[lisa_spyder]

Milt,

I understand your point(s) completely. We are just lucky that Oz still can offer a more laidback lifestyle dependent upon where you choose live and work. It's different here - we don't have the population of course and that in itself means I cannot draw comparisons. I wasn't meaning to - after having spent some time in LA I got the picture first hand. Frankly I wouldn't swap Oz for anywhere as a home base. I know the going is too good here overall.

Mind you the whole ethos has changed the world over...we want more; we work more; we pay more for everything but don't find the time to enjoy what we've procurred...cos we're too darned busy working more in order to have more! But basic costs and society's assumption of needs have changed and risen too. Point in fact - I don't want any more gadgets in my house - I am totally sick of tripping over remote controls and such ****....but my kids are coming up in an age where they seem to need such gadgets as ipods and the like. Don't get me wrong, they are great gadgets - I just don't NEED them!

Melbourne is a totally different place to live than say Sydney...I can't do Sydney. Life is more frantic, cost of living is higher etc etc. I don't like the atmosphere there. Sure there are pockets and places that I could probably live in greater Sydney but I couldn't move too far out of those surrounds without feeling like a caged animal. I guess that's how you feel where you are now.

You need to finish your car and enjoy it...I watched my Dad for many years use his cars as his place of "cleansing". When he was overly stressed, he would go for a long hard drive in the middle of the night and come back purged and whole again. His cars were his saviours - truly. My mother understood completely...smart woman.

Try hard not to let your environment smother your zest for life...we are a bloody long time dead and life is way too short - get your car on the road and join Wayne on Mulholland!

Cheers,

Lisa