More Disaster Stuff

Some say, it's just the risk we take by living in California. Others say we can prevent it. Did you hear about the latest landslide in Laguna Beach? The New York Times has a great slide show of the disaster. Thank goodness no one was seriously hurt in this one. One person complains about 21 years of work in the back yard down the drain. Another is concerned about his half million dollar surfboard collection.

Is it really worth getting this vested in private property? The American dream is to buy a home, make it yours, improve it, and watch the value rise, rise, rise. Then, one day, you end up on the crumbling street with only your wallet in your pocket (if your lucky). You can't even tell these people they shouldn't live on a hillside. Well, they shouldn't, but there are so many other potential natural catastrophes, that even we on flat lands are susceptible to an unforeseen event. Mother Nature will always win (if she wants to).

When I think about buying a house, these are the things I think about. Wouldn't it be more fun to live a simple life, with only the basics? Or is this just the more practical thing to do? Who says Americans have to be practical? We have tons of stuff and need huge houses to keep our stuff. Then, we're devastated when Mother Nature takes it all. Maybe we should be nicer to her. We tear up her hillsides, pollute her waters, and muddy up the air. In the end we're just hurting ourselves.

Hmmm.... Let's all try to do our part. Shall we?