Does anyone realize yarisworld is getting 'less busy'?

[yougojay]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

The Texas guy I spoke with pretty much echoes your sentiments. He is only there because he has a full ride scholarship. He recently spent two weeks visiting a friend who goes to UC Berkeley. He'd never been there before. I've lived most of my life in the SF Bay Area. He was amazed at how many people (in the Bay Area who he happen to encounter) begged him to donate to causes and then got really mad when he wouldn't contribute. He said he sees a lot of well educated (but lazy) hangers on in Asheville who are getting government money (not loans for school) and noticed what seemed to be the same in pockets of the Bay Area. I noticed the converse, and other negative similarities.

I first visited Texas in 1988, but we only went to the Dallas-Fort Worth metro...crazy growth since then.

Yes, it's a sad state of affairs in this country. The furniture industries in the area here went overseas, and it killed the economy. Local grocery stores base their ordering on food stamp days (EBT Cards) which load up on the 3rd, 5th, 7th... and so on through the 15th of each month.
I stayed in Arlington, TX in 1980 - I can't imagine how much it has grown in the last 30 years.
I see a lot of new or newer cars around, there IS some money here. The weather is good to all the cars, the older ones look so good, it's hard to tell they are 20 years old or more (sometimes) Some look dated, but NO rust. I think it's the 90's cars that I think are newer.
One thing I notice is there are a lot of cars with bald tires... my gosh, baby seats in the back...whatever!
There are yearly inspections, but who knows who is paying off who. I'd rather have CHEAP new tires than some of the bald ones I've seen - I don't understand it. Most would say they are spending their money on basic needs, I think that includes alcohol, smokes & drugs for a lot of them. I guess it is like riding the Metro in DC - all sorts of people from all walks of life