I recall the last time I spoke with my Mom’s father before his passing. He told me that in his 90+ years he had seen many changes in the world, but that changes had been occurring more rapidly lately, and that he knew we would see even more dramatic changes in our lifetimes. He had seen two world wars, the birth of aviation and space exploration. He witnessed the birth of computers and portable telephone technology.
It has been 20 years since the millennium change that many feared would knock our increasingly tech-dependent lives off balance. Those fears may have been unfounded, however, looking back over the ensuing decades shows the alarming rate with which change is occurring. The changes presently unfolding are creating change fast enough that we are likely to feel some of its effects in our lifetimes.
Solar power has finally reached the ‘Sunshine State’.
Personally, we have been believers and early embracers of rooftop and backyard solar for years. We have produced enough power in 650 square feet on our rooftop to virtually eliminate our power bill for the last seven years, and we drive on solar power too. We have been Chevrolet Volt enthusiasts for over six years. Electric cars will inevitably replace internal combustion engines over the next couple of decades.
Electric cars require far less repair.
We have only been to a shop twice in five years. Corner gas stations and neighborhood car repair shops will go away. Charging stations will proliferate. Fleets have begun to convert already, including buses.
New, more efficient batteries will accelerate the process. These new electric vehicles, combined with the 5G communications technology being introduced will support the autonomous vehicle systems of the future, which will eliminate the need for automobile ownership together with the personal vehicle insurance systems that administer to the risk of vehicles driven by distracted or impaired drivers.
Decreasing demand for fossil fuels for transportation and electricity will lower the demand for these fuels permanently, eliminating the need for additional drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Preserve or in the waters surrounding Florida.
The coronavirus pandemic, historic forest fires and increasing storm severity have accelerated the pace with which retiring dwellers in our nation’s larger cities want out. As a result of that, and thanks to artificially low interest rates, in spite of the limitations social distancing imposes, real estate in desirable retirement areas has been selling very quickly. If you are considering moving, the time may be here.
All businesses around the world are looking for encouraging signs that the worst is over, and it would appear that for us, there is light at the end of the tunnel. We have a number of new and many continuing advertisers, and there are several inserts going out to 20,000 mailboxes as part of this issue. We are sorry to hear about each of those whose enterprises did not survive, and we ask all of you to support our local businesses.
Thanks for reading Paradise NEWS.
Peter & Renee Roos
& All the Talented People that Contribute to Your Paradise News