Embrace for more humilation (Rio Grande: salons, homes, standard of living)

[stevemorse]

i will agree with you Mike this is the worst. The worst!!! It must be interesting, you know Im so spoiled that this amazes me how people live with nothing. It in a way is very freeing to me, I know that sounds crazy but Im not living that life. However I do give them credit in a sense, they are very free of money issues. I wonder are they angry, disgruntled, this would be interesting to see. I guess its so unfamiliar to me that I find it fascinating. I cant imagine it, you know dad lately has been buying me everything. I finally told him to stop everytime I see you I dont come for something, for once let me just spend time with you. So this backyard maybe they have a close family without money . Maybe they actually talk to each other instead of shop. Maybe IM dreaming too, maybe they are just plain thugs. In my mind I would like to think of them as a nice close knit family just alittle broke.

[mike0421]

Originally Posted by njkate

What the hell is that Mike???

Kate,

That is unincorporated land in Dona Ana County NM, in the Rio Grande Valley. That might be the residence of a chile picker, a pecan pruner, or, for all I know, it could be in proximity to a meth farm. A great advantage of Google Street View is that it somewhat mollifies curiosity of how others live on a transcontinental basis. Suggested in another way, it's the equivalent of performing a virtual rectal examination.

For those of you who complain about the standard of living in NJ, study some of these views. This is how a lot of people live in this country. They don't have 'stuff'. Tangible, brick and mortar stores, hair salons, spas, thai restaurants, etc. The selections are small. Truthfully, many don't desire 'stuff', either. The priority is keeping the electricity on in their homes. And as bad as this looks, it's got nothing on what's on the other side of the Rio, from El Paso Texas. You get this type of poverty, times about 4 or 5, and you get daily drive by shootings as well. At least these views are on the American side of the border, so there is at least a semblance of law and order.

[stevemorse]

Originally Posted by mike0421

Kate,

That is unincorporated land in Dona Ana County NM, in the Rio Grande Valley. That might be the residence of a chile picker, a pecan pruner, or, for all I know, it could be in proximity to a meth farm. A great advantage of Google Street View is that it somewhat mollifies curiosity of how others live on a transcontinental basis. Suggested in another way, it's the equivalent of performing a virtual rectal examination.

For those of you who complain about the standard of living in NJ, study some of these views. This is how a lot of people live in this country. They don't have 'stuff'. Tangible, brick and mortar stores, hair salons, spas, thai restaurants, etc. The selections are small. Truthfully, many don't desire 'stuff', either. The priority is keeping the electricity on in their homes. And as bad as this looks, it's got nothing on what's on the other side of the Rio, from El Paso Texas. You get this type of poverty, times about 4 or 5, and you get daily drive by shootings as well. At least these views are on the American side of the border, so there is at least a semblance of law and order.

Pecan pruner?? Is that were Pecans come from? I thought is was down south. I love your tales and stories of how this area lives. I find it so interesting!! I would love to trade places for a week.

Did Georgia Okeefe live by you???

Mike you tell the best about other peoples lives, write me a book one day. Maybe one day we can house swap for a vacation!!!

[njkate]

It amazes me we still have that kind of poverty in the US, but yes it is still more than likely a whole lot nicer/better than south of the Rio Grande

[luckyshoes]

Originally Posted by stevemorse

i will agree with you Mike this is the worst. The worst!!! It must be interesting, you know Im so spoiled that this amazes me how people live with nothing. It in a way is very freeing to me, I know that sounds crazy but Im not living that life. However I do give them credit in a sense, they are very free of money issues. I wonder are they angry, disgruntled, this would be interesting to see. I guess its so unfamiliar to me that I find it fascinating. I cant imagine it, you know dad lately has been buying me everything. I finally told him to stop everytime I see you I dont come for something, for once let me just spend time with you. So this backyard maybe they have a close family without money . Maybe they actually talk to each other instead of shop. Maybe IM dreaming too, maybe they are just plain thugs. In my mind I would like to think of them as a nice close knit family just alittle broke.

No, I don't think they are free of money issues, quite the opposite. I think many of us who have more can sometimes have romanticized views of poverty, when in most cases, it really sucks. Sure, maybe they don't have to worry about their "stuff" but they probably are losing their teeth too.

[stevemorse]

Originally Posted by luckyshoes

No, I don't think they are free of money issues, quite the opposite. I think many of us who have more can sometimes have romanticized views of poverty, when in most cases, it really sucks. Sure, maybe they don't have to worry about their "stuff" but they probably are losing their teeth too.

you got a point. I guess thats me romanticize , thats me. I have visions of people talking more, playing pinnacle, talking over the radio. I guess its the old Utica, NY family that my Dad grew up in, very poor that I think about. You got a point.

[CaptainNJ]

i hear that some people there were the owners of the brownstone. i enjoyed the wedding i went to there very much.

the people that should be humiliated are the morons that judge a state by the handful of people chosen for a tv show.

[mike0421]

Originally Posted by stevemorse

you got a point. I guess thats me romanticize , thats me. I have visions of people talking more, playing pinnacle, talking over the radio. I guess its the old Utica, NY family that my Dad grew up in, very poor that I think about. You got a point.

The people in these neighborhoods aren't playing pinochle, Marilyn. As far as socializing, that's probably not reality either, in these neighborhoods. The spatial construct is completely different from Utica NY, or a older town built on a human scale. It's not nearly as conducive to the socialization that you are dreaming of. When it comes to living life to the fullest, the neighborhoods I've (kind of) exposed you to are about as happy as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest. I wish there was an answer, but I don't see it. There is a lifecycle of poverty in these places that won't likely be broken any time soon.

[stevemorse]

Originally Posted by mike0421

The people in these neighborhoods aren't playing pinochle, Marilyn. As far as socializing, that's probably not reality either, in these neighborhoods. The spatial construct is completely different from Utica NY, or a older town built on a human scale. It's not nearly as conducive to the socialization that you are dreaming of. When it comes to living life to the fullest, the neighborhoods I've (kind of) exposed you to are about as happy as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest. I wish there was an answer, but I don't see it. There is a lifecycle of poverty in these places that won't likely be broken any time soon.

too bad, that old Utica, NY senerio, they were poor, worked hard but happy! Too too bad. And your right my Dad did break out of the lifestyle of poverty by super hard work and education. I guess I go back to that old kitchen table with the Syrian food , the lebense Uncle, all happy, cards, radio, latin church , alot of aunts and uncles and cousins. I guess I assumed they had the similiar set up just an unappealing landscape. Thanks for clearing that up.

[VeradoDan]

This should would be better titled: The Real Housewives of North Jersey who watched one too many Sopranos episodes. But I guess that wouldn't fit in the on-screen channel guide as well.