Guarded optimism about the year ahead
Published on Wed, Jan 11, 2012 by Beckye RandallRead More Voices
Well, I'm glad that's over.
I'm talking about 2011, and it seems as if lots of people are sharing this same sentiment.
It's not that 2011 was any tougher than, say, 2010. I just think much of our intestinal fortitude had been used up by the time last year rolled around.
Since 2008, most of us have been hanging on by sheer determination, comforting one another that, surely, things would turn around soon. But soon refused to come all that year, and the next, and the next...and our frozen smiles began to wilt while our savings dwindled further.
By the time 2011 came along, there just wasn't much left. Everything we had known about job security, home ownership and the competence of our government was shattered. Across the nation and right here at home, the reality of the Great Recession was in plain sight as businesses closed down, lines doubled at the food banks, and "short sale" became the word of the day in real estate offices.
As painful as this economic downtown has been for individuals, it's been even worse for school districts and municipal governments who are trying to maintain critical public services with ever-shrinking dollars. The word "cut" implies a painful injury, and that's exactly what budgets have been like for the past several fiscal cycles. Painful.
And yet...here we are. Celebrating the beginning of a new year, and once again brimming with hope. 2012 somehow feels different, as if maybe things really will turn around this year.
Both my son and my niece have found good jobs in their career fields within the past couple of months--after nearly a year and a half of unemployment. Small businesses are calling about advertising in the paper. Realtor friends are seeing a slight but steady uptick in listings and sales, and I've noticed a few optimistic construction projects in Marysville and Arlington.
Maybe this year will bring recovery, or at least demonstrate a strong trend in that direction. I'm cautiously optimistic about our chances for surviving another year.
Well, at least until December 21, 2012. Then all bets are off.
I'm talking about 2011, and it seems as if lots of people are sharing this same sentiment.
It's not that 2011 was any tougher than, say, 2010. I just think much of our intestinal fortitude had been used up by the time last year rolled around.
Since 2008, most of us have been hanging on by sheer determination, comforting one another that, surely, things would turn around soon. But soon refused to come all that year, and the next, and the next...and our frozen smiles began to wilt while our savings dwindled further.
By the time 2011 came along, there just wasn't much left. Everything we had known about job security, home ownership and the competence of our government was shattered. Across the nation and right here at home, the reality of the Great Recession was in plain sight as businesses closed down, lines doubled at the food banks, and "short sale" became the word of the day in real estate offices.
As painful as this economic downtown has been for individuals, it's been even worse for school districts and municipal governments who are trying to maintain critical public services with ever-shrinking dollars. The word "cut" implies a painful injury, and that's exactly what budgets have been like for the past several fiscal cycles. Painful.
And yet...here we are. Celebrating the beginning of a new year, and once again brimming with hope. 2012 somehow feels different, as if maybe things really will turn around this year.
Both my son and my niece have found good jobs in their career fields within the past couple of months--after nearly a year and a half of unemployment. Small businesses are calling about advertising in the paper. Realtor friends are seeing a slight but steady uptick in listings and sales, and I've noticed a few optimistic construction projects in Marysville and Arlington.
Maybe this year will bring recovery, or at least demonstrate a strong trend in that direction. I'm cautiously optimistic about our chances for surviving another year.
Well, at least until December 21, 2012. Then all bets are off.
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