significant changes start with ONE idea.

So here's an idea:
Starting the week of May 25th - Nobody buy gas from SHELL OIL (Canada) or EXXON (US) until prices are reduced to at least $1.05 / litre.

Get all your friends and family on board.

Post this all over the internet, in your local paper, phone it in to your local radio station - TELL EVERYBODY!!!

Don't wait for "somebody else" to do this. YOU do it!
Be part of the solution.
Let's quit talking about it and take back some of the good ol' days!

You said what we are all thinking!

by bambi - 2008-05-02 03:05:54

Thanks for bringing up a subject on all our minds! We pretty much feel useless as citizens who work, pay taxes, and vote in our countries. It seems the more we contribute monetarily, the less it "buys" us. Such as, decent housing, health care, and a little bit to enjoy ourselves with! No wonder we become more distrusting and cynical about our governments! It's not about what "we" want or need anymore as average citizens- it's all about the government's agenda!

I think back...

by Blueaustralia - 2008-05-02 05:05:47

I think back to the days when we were really struggling and so happy to achieve the smallest things. Kids today want everything instantly. I think the "make do" attitude faded with my kids. I remember it was a case of waste not want not. I am still the same and just can't get used to the ways of the modern lifestyle. Hence we live in the country. Maybe it's the best place for me with my pm. I love it. There are so many simple things that bring me extreme joy. Even years ago when I was working if we had a clear out we would hike all our used goodies into the rest room area for anyone to take anything we had finished with. My kids clothes were well appreciated by working mums like myself. I think we live in the "curse of the credit card" times that bit of plastic can cause so much misery. I'd better get off my soapbox. Good to air our opinions now and then. Cheers to all. Billie

Reflection

by maryanne - 2008-05-02 11:05:39

I guess I kinda of did things a bit backwards.....I grew up in the city...lived in the city all my life....my mom and dad raised 12 children in the city....don't know how they did it but they did....people always wondered why we weren't out on a farm....anyhow....I have moved from that big city to a very small community of a few hundred....I will grow my veggies this year....if the rain will stop,lol.....not much I can do about the gas...except maybe not use so much....simple life....I don't know if there is such a thing....living on a farm and working the fields may sound simple but it is a lot of hard work both physically and mentally....simple to me is just slowing down....when I see the eagle on the roadside I do stop and watch...when I see the storm out on the ocean and herring fishery going on...I stop and watch....when the earth smells so fresh and crisp and my dog and I are out for a walk...I do stop and take a few deep breaths....being able to do that is the best thing for me....I don't miss the city life at all...the hussle and bussle...the you've got to have this and that to keep up with the Jone's......who are those Jone folks anyways?.....BTW CathrynB....I do remeber Pollyanna and I loved that movie.....

thanks

by jessie - 2008-05-02 11:05:49

this is like such wonderful feedback from all. i know what everyone is saying and i hope we do go back to the good old days. i hope tho that the food problem gets adressed. it is going to get worse i just know it in my heart. i remember my my mom telling me her mom would give men out of work during the great depression a meal as they had a little more than most. he worked my grandfather as a railroad engineer and she ran a general store out of the house.just food for thought.i am praying it will never get that bad again jess

Ditto!

by cottontop - 2008-05-03 07:05:56

Jessie,what a great topic. Some wonderful comments,too. bambi very well said. Never happier to be a baby boomer generation! I like the rest of you am so suprised at people on the news saying well what are we going to do you just have to pay it. NO, we need to do what dward suggest. Take some action.

God help us all,

Amy

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