A Sign of the Times

Well the market has changed but the fundamentals are still the same. If you work hard you will survive and maybe even thrive. However, it is more likely that you will give up, pack up and leave. I see this more apparent in the Real Estate Offices closing and businesses closing in general.

I know I'm relatively young but in my 10 years as an adult (18+) i've never seen so many business go out of business on a local level let alone the national level. Stores are going vacant even on Steinway Street. The broader market is having its toll on the local market and of course vice versa. Even charitable giving has taken a hit.

As a Marine Reservist i worked the toys 4 tots program for 8 years. i went to visit my war buddies this past week. I've never seen it so depressing there before in 9 years. Charitable giving to the toys 4 tots program is at an all time low. To give this some meaning The 40X150ft Warehouse that housed the toys this year amounted just a little over 4000 toys. Thats alot but to compare it to previous years its petty. I remember one year the warehouse was filled to the top (about 25 ft high) and that year in total (really month) we gave out just over 1 million toys and still had a warehouse full of toys filled to the top of the warehouse with barely enough room to walk.

Don't know what the future holds but if i can judge it by charitable giving (which in my opinion is one of the first things to get cut in a budge) then we are in for a big drop next year.

Merry Xmas Everyone!