I very much agree. Last night a young friend visiting mentioned she would be needing a new place to rent. A few phone calls later to good friends and I think we may have found her several options.
If I still drove, I would find myself in the same boat., Dan was in charge all things "car." What a great story and a reminder of what having and being a friend is all about. It seems that particularly in Northern Michigan you have a wonderful community.
They're the best. I've had friendly neighbors before but nothing like these people. They're amazing! I run out of ways to tell them how dear they all are to me.
I was a motorhead for long time, carefully tending to all the necessary vehicle maintenance. No more. These days, I respond only to bad noise, bad smell, or smoke.
LOL. I might, too, if I didn't live in the boonies. I was surprised the brake light didn't come on.
Edited to add: Also, my late husband took exceptionally good care of our cars. Our Camry before this one (2007) was at 220,000 miles when we got the 2017. Our son has been driving the old one for almost five years now with no problems other than normal maintenance. So I guess it pays to pay attention!
Three or four weeks to get a repair done? Brace yourself. It's going to get worse. Boomers are retired or will be soon. Gen X is a very small demographic, and we all told Millennials to go to college, not a trade school. Fewer and fewer people are doing automotive, landscaping, building jobs. Covid hollowed out the medical/hospital staffing, so appointments are harder to get and waits are longer. And immigration is down. So for the next couple of decades, this is how it's going to be. If you know you'll need something done, get on the schedule as soon as you can!
Well, that's depressing! Only because I know you're speaking truth. It will get worse and it will get harder to live where I live.
When my primary doctor retired a few years ago he did it with some reluctance, knowing he was one of only FOUR primary care physicians in the entire eastern Upper Peninsula at the time. I don't know what it is now. I have a Nurse Practitioner and I love her. And so far her scheduling isn't weeks in the future.
But finding people to do the work up here has always been a problem. Now it's increased at least 10-fold.
Well, off the top of my head and without looking, they're those round metal thingies behind each wheel that stop them when you apply the brake. As I understand it, they can wear and rust and get gunky and don't last forever.
And that's why I not only love small communities (they still have values), but why I agree with you about the value of a handful of exceptional friends - priceless.
So far, Bob is the car guy, and I depend on him to take care of that stuff. Some day I may have to do it myself. I DON’T have the friend support you have, so I may be in trouble. But, I’ll worry about that when the time comes. Congrats on getting it figured out. You’re doing a good job, girl.
I know how to open the hood and use a dipstick but that's about it! And as far as my doing a good job--I wish I could say it's me. It's clearly not!
I'd like to say I'm independent now, but I honestly couldn't do this alone. I'm ever aware that I need to at least try before I ask for help, but I also know that help is there when I need it. That's such a comfort.
Yes, Ramona, Friends are a valuable resource, emotionally, ride wise, knowledge & education based, sometimes financially, & with some even therapeutically. Fortunately, your breaks didn't put a week's long brake on your life.
Thanks Ramona - both for the reminder that it's perfectly okay to ask for help and for the laughs along the way as you described this latest adventure.
I very much agree. Last night a young friend visiting mentioned she would be needing a new place to rent. A few phone calls later to good friends and I think we may have found her several options.
Yay! Love when that happens!
Yes, small communities are the best.
They really are. All for one and one for all.
If I still drove, I would find myself in the same boat., Dan was in charge all things "car." What a great story and a reminder of what having and being a friend is all about. It seems that particularly in Northern Michigan you have a wonderful community.
They're the best. I've had friendly neighbors before but nothing like these people. They're amazing! I run out of ways to tell them how dear they all are to me.
I was a motorhead for long time, carefully tending to all the necessary vehicle maintenance. No more. These days, I respond only to bad noise, bad smell, or smoke.
LOL. I might, too, if I didn't live in the boonies. I was surprised the brake light didn't come on.
Edited to add: Also, my late husband took exceptionally good care of our cars. Our Camry before this one (2007) was at 220,000 miles when we got the 2017. Our son has been driving the old one for almost five years now with no problems other than normal maintenance. So I guess it pays to pay attention!
Three or four weeks to get a repair done? Brace yourself. It's going to get worse. Boomers are retired or will be soon. Gen X is a very small demographic, and we all told Millennials to go to college, not a trade school. Fewer and fewer people are doing automotive, landscaping, building jobs. Covid hollowed out the medical/hospital staffing, so appointments are harder to get and waits are longer. And immigration is down. So for the next couple of decades, this is how it's going to be. If you know you'll need something done, get on the schedule as soon as you can!
Well, that's depressing! Only because I know you're speaking truth. It will get worse and it will get harder to live where I live.
When my primary doctor retired a few years ago he did it with some reluctance, knowing he was one of only FOUR primary care physicians in the entire eastern Upper Peninsula at the time. I don't know what it is now. I have a Nurse Practitioner and I love her. And so far her scheduling isn't weeks in the future.
But finding people to do the work up here has always been a problem. Now it's increased at least 10-fold.
What are rotors?
Well, off the top of my head and without looking, they're those round metal thingies behind each wheel that stop them when you apply the brake. As I understand it, they can wear and rust and get gunky and don't last forever.
Thanks, Ramona. There are so many parts and thingy stuff too, to wear out or worse.
I also have found long wait times, which seem to also be more costly. Perhaps by design .
The wait times for car repairs are the worst. Obviously, we can't wait!
You deserved that break and the brakes that will happen next Wed.
Right on!
And that's why I not only love small communities (they still have values), but why I agree with you about the value of a handful of exceptional friends - priceless.
Yes. They're a true gift.
So far, Bob is the car guy, and I depend on him to take care of that stuff. Some day I may have to do it myself. I DON’T have the friend support you have, so I may be in trouble. But, I’ll worry about that when the time comes. Congrats on getting it figured out. You’re doing a good job, girl.
I know how to open the hood and use a dipstick but that's about it! And as far as my doing a good job--I wish I could say it's me. It's clearly not!
I'd like to say I'm independent now, but I honestly couldn't do this alone. I'm ever aware that I need to at least try before I ask for help, but I also know that help is there when I need it. That's such a comfort.
Yes, Ramona, Friends are a valuable resource, emotionally, ride wise, knowledge & education based, sometimes financially, & with some even therapeutically. Fortunately, your breaks didn't put a week's long brake on your life.
Thanks Ramona - both for the reminder that it's perfectly okay to ask for help and for the laughs along the way as you described this latest adventure.