My hat is off to NE RVers

Yeah, I just spent two weeks in FL to see how the snowbirds do it. It was nice I have to say, and we were asked if we were there for the "season," but sadly we had to return to our work. The NE certainly has its challenges. I grew up in the Balt/Wash/VA corridor and can't imagine it today. Especially with this snow that is hitting now, with that many people in such a small area it is very difficult!

I really enjoyed filling up my diesel with $1.69 diesel fuel. I will never see that again in PA!!

I was in college 40 years ago. I took a sociology class. I don't remember a whole lot about that class (let alone anything from my college days. :B But this one thing I do remember and it stuck with me all these years, and I'll probably never forget.

The professor told us about an experiment that was conducted where 2 mice were put into a confined space. More than adequate and spacious for the 2 mice. They were given constantly the same amount of food, more than enough to last several lifetimes.

They let the 2 mice live in this confined space and they began to multiply. But the space remained the same, and the quantity of food remained the same.

After several generations of reproducing, the confined space began to get crowded, but the quantity of food never changed.

Eventually, the space became over populated. The food remained the same. Eventually, there wasn't enough food for all of them as the supply remained the same. The mice turned on each other, started killing each other. Kill their young, and literally killed themselves off until there was only 1 mouse left.

Sad story but true.

We talked about world population and what could possibly happen. Of course 40 years ago, everyone in the class thought this concept was impossible. That our society would never revert to barbarism, that we were too cultured.

Here we are 40 years later, and the population has mushroomed beyond belief. I've watch corn field and bean fields turn into apartment complexes and shopping malls, replacing a patch of ground that once produced food, now gone, and a building sitting there. I miss the days of my childhood when we could roam the field for hours and never see another living person.

Makes me wonder where we're headed?

when we head south I can't believe how bad the roads are in PA and NY. When you finally get to New England the roads are not that bad.

I don't know where you are in PA, but the gas price at the Jonestown Speedway near the KOA off I-81 is $1.98. I think it was slightly lower when we were there a couple of weeks ago, but not by much.

DutchmenSport wrote:
I was in college 40 years ago. I took a sociology class. I don't remember a whole lot about that class (let alone anything from my college days. :B But this one thing I do remember and it stuck with me all these years, and I'll probably never forget.

The professor told us about an experiment that was conducted where 2 mice were put into a confined space. More than adequate and spacious for the 2 mice. They were given constantly the same amount of food, more than enough to last several lifetimes.

They let the 2 mice live in this confined space and they began to multiply. But the space remained the same, and the quantity of food remained the same.

After several generations of reproducing, the confined space began to get crowded, but the quantity of food never changed.

Eventually, the space became over populated. The food remained the same. Eventually, there wasn't enough food for all of them as the supply remained the same. The mice turned on each other, started killing each other. Kill their young, and literally killed themselves off until there was only 1 mouse left.

Sad story but true.

We talked about world population and what could possibly happen. Of course 40 years ago, everyone in the class thought this concept was impossible. That our society would never revert to barbarism, that we were too cultured.

Here we are 40 years later, and the population has mushroomed beyond belief. I've watch corn field and bean fields turn into apartment complexes and shopping malls, replacing a patch of ground that once produced food, now gone, and a building sitting there. I miss the days of my childhood when we could roam the field for hours and never see another living person.

Makes me wonder where we're headed?

The big difference is that modern farming efficiency and crop genetic improvements have drastically increased the per acre yield. Less growing space, yes, but higher output more than makes up for it. In 1936 for example, the average yield was 26 bushels of corn per acre. Today it's in excess of 160 bushels per acre and still increasing.

One reason for all the potholes in PA, according to a PennDot official, we get a lot of freeze/thaw cycles during the winter.

Anytime you travel in Pennsylvania, especially in warmer months, assume you will run into road construction/repair delays. You're usually not disappointed.

And, we're getting a bunch of snow right now. :(
I'd rather be in Florida.

all the road money goes for those big fancy bldg ,

Dutch, what you described is called "carrying capacity" and has existed for all time. It's a concept that no one put a label on until not that long ago.

Just like those who live in rural areas have to drive an hour to get to a grocery store, it's all in what you are used to. Most of us just accept it as it is what it is.

Crowe wrote:
Dutch, what you described is called "carrying capacity" and has existed for all time. It's a concept that no one put a label on until not that long ago.

Just like those who live in rural areas have to drive an hour to get to a grocery store, it's all in what you are used to. Most of us just accept it as it is what it is.

Exactly. And I for one would rather drive that hour than live among the hubbub of city life. Not knocking city dwellers, it's just a matter of what we as individuals are accustom to and our personal preferences. ;)

Coach-man wrote:
..., pot holes, ....

In RI we are proud to have only one pothole. It starts at the CT line and ends at the MA line. :R