Deserted Beach ..First time in 30 yrs. (Pics)

[Mark @ Everlast]

I went to Tybee and St. Simons last year in mid summer, no crowds then either. Less than what you have there. Great places to go, not much crowds.

I think its the economy.

 

[easygo]

All I can say is that my heart goes out to people on the South Coast. I was there after Hurricane Katrina and it looked like it will take a generation to rebuild. This oil spill is on the same magnitude, but in many ways worse. It's like a silent killer that gets to people slowly. Chokes out tourism and fishing industry money, slowly driving people into the ground.
I'm at a loss for words.
Terrible!!!

 

[300UGUY]

Even at today's gas prices it is still $.50 per mile of fuel only for the MH. While that is a consideration with the kids turning 13 this year they have something going on all of the time that makes getting away as a family VERY HARD to plan a get away.

In most homes where income have been reduced by any amount there still are the same $$$ monthly home/car/CC payments due so financial flexibility has been reduced.

Even some who are retired with good incomes find the "need" to help out with the kids/grandkids for one reason or another can suck up travel $$$.

Our rush as a country to third world status may be proceeding faster than some planned.

A few years ago, the head of our union at work told me that over 1/3 of the workers there were helping support adult children and/or grandkids. One of my coworkers came in one day looking very stressed. He had come home from work the day before to find his 38 yr old son, his wife, and 3 grandchildren moved in. His wife told him that if he didn't like it, he could move..... The son and his family moved out about a year later, after finding a new job. His old one had gone away. It's tough out there, and family is sometimes the only hope.

 

[rtimgray]

We recently returned from our trip to Gulf Shores (have been going for about 30 years or so) and, even with the news of the oil in the gulf, I was still surprised at the lack of people. There were not many folks on the beach, at restaurants, in town, etc. I'm sure that the oil spill scared alot off, but I'm gonna guess travel may have been down anyway.

We only saw oil one day (to any extent) and it was cleaned up over night. As bad as it sounds, it was one of the best vacations that I had. We always had front row parking, didn't have to wait for an elevator, got the good spots at the pools and beaches, etc. A group of 10 of us went to Longhorn steakhouse on fathers day and walked in and were seated without the any wait (at supper time). I was expected tourism to be down, but not that much.

 

[dmccarty]

We know two families that went to the beach over the Fourth. They went to NC beaches. :laughing:

From the decrease in traffic on the way to work this week and last week quite a few people are on the vacation some where. And that usually means the beaches this time of year and especially for the the Fourth.

Many people are geographically challenged. Add that to the "projections" of oil being here and there and you get decreased visitors to the beaches.

I read a Disney related website and there are plenty of people over there changing vacation plans because they think the beaches in the Gulf or on the east coast of FLA are covered in oil. I can see someone being concerned about scheduling a beach trip to the gulf but the east coast of FLA?

We had thought about taking a four night mini vacation to the mountains in June. But after we did some cipher'n and figured we would spend around $1,000 we did not go on vacation. Which is a good thing since we are got hit with some unexpected bills. It is always something.

Later,
Dan

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

My wife's folks live just north of Gulf Shores. We were over there the weekend the oil first floated in. We didn't have the heart to go out to the beach to see it. But again, the tourism has been down for some time, because we always hit the beach whenever we are over there and we have always been able to get decent parking with the exception of a holiday weekend. Higher end places are doing well, because its the well off that are still spending the money down there, but college kids and small young family traffic is way down.

Since Katrina wiped out what seems like half the buildings there, it has been a cleaner, leaner place. I had been there before we were married a couple of times and there were people shoulder to shoulder it seemed, but now its much more subdued.

 

[Pushing_Tin]

I feel poor

With the large swings in the DOW lately, I am inclined to believe there is more than market psychology in play. Like when it moves 100+ points either direction in one afternoon. The financial news isn't changing that fast. And with the possible exception of the Euro debt daily developments, not that many real surprises either, that haven't already been factored in already.

You are right, the market does have an effect on people's inclination to spend money. The volatility is almost as bad as a steady decline. I have read some articles saying high-speed automated trading is partly to blame.

Dave.

I see limited upside and a very large downside. I think the volatility is indicative of a large number of investors who are very nervous about the next year or two.

 

[dave1949]

I see limited upside and a very large downside. I think the volatility is indicative of a large number of investors who are very nervous about the next year or two.

I don't think the next year or two is going to be a joy ride by any means. Not a lot of sense in getting nervous about it though IMO. With the exception of active traders, the market is a long-haul thing and if the downs and swings really get to a person, it's probably the wrong investment for them.

I would guess the volatility is driven mostly by brokerages trading for their own accounts, pension fund managers, day traders, etc. Does the average 401K owner do much active switching between account types?

With perfect hindsight , I decided a while ago that any DOW above ~10,500 is pure funny money. It's all about 'good' jobs. We haven't created many for a long time. Wasn't it about 12-14 years ago that the joke about there being lot's of new jobs was, 'Yes, I have two of them' ? If we could solve the employment issues, the rest of the 'symptoms' will vanish IMHO.
Dave.