It's a Depression... Have Fun with It!

[ziggy29]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Want2retire There was a local winery in College Station, Texas, when I lived there. Locals loved it, but I thought it was undrinkable!!

Do you mean Messina Hof in Bryan? Or was this before then?

[W2R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ziggy29 Do you mean Messina Hof in Bryan? Or was this before then?

That's the one! Blech. Not my favorite wines, personally, but others living there thought they were really great. I think they got a lot of local support.

When I drank wine, I didn't care for French wines, either. I liked middle-of-the-road Napa Valley wineries like Inglenook.

[Rustic23]

W2R - Locals translates to Aggies. Case solved.

On the depression ideas, parents told stories of going to the farmers market for veggies and canning them.

[W2R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rustic23 W2R - Locals translates to Aggies. Case solved.

Hey, I'm an Aggie with 3 degrees from A&M.

In College Station, the term "locals" often refers to the non-university community around the area. But I suppose I meant everyone including the university community (other than students) when I used the word. Whoever-it-was that ran Messina Hof was apparently everybody's best friend, so a lot of wine was bought just because the owners were nice people. If a party or gathering was being held, it was almost "PC" to serve only Messina Hof wines, when I lived there.

[Sparky]

I'm doing this...

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/08/bu...1&ref=business

[TromboneAl]

Even if a garden and hen house could save us 50% on groceries (unlikely), we'd save only about $2,800 per year.

[FIREd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TromboneAl Even if a garden and hen house could save us 50% on groceries (unlikely), we'd save only about $2,800 per year.

It might not save you a lot of money, but it could save you from starvation if things get bad enough...

[Moemg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Plenty of wineries in Florida Welcome to Florida Wineries

Thanks for posting this even if the wine is awful it might be fun to visit a few. .

[freebird5825]

We've decided that we're going to grow our "victory" garden a little more agressively (read bigger), raise poultry out at my wife's father's farm (where the garden is), and take up quilting.

Garden ? Check.
Quilting ? I already own 2.
Chicken? Check - my investing style.

Canning vs freezing? No contest. As long as the electrons keep flowing in the wires, the freezer wins.

Seriously, though, I understand about the small town life and basics.
I live in East Nowhere NY with real dairy farms right close by. There is exactly 1 traffic light within the nearest 6 miles in my township. I'm trying to remember where the second one is.
Life here can get really boring , but it certainly does not have the problems of more developed areas.
I am not a native. But I'm still here, so something must be working.

[bbbamI]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TromboneAl Even if a garden and hen house could save us 50% on groceries (unlikely), we'd save only about $2,800 per year.

I can't even save that. With the heat of a TX summer, the hit/miss rain, and the fact that the zoning laws state that I can't raise chickens in my backyard...well, I'm pretty much screwed.

[FIREd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebird5825 Canning vs freezing? No contest. As long as the electrons keep flowing in the wires, the freezer wins.

Freezing is undoubtedly easier. I remember helping my grandmother can fruits, vegetables and jam. That's a lot of work! I could probably do it again (remember to keep everything sterile!), but I don't have all the equipment for canning (though I am sure I could find that pretty easily). My grandfather had a better way of canning fruits: drop the fruits in a jar and cover with 80-proof alcohol. Eat the fruit for dessert and drink the fruit-flavored schnapps to help the digestion.

[W2R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbbamI I can't even save that. With the heat of a TX summer, the hit/miss rain, and the fact that the zoning laws state that I can't raise chickens in my backyard...well, I'm pretty much screwed.

Well, you could save on A/C bills by dressing in skimpy clothing and lolling about lazily all summer and eating food you didn't raise... might not be as consistent with "old time values" but might be a more enjoyable way to save $200/month.

[bbbamI]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Want2retire Well, you could save on A/C bills by dressing in skimpy clothing and lolling about lazily all summer and eating food you didn't raise... might not be as consistent with "old time values" but might be a more enjoyable way to save $200/month.

Throw a couple of mint juleps in me and you may just have something there....oh the vapors!

[wolfbay]

here are grapes that thrive in Florida called Muscadines but no great wines yet. We have a large garden, chickens and goats.We also put two or three deer in the freezer each year and can quite a bit. We use a wood stove for heat(here in NW Florida it can get chilly) and have a solar PV system.We chose this lifestyle before the economic downturn.Being retired we have time to maintain our homestead and enjoy it. We get plenty of physical activity and plenty of rest and sleep and eat healthy food.It's not for everyone but we enjoy this lifestyle.

[audreyh1]

Hey - load up on the Diesel (cheap!) and head to the Pacific NW if you want really good wine!

Now, how many cases can I fit in my basement?

Audrey

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by audreyh1 Now, how many cases can I fit in my basement?

Depends on how many of those lawn chairs you're willing to dump.

[jug]

Hey, keep in mind that time marches on, so if you can, enjoy, stop worrying whether your money will run out when you're 90, it's a waste of time.

Only if I weren't able to survive would I give something up, otherwise I'm keeping things normal and perhaps enjoying the possible ability to negotiate lower fees for things as the economy goes into the pits.

Jug

[FIREd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jug Hey, keep in mind that time marches on, so if you can, enjoy, stop worrying whether your money will run out when you're 90, it's a waste of time. Only if I weren't able to survive would I give something up, otherwise I'm keeping things normal and perhaps enjoying the possible ability to negotiate lower fees for things as the economy goes into the pits. Jug

Hum, easier said than done. Of course if I had a "pension, and about 20 plus years of cash to supplement it" like you, I'd be pretty mellow too... Oh, and I thought that the whole purpose of this board was to learn/discuss/share how not to run out of money when you're 90.

[Steve O]

Cracks open another cold one and lights up a smoke...

[ERD50]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TromboneAl Even if a garden and hen house could save us 50% on groceries (unlikely), we'd save only about $2,800 per year.

It's time I take a close look at the budget again. But every time I do, I don't really see too much to cut.

Mostly stuff that is fixed costs, and I really am not going to affect w/o making big changes (property taxes = move), stuff that I feel I need (insurance), or stuff that I just would not want to do w/o. Much of that is small 'luxuries' anyway - I may be LBYM-style, but I'm not a monk.


IOW, I guess things have not really gotten that bad....... yet.

-ERD50