Road Trip Observations

I just got back from a sweet road trip into the piney woods of East Texas. I saw something really funny and something really sad and scary along the way. The funny one was a billboard with Jimmy Carter’s smiling face and it said “Miss Me Yet”. Really funny! And the other one was ominous and sad. I haven’t seen hitchhikers in years. Really, not in years. On my 400 mile round trip to East Texas and back I saw five sets of hitchhikers. One was a man and a woman with a sign that just said “North”.

We hear about the economy on the news and discuses it amongst ourselves in vague terms all the time. It’s always discussed as a swirling target and never pinned down to anything other than boogieman status. Be afraid of inflation, deflation, business is slow, double digit unemployment, etc. is pretty much what main stream media and laymen talk about. But never do we hear the really ugly depictions. No one actually says the words financial ruin for Americans individually, our families or collectively as a nation. Witnessing the actual effects of financial ruin when you see people migrating by taking to the highways on foot is kind of scary. Sorry to be such a bummer. Anybody have fun road trip stories or observations? At least better than mine.

Highway 259 is a beautiful drive this time of year. I wouldnt judge the economic status of the country on a few hobo's hobo'n it across texas.

Highway 259 is a beautiful drive this time of year. I wouldnt judge the economic status of the country on a few hobo's hobo'n it across texas. Originally Posted by macksback

I take 259 on my shortcut; it is be-u-tiful drive. The leaves are beginnig to change. This was more near Houston. Like between Houston and Livingston. LIke maybe roughnecks leaving this area.

I take 259 on my shortcut; it is be-u-tiful drive. The leaves are beginnig to change. This was more near Houston. Like between Houston and Livingston. LIke maybe roughnecks leaving this area. Originally Posted by OliviaHoward

I have occasion to make some interstate highway wanderings from time to time. I've noticed more hitchhikers...and more flat-out walkers of late. (Actively hitchhiking is enough to bring down too much heat in some places.) It wouldn't surprise me if some of it was the result of a downturn much longer & harder than most thought....or were promised.

Locally, I bought some diapers & baby food for a young mother just this afternoon. I no longer give cash...she said that's what she needed so that's what she got. I need all the good karma I can get!

I have occasion to make some interstate highway wanderings from time to time. I've noticed more hitchhikers...and more flat-out walkers of late. (Actively hitchhiking is enough to bring down too much heat in some places.) It wouldn't surprise me if some of it was the result of a downturn much longer & harder than most thought....or were promised.

Locally, I bought some diapers & baby food for a young mother just this afternoon. I no longer give cash...she said that's what she needed so that's what she got. I need all the good karma I can get! Originally Posted by Sisyphus

Outright hitching or even walking along an interstate is if not criminal offense enough to at least get you stopped these days.

What I do dee more of are beggars/scam artists working the gas stations/quik stop restaurants right off the interstate exits. I guess they figure actually walking the interstate is a lost cause but these private joints easier to make a play.

I just got back from a sweet road trip into the piney woods of East Texas. I saw something really funny and something really sad and scary along the way. The funny one was a billboard with Jimmy Carter’s smiling face and it said “Miss Me Yet”. Really funny! And the other one was ominous and sad. I haven’t seen hitchhikers in years. Really, not in years. On my 400 mile round trip to East Texas and back I saw five sets of hitchhikers. One was a man and a woman with a sign that just said “North”.

We hear about the economy on the news and discuses it amongst ourselves in vague terms all the time. It’s always discussed as a swirling target and never pinned down to anything other than boogieman status. Be afraid of inflation, deflation, business is slow, double digit unemployment, etc. is pretty much what main stream media and laymen talk about. But never do we hear the really ugly depictions. No one actually says the words financial ruin for Americans individually, our families or collectively as a nation. Witnessing the actual effects of financial ruin when you see people migrating by taking to the highways on foot is kind of scary. Sorry to be such a bummer. Anybody have fun road trip stories or observations? At least better than mine. Originally Posted by OliviaHoward

Very perceptive. Many people are suffering from 30+ years of Reaganomics. I'm 54...retired military and I see the next generation not living the american dream...which I think is the belief that our children will live better than we have.

I live out here in East Texas. Rural areas are getting hit especially hard by the recession, especially in areas with no oil and gas exploration. Hitchhikers, folks who are homeless, and drifters in weekly apartments are much more common than just a few years ago.

I read just the other day that the annual student turnover rate in our local school system is 30%. Just think about that. 30% of the students are new to the school system each year. Really a shocking statistic. People just drift in and out of town. Living with relatives, loosing part time jobs, etc.

Hope & Change, baby. Hope & Change.

You watch the news, read the papers and get an over all view of what is happening economically, but the small, personal depictions are the ones that hit home hardest. I have a gf in Boston who has lost 4 jobs in the past two years because she specializes in start ups and each company has gone upside down. She just had a recruiter tell her she is no longer employable because her past is now considered 'checkered'. Not the same as being homeless and transient- at least not right now.

I love road trips. Whenever I need to clear my head and really think things through I take to the road. It's time out of time, esp. if lucky enough to have a loose agenda. You get to observe the microcosim, the way people live in different areas, what the public projection is. I remember driving from Denver to Chicago, 48 hours across the plains. Anti-abortion billboards, the strench of slaughter houses and really fat people at chain restaurants. I came across a Kentucky Derby celebration once, the women in big hats and gloves, a festive atmposhere as people prepared for their biggest event of the year. In upstate NY, the mist rolling off vineyards planted with dessert wine grapes along Lake Erie. Playing your favorite songs over and again, because no one is there to tell you not to.

...................Playing your favorite songs over and again, because no one is there to tell you not to. Originally Posted by ClairJordan

Yeah! Another one like me! I'm really into the Black Keys just now. I must have played I-can't-remember-the-name-of-the-song 25 times on my trip. Singing as loud as I can terribly off key

PJ,

I saw a bumper sticker the other day that said, "I'll keep my freedom and my money. You can have the change." I laughed at that one.

I read just the other day that the annual student turnover rate in our local school system is 30%. Just think about that. 30% of the students are new to the school system each year. Really a shocking statistic. People just drift in and out of town. Living with relatives, loosing part time jobs, etc.

Thinking more about this thread: in the past year, 30% of real estate sales were cash buyers...investors, scooping up the distressed properties. An interesting correlation. The squeezing of the middle class?

Olivia, I remember a road trip from La to Vancouver where I played and sang along with the Best of Barry White over and over, badly. Ok, I am a hopeless romantic beneath the tough exterior!

Let's quit bitching about how bad things are and do things to make them better. No political statements but dig in find out what you really believe based on good research and go out and try to do that. This is really how we make change. The day of the armchair quarterback is OVER! If you want to enjoy that beautiful drive anytime you want then we need to have nice roads. Just a thought. I believe America is the best place on the planet. Let's keep it that way. Ok! Back to your scheduled program lol

Hope & Change, baby. Hope & Change. Originally Posted by pjorourke

PJ imitating the slogan, "give hope a chance!" Awesome!

The nice roads are toll roads....This threads got me kind of down....Better go on P411 and make myself happy for about 300 an hour.

Go to the Rockies, see the Fall leaves! It's breathtaking!