On Aug 31, 7:46 pm, HK wrote:
Wayne.B wrote:
On Fri, 31 Aug 2007 16:12:24 -0700, Chuck Gould
wrote:

One question that continues to bug me after returning from our 16 days
on the boat this month...."Where was everybody?"

We've noticed the same thing in the north east this summer and it has
been confirmed by a number of locals that traffic and business are
both down by a considerable amount. We've been living aboard and
cruising from port to port all summer and have seen a lot more
anchoring room and available moorings in some of our favorite spots.

You have border crossing issues in your area which is probably
compounding what ever other factors are at work. Not everyone wants
to hassle with govt red tape if there are other alternatives. That
doesn't explain the north east however. I think many people are
feeling financially squeezed one way or another. Except for CEOs and
very senior management, almost no one is keeping up with inflation.
The chickens are coming home to roost with variable rate mortgages,
property values are flat to down, the home equity loan game is
largely over, insurance for almost everything is up, energy costs are
up, many taxes are up, everything associated with residential
construction is off, and on and on and on. When people are feeling
squeezed they start to cut back on the non essentials, and boating
falls into that category for most. If things get worse, vacation
travel of all kinds will probably be next, along with the things like
the restaurant business.

Gee. The Bush Mis-Administration keeps telling us the economy is terrific.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

harry, must you take a thread like this and make a snide political
statement?