Are you still dancing?

To Earth, Wind and Fire, of course!

Every time I see those words, I starting singing/humming the song. (chair dancing as I type)

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So here we are, October 3rd! I'm in Burbank and super nana just asked me, "Why aren't you blogging?" I had no good answer (or even a bad one), so here I am! We're still nomads (I'd say Bedouin, but I'm neither Arab or North African, and sweetmarysunshine, I'm the last one who wants to be accused of cultural appropriation) and actually still enjoying it. Looking at real estate in Lalaland is an adventure, especially when you're from this place and remember what it used to be. 

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California, and Los Angeles specifically, has seen a monumental rise in homeless population for a variety of reasons many of which have existed for a long time. Part of the problem can be traced to the closure of mental hospitals under then Gov. Ronald Reagan and on into his presidency and the Republican controlled Senate. Check out this link from Salon Magazine:

https://www.salon.com/2013/09/29/ronald_reagans_shameful_legacy_violence_the_homeless_mental_illness

(Seems I've forgotten how to do a hyperlink!)

But that's only a part of the problem. The disparity between rich and poor has grown incrementally and is startlingly apparent in areas far removed from the traditional "Skid Row" area in Downtown L.A.! Campsites along major streets and under overpasses are common sights. Seeing tents pitched in alleys behind what would be considered middle class areas is no longer surprising. And yet, with all of this real need for housing, we have empty luxury apartments that are written off by developers or priced far beyond the means of working people. To be clear, here, as in far too many places, people are living paycheck to paycheck and one misstep can end up in an eviction or foreclosure. Too often it's not even a misstep, it's an unexpected expense that sends a person or family reeling out of financial control. Seeing campers, cars, SUVs, and camper trucks lining residential and industrial streets 24/7 is a sight not expected in a city that has a budget that dwarfs COUNTRIES is beyond startling. Los Angeles is trying to address this issue, but it may be a case of too little, too late I don't know. What I do know is that there are people working to solve these problems and they are in the public and private sector. Throwing money at the problem isn't the solution. Like any other problem that occurs when you're dealing with people, we're looking at a multi-pronged approach. Providing housing must be coupled with providing needed services to those who need them. I know that this is an issue for many cities, not only here in the USA, but in other countries. I also know I'm starting to ramble/babble, but it's only because this city, my city, has changed so much and is so different, I feel almost lost here.

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Now, back to me and the MITM. Given all that I've shared (and believe me, I cut out a LOT), we have nothing to complain about because we have options and living on the street and pushing a shopping cart isn't one of them. 

And for that, I am grateful.

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This is how this post had started before I realized just how ungrateful I sounded:

After living in 2600 square feet in a single family house with a HUGE garden, looking at an apartment less than half that size stacked/surrounded by dozens of units is a tad off-putting. 

It looks as if given the MITM's schedule, things won't be settling down until sometime during the first quarter of 2020. April will mark one year back in Southern California and the beginning of yet another chapter here in the city, my city, Los Angeles!