How is the virus affecting you?

[Dftodd]

We're considered essential services so as of now I am still working.
I planned to register my truck today, which has been parked since the last day of deer season.(Nov. 30)
I never gave it a thought that the town office would be closed. I even picked up some cash for the purpose and washed it in bleach.
If that's the worst thing which happens to me because of the virus I will consider myself lucky.

I gotta call the assessors office. I usually go in, assess the vehicles, pay the taxes for this year, and then run over to the tag office to renew the plates on my truck. They a closed for the near future. Assess over the phone now. Wait a few days for the system to update, then renew the tags online.

 

[Citydude]

My life has been completely disrupted. I’m a dentist, for 40 years, but was still working and a few years from retirement. I have 5 long time employees. My office is completely shut down. I’m not seeing any patients (none want to come in) and we have been told to only treat serious emergencies which is a very small percentage of my revenue. So basically, as a small business owner, I have zero income. And who knows for how long? I thought I was prepared for everything with disability insurance etc. But this I never saw coming. I have tremendous expenses, especially if I choose to pay my employees who are sitting at home. The government programs of relief are a nightmare to navigate. The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) just passed in the CARES Act provides loans through the Small Business Association thru local lending institutions, but I’ve spent all day with every bank here and bottom line is no bank can provide loans at this point, or even have a clue as to how to apply for PPP. And imagine when a million business owners try to get loans through this program to help cover expenses and continue paying their employees. So I’m in a nightmare situation. I really don’t know what to do. I can’t work and see no end in sight.

Few people are sick here. I understand that people are dying elsewhere. But shutting down this huge economic engine that is our country is going to destroy many lives beyond those unfortunate ones who contract the virus.

I’ll wager the suicidal total will surpass the Corona death total if this continues.

Those of you who are unaffected, be thankful. There are a great many who will never recover.

Call your state governors office.

 

[aczlan]

Call your state governors office.

If you want better service, call your representative in the state legislature. they will know who to talk to in the governor's office and we'll have a better chance of getting something done then you (who is probably not known by anybody in the governor's office).
around here the reps in this the state legislature like to be able to show that they are helping their constituents with stuff like that.


Aaron Z

 

[Rustyiron]

I planned to register my truck today, which has been parked since the last day of deer season.(Nov. 30)
I never gave it a thought that the town office would be closed.

Me too, I DO NOT drive my f450 dump in the winter (salt), it's a '99 4x4 7.3 stick with 72k miles and pretty "cherry" and has dead plates since Sept. 2019. I do keep ins. on it but heard that they were not going to bother you with expired tags. Drove from Sebago to Hope, 100 miles each way to pick up some C/l timbers. Didn't see one LEO and had no trouble on the turnpike, that includes going right through Augusta, out state capitol. :cool2: I'll admit to being a little apprehensive during the first part of the trip.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

My life has been completely disrupted. I知 a dentist, for 40 years, but was still working and a few years from retirement. I have 5 long time employees. My office is completely shut down. I知 not seeing any patients (none want to come in) and we have been told to only treat serious emergencies which is a very small percentage of my revenue. So basically, as a small business owner, I have zero income. And who knows for how long? I thought I was prepared for everything with disability insurance etc. But this I never saw coming. I have tremendous expenses, especially if I choose to pay my employees who are sitting at home. The government programs of relief are a nightmare to navigate. The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) just passed in the CARES Act provides loans through the Small Business Association thru local lending institutions, but I致e spent all day with every bank here and bottom line is no bank can provide loans at this point, or even have a clue as to how to apply for PPP. And imagine when a million business owners try to get loans through this program to help cover expenses and continue paying their employees. So I知 in a nightmare situation. I really don稚 know what to do. I can稚 work and see no end in sight.

Few people are sick here. I understand that people are dying elsewhere. But shutting down this huge economic engine that is our country is going to destroy many lives beyond those unfortunate ones who contract the virus.

I値l wager the suicidal total will surpass the Corona death total if this continues.

Those of you who are unaffected, be thankful. There are a great many who will never recover.

All I can say is, hang in there. I am also self employed as a General Contractor. All of my clients have stopped building, but one; a national healthcare provider, THANK GOD. Like you, 40 years building my business and working my butt off. Retirement isn't a big deal for me as I love what I do, and not working scares me more than the virus. On Feb 1 we bought a 55 acre farm property with a 1900 farmhouse to restore and fix up to possibly move to in what was to be three years; now I'm hoping we can just hang on to it for the next three years. Every business owner I have talked to would rather take their chances with the virus vs losing everything they have worked for. God only knows what is going to happen to the hourly workers out there, as this is going to set all of us back years; and at 61, I don't know how much building back I have left in me. But... I have never quit. And I'm sure not going to roll over easily. My advice, which I tell myself every day, is Do Not Live In Fear... Good luck .

 

[Steppenwolfe]

Call your state governors office.

And do what? The big boys are going to end up with this money, not the little guys.

 

[riptides]

Already are. Workers are without paychecks yet the banks still want their due.

I think anything financial needs a good inspection and possibly a forbearance.

And do what? The big boys are going to end up with this money, not the little guys.

 

[Tomtint]

My life has been completely disrupted. I知 a dentist, for 40 years, but was still working and a few years from retirement. I have 5 long time employees. My office is completely shut down. I知 not seeing any patients (none want to come in) and we have been told to only treat serious emergencies which is a very small percentage of my revenue. So basically, as a small business owner, I have zero income. And who knows for how long? I thought I was prepared for everything with disability insurance etc. But this I never saw coming. I have tremendous expenses, especially if I choose to pay my employees who are sitting at home. The government programs of relief are a nightmare to navigate. The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) just passed in the CARES Act provides loans through the Small Business Association thru local lending institutions, but I致e spent all day with every bank here and bottom line is no bank can provide loans at this point, or even have a clue as to how to apply for PPP. And imagine when a million business owners try to get loans through this program to help cover expenses and continue paying their employees. So I知 in a nightmare situation. I really don稚 know what to do. I can稚 work and see no end in sight.

Few people are sick here. I understand that people are dying elsewhere. But shutting down this huge economic engine that is our country is going to destroy many lives beyond those unfortunate ones who contract the virus.

I値l wager the suicidal total will surpass the Corona death total if this continues.

Those of you who are unaffected, be thankful. There are a great many who will never recover.

I have been self employed since 1985.... been through a couple recessions..been through some good times as well. The economy as a whole is not "bad"....yet.. it's just being held back for a few months. While I think this virus will temper the economy until the end of the summer, I believe it will come back quickly and stronger than it was before. The fed lowered the benchmark rate and that will spur more growth ..but it's going to take time. Things will get better..you just have to do what you have to to and get through it.
I as well feel bad for the people who were living paycheck to paycheck. They will no doubt be in distress for several months.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

I have been self employed since 1985.... been through a couple recessions..been through some good times as well. The economy as a whole is not "bad"....yet.. it's just being held back for a few months. While I think this virus will temper the economy until the end of the summer, I believe it will come back quickly and stronger than it was before. The fed lowered the benchmark rate and that will spur more growth ..but it's going to take time. Things will get better..you just have to do what you have to to and get through it.
I as well feel bad for the people who were living paycheck to paycheck. They will no doubt be in distress for several months.

:thumbsup: Couldn't agree more. Well said.

 

[Jstpssng]

I've always found that it takes about 3 times as long to get caught up as it took to get behind. If the country is shut down for 3 months, we should start humming again by the first of the year.