Deficit Spending is the Best!

---

10/14/06 to 10/15/06 - Deficit Spending is the Best!

Friday afternoon Martin Crellin, a British expat in my department at work invited me to come over to his family’s home for lunch on Saturday, and if I felt like it too give him a hand with a few big yard projects.

Saturday morning I took the bus to Ponsonby and then walked the mile and a half to Martins and Emma’s place, arriving at 10am. Their newly renovated home is in a perfect location, looking down into a small green valley and within a five minute walk of Cook’s Cove.

First task for the morning was clearing a space for an herb (pronounced in a British accent) garden and constructing the raised bed. There were about twenty plants of varying sizes (two gallon rhododendron size up to a 2 inch diameter tree) that had to be moved to make space for the garden. I took the first shift operating the shovel and left a healthy amount of soil and roots on the shrubs. When it was Martin’s turn I cringed as I watched him place the blade of the shovel a mere two inches from the base of the plant and angle the shovel in towards the tap roots. He’d then beat what little bit of dirt and root hairs were left off. I didn’t bother explaining that the plants will probably die, I figured he’ll figure that out on his own shortly! But can’t fault him for trying this is his first home with a garden space while I’ve been rooting around gardens for years.

We had an excellent lunch and discussed our favorite spots in the UK. Emma is from Lincolnshire, south of York by about two hours. Martin originally is from the Lakes district and they’d spend the last few years in Manchester.

After lunch, we stained the large wood deck, which had just been pressure washed earlier in the week. It quickly became apparent to me that the deck had not been treated in years. The deck was rapidly absorbing the stain and we ended up running out only halfway through the job. Mom, remember how much work over those two summers the deck on Decatur Island took? This was no where near as bad. I wouldn’t mind a deck this size.

I walked back to Parnell through the neighborhoods along the waterfront. I realized when I got back home and looked at myself in the mirror I had made a serious mistake. I’d walked through neighborhood of million dollar homes and I was covered in dirt and splotched with stain. Oh well, it was a nice walk anyway.

I’ve attached photos from the morning and afternoon walks for your viewing pleasure.


Deficit Spending is the Best

I should write about the phenomenon of deficit spending while I’m still living it. Work cuts paychecks once a month so it’s worked out that I have yet to see any positive cash flow since arriving. Yet, I’ve gone contrary to my typical budgeting and spending practices since arriving in New Zealand and I’ve had a great time. Some of you know that I kept detailed records of what I spent and when while in Europe and could tell you how much I spent for each meal, room, tourist activity, etc…. I haven’t a clue what I’ve spent here. I do know this, Mr. Roth IRA may not be getting his full funding this year.

My experiences have better help me understand the Keynessian(spelling?) Effect; remember that concept from macroeconomics ECON102. One part of the thesis is that deficit spending is a way to mitigate recessions. Deficit spending has sent my stocks soaring.

No trust fund baby here (remember that conversation Cindy?) so I will be pulled back into the real world shortly when the first check is deposited in my account. Back to balancing the budget (books). Would I recommend this footloose and fancy spending spree? Depends on the person, I would have never thought that I could handle it but I did ;so I guess anyone can. I’ve always remembered this quote from Mr. Kenessian (?) “In the very, very long run were all dead”. Let loose a little.

Saturday night went to see Little Miss Sunshine, from the Sundance Film Festival. A great feel good movie, a week later I still get a little smile and chuckle out of a line or series of events from the film. I would recommend this film to anyone. After the film dropped into Starks, a European coffee shop and bar for drinks; we sat in luxurious leather chairs and had our drinks in the lobby of the Civic Theater on Queen Street. The Art Deco styled, Civic Theater, was featured in the recently released King Kong film check out the photo that I took a few weeks back and compare the façade to what you saw in the film. Time quickly got away and soon it was 12:45am. Queen street was packed with tipsy teens and tricked out cars cruising back and forth, causing a rush hour only seen during the week during the lunch hour.

I’ve been able to watch some baseball this weekend albeit either tape delayed or late at night. Nice to have a little bit of the familiar here, more about that later.

---

Photos

Halloween Sales
Halloween is a non existent holiday here in New Zealand. Very small selection of items in the stores and most items cater to children. No one has decorations out, that means no witches, pumpkins, skeletons, black cats and straw bales on peoples porches. All signifiers that autumn is in gear and winter is near.

Christmas Sales
Check out the advertising for Christmas items. A big beaming sun! Now that is just messed up! Sun in December?

Comments

[dad]

fellow traveler
Thanks so much for sharing. How does it feel standing upside down from us or we from you. So, you are having income to debt ratio trouble also. Welcome to the real world. hahahahahaha