Jack over at Random Fate had a post today on Context. How our perceptions have changed since 9/11… and they effect us. They are OUR perceptions.
From his post:
We need to remember that even within our own nation there are many people who do NOT view events within the same context that we have.
In my mind, I took his post and extrapolated that to what it is like here in South Florida. I don’t speak for everyone. I speak for me. My OWN perceptions. I am a long range planner, always concerned about things like getting my kids through college, my retirement, trying to prepare for potential obstacles and problems. That is ME, but… that is also many I know.
Our perceptions of every day life are completely changed. We no longer look at the future the same. Whereas the average American it is a given that they’ll get up, get the kids to school, go to work, come home, eat dinner, watch TV, go to bed… repeat…, that is not how we view our lives down here.
We go to bed watching the weather channel. We know it is possible our kids may miss some school the next week when we see a weather mass. We may have to miss work. We’ll miss pay. It is a given that our offices will be closed, that gas will not be available and that food average Americans take for granted will be scarce. We keep stockpiles of food and necessities.
We have to watch what we spend as we can go into a serious financial tailspin… not the fault of a bad decision, a poor investment, or poor financial planning for the month, but by the fault of our living where we live.
It used to be just Floridians… last year that was the thought. Before that, we didn’t live this way. But until Katrina, it was just a Florida thought. It has expanded to the Gulf Coast now. Parts of Texas may start to feel this way after this week as Rita makes her way.
Our perceptions of how we live our day to day lives, has totally changed.
But the rest of America's... has not.
Bou, and not all Floridians are as smart as you and I.We plan ahead and have both short term and long term goals as well as alternative plans to reach the goals-contingency plans I call them. But about half of the people in hurricane alley are just as dumb as those were in new orleans! mark my word that if a big blow come up tampa bay it would be the same chaotic goat rope.
Posted by: GUYK at September 20, 2005 09:49 PMSame thoughts here but for blizzards and tornados. It's something, no matter where you live.
Posted by: Jody Halsted at September 20, 2005 10:16 PMI will agree with Jody.
Up here in the North, we do the same thing in winter. You get a good snow storm and you might not be able to leave your house for a few days. You have to stock up, make sure you have extra gas for the generator in case the ice brings down power lines because without a generator in the freezing dead of winter your fucked.
While not as severe as a Hurricane, a snow storm can require planning. Of course a lot of people don't plan so they have to run out and buy milk and toliet paper at the last minute and shelves go bare.
Posted by: Machelle at September 21, 2005 08:31 AMThat's about the only thing nice about North Carolina...there's really nothing like that. Far inland, where Charlotte is, no hurricane is really going to have any strength (Compared to anywhere in Florida).
In winter, the worst snowstorm in the world will be melted in 2-3 days. There's a massive fault underground, but it's not moving. Tornados are small and very uncommon.
The worst weather condition really possible for the Piedmont area of NC is an ice storm that knocks out power for a week...and that's extremely rare, too.
Of course, other than the weather, I can't think of any reason to live in NC.
Posted by: Ogre at September 21, 2005 02:11 PM