There's something mildly ironic about the idea that we have to work for peace and quiet!

I'm grateful we live in a house that we paid cash for, so we have neither rent nor mortgage to worry about. Property taxes keep rising, along with everything else... but we just have to take it in stride.

We've "lost" several friends to property values this year, meaning they've sold and moved to Kansas, Ohio and Michigan, respectively. The "stupid" cost of living may prove to offer an economic rescue to the "rust belt" since it's what more and more people can actually afford," anymore. Everything goes in cycles!

Happy Holidays to you, too, Zeke!