Re: Trailers in Florida

patbz · ‎03-10-2010

@lovesmygrands: I didnt say they should be banned everywhere; still think they should be banned (via zoning) in coastal areas. I'm not an elitist, just a realist, cocerned about the inhabitant's safety and security. Has anyone seen the many scenes of trailers destroyed by Irma?

Zhills · ‎11-15-2011

@SahmIam wrote:
Here's the thing.... for the vast MAJORITY of Americans, owning a house made of siding, brick, wood (what most think of a "real" home) is simply not possible due to cost. It isn't. I don't care what graphs or sound bites or Yahoo or any other news media may say or claim; most of the US is not doing well and hasn't for a long time. A frailer is something they CAN afford and live in and own.

There is also, depending on where you live, a MAJOR tax/cost advantage to living in a trailer/mobile home vs a "traditional" home (aka permanent structure). Mobile homes are quite common as the choice of home for those who farm the land. My family owns a large amount of land in VA and West VA; the fact that we have a home standing on both properties makes us stand out. Doesn't matter that the home in VA was built long before the CIvil War (and took hits during a few battles during said war), it's still a house where most live in a trailer; same in West VA. On our trip down through South Carolina, we saw trailer homes on land FAR MORE OFTEN than single family homes.

I think the "they should be banned" reeks of privilege. Those are people's HOMES that they worked hard to purchase and maintain. Educate yourself as to WHY these homes are so popular and understand that the day may come when you or someone close to you may be living in one.

Check out this link and you will see that "living in one" is not really a sacrifice! They are luxurious!

https://www.homes-of-merit.com/photo-galleries

SahmIam · ‎04-16-2010

@Zhills wrote:
@SahmIam wrote:
Here's the thing.... for the vast MAJORITY of Americans, owning a house made of siding, brick, wood (what most think of a "real" home) is simply not possible due to cost. It isn't. I don't care what graphs or sound bites or Yahoo or any other news media may say or claim; most of the US is not doing well and hasn't for a long time. A frailer is something they CAN afford and live in and own.

There is also, depending on where you live, a MAJOR tax/cost advantage to living in a trailer/mobile home vs a "traditional" home (aka permanent structure). Mobile homes are quite common as the choice of home for those who farm the land. My family owns a large amount of land in VA and West VA; the fact that we have a home standing on both properties makes us stand out. Doesn't matter that the home in VA was built long before the CIvil War (and took hits during a few battles during said war), it's still a house where most live in a trailer; same in West VA. On our trip down through South Carolina, we saw trailer homes on land FAR MORE OFTEN than single family homes.

I think the "they should be banned" reeks of privilege. Those are people's HOMES that they worked hard to purchase and maintain. Educate yourself as to WHY these homes are so popular and understand that the day may come when you or someone close to you may be living in one.
Check out this link and you will see that "living in one" is not really a sacrifice! They are luxurious!

https://www.homes-of-merit.com/photo-galleries

@Zhills Some are. Some are not. That isn't the point, IMHO. It's the fact that so much of the population thinks they should be banned. Well guess what? Those that live them work hard, contribute to the local and national economy and this IS what they can afford. That's the bottom line folks...what one can AFFORD.

Annabellethecat66 · ‎03-12-2010

I know I'm going to sound hard but I agree with the OP. I also know there are people who can only afford to live in a trailer.

I think I'd try to live in a trailer in Florida that isn't in a place where any kind high of wind or water could destroy it though. Another thing I'd definitely do (living anywhere, especially in an area that floods) is put anything important (i.e. papers, special remembrances, etc) in an air tight plastic container or keep them in a safety deposit box.

We had a fire and couldn't give in our house for 5 months. One thing we had in our safety deposit box was a video of our house (furniture, jewelry, etc). We had the important papers in the safety deposit box too.

THAT's what I'd advise people to do...put important papers in a safe place and have plenty of water tight boxes handy, flash lights, etc.

I've never lived in a trailer but my late husband's parents did out of necessity. Like I said, I think they provide some people with a nice, safe place to live.

I also believe we have to try to understand why some people make the choices they do. We need to work hard to have compassion for others, even (and especially) for those we disagree with or know we'd so something entirely different.

I'm working really hard on the last paragraph and (knowing myself as I do) figure I'll be working on it for the rest of my life. That's the best I can do at my age.

marlielou · ‎03-30-2014

@TheMemphisVette wrote:
using that logic...

florida gets 40% of the hurricanes. why let anyone live there at all?

There you go @TheMemphisVette! Close the state! Seriously I worry about people in vulnerable situations.

marlielou · ‎03-30-2014

@viva923 wrote:
i have lived in a mobile home for 30 yrs now. they are decent, a roof over my head. If I could afford a stick built house I would have moved long ago, but the cost of living here is off the chart so dh and i make do with we can afford

❤️ @viva923

marlielou · ‎03-30-2014

@Poodlepet2 wrote:
@Zhills, Amen! I was shocked to see how many mobile homes SURVIVED in Key West....every state has it's meteorological idiosyncrasies....earthquakes, fires, volcanos (Mt. Saint Helen's for the younger people here-on the continental United States)....
Can't we just stop judging? I know more people that have rebuilt two or three times inland and they weren't even in flood zones!
Hugs,
Poodlepet2

Great post @Poodlepet2.

Sooner · ‎03-10-2010

@Poodlepet2 wrote:
@Zhills, Amen! I was shocked to see how many mobile homes SURVIVED in Key West....every state has it's meteorological idiosyncrasies....earthquakes, fires, volcanos (Mt. Saint Helen's for the younger people here-on the continental United States)....
Can't we just stop judging? I know more people that have rebuilt two or three times inland and they weren't even in flood zones!
Hugs,
Poodlepet2

@Poodlepet2@ @Zhills Wise words. Meteorological, geological, and geographical problems abound. I was reading today about a HUGE building in San Francisco that is SINKING rather rapidly and leaning because piers were sunk in SAND and they didn't go to bedrock. REALLY? In San Francisco which WILL have a big one someday?

Then there is the issue of climate versus weather. And there is a difference. Weather records don't go back very far in most places in this country, so we really don't know what to expect. Flood plains can be 500 years, and that's still not good information.

All of us take our chances every time we get up every day. Risk depends on who is talking about something.

Zhills · ‎11-15-2011

@marlielou wrote:
@TheMemphisVette wrote:
using that logic...

florida gets 40% of the hurricanes. why let anyone live there at all?

There you go @TheMemphisVette! Close the state! Seriously I worry about people in vulnerable situations.

Every state has some type weather related problems. Close all of them!

We can't live on the moon yet!