i will talk to my partner about it. is there some work to be had out there? where would you recommend hanging out? any places where people post about housing to be had in floyd?

You might not realize it, Michael, but your first post was combative, and that's why the response. " Obvious speculation about something you know nothing about" is insulting. No big deal. I certainly read worse every day, or every hour, but that is why you got bristly responses.

I strongly suspect you made up the 99.9%, figuring for sure there's .1% somewhere who are unaffected. Maybe so, i don't know, but i know none of us is in that small number, as we are using computers and the internet.

For real, when the economy goes down, our relationships with each other are our most valuable asset. We will be forced to cooperate. Good i say. That is what we are designed to do.

I think the barter system will explode rather than implode, meaning that barter is what we turn to when the money economy goes down. Local economies become much more important as the macro economy becomes less important. I think we should look to the coming changes as an opportunity for greater community and local awareness, and not worry about getting hit by the train. But then i'm in a good neighborhood for such cooperation, and i guess folks in cities aren't in such a comfortable situation. The rural blue ridge county i live in has many people who have been expecting an economic collapse for decades, and have dug in quite well with off the grid electric systems, big gardens, etc. Very good water sources, and most importantly, a strong community spirit of cooperation.

I'll say again: our ability to cooperate fairly and lovingly with each other is absolutely critical to our survival, and by far our biggest asset.

Yes the economy is in grave danger. However as much as I live a simple life, it affects me. I am a bodyworker. When peoples funds go down, so does self care. Then my bills don't get paid. I am not a crazy consumer. The most I buy are CD's, food, and sometimes clothes. We do not live in a society of trade where kindness sustains us. I would gladly trade a massage for food, shelter, and clothes, unfortunately it's not like that. I have traded for many things in the past, but it is not enough to sustain me or keep me warm. We recently bought a new couch and put it on our card. We are now feeling its sting. I am now realizing the credit cards are another form of control. It's the ultimate consumer ticket to stuff that's unnecessary. I paid off my other one and will never get one again. I don't care if we live in a fucking shack. I refuse to let the government control me anymore. As it is I paid thousands of dollars for an education spirit had already instilled in me. Now I got that hanging over my fucking head. Even in the massage world licensing is required. What kind of conrolling bullshit is that. They say it's for the safety of the community. I think it's just for more money in their pockets. They're trying to capitalize on a service that has been used for thousands of years to help keep peace, love and community. It's all a crock of shit. I could go on forever....