Howler

It’s a real Nor’easter out there, and we have 12 more hours to go.


So far, not a whole lot of snow, but it’s supposed to reach blizzard conditions later today.
By around 8:30, I’d finished the tasks that required electricity and internet access, like online bill pay and prep of two invoices.
VERY happy that Peter and I did the transfer station run yesterday. Even if they’re open today, the conditions would have made it a misery. For the sake of the people who work there, a genial and helpful bunch, I hope it’s closed.
The plows are out, but with this wind, it seems a waste of time to do the driveway just yet. Even after all these years, I can never decide on the best strategy – shovel now, or wait until it’s over.
At times like these, and in fact at many other times, I’m sorry that I don’t live in a neighborhood where shops and stores are within walking distance.
There’s an article in one of the papers this morning about how rebuilding downtowns is becoming a “new” trend in Eastern Mass. Towns like Canton and Franklin and cities like Lowell are changing zoning laws to allow developers to knock down old industrial wastelands and build combination living/working areas.
Mashpee has done this on a small scale at the Commons, which has apartments and lofts above retail shops in a couple of buildings.
When I lived in San Francisco, I had a nice apartment which was a block from a shopping district with a coffee house, a grocery store, a place to buy a newspaper, and numerous other amenities.
The landlord was a major jerk, but it would be nice to live in a space like that again.
When I worked downtown, I didn’t need a car to commute, and that’s a major feature of the “new” developments described in today’s article: these complexes are located within walking distance to commuter rail stations.
Last week, I started a consulting gig in the Plymouth Industrial Park, which is not near public transportation as far as I can tell.
It’s not a bad ride from the Cape, although Thursday and Friday nights in July and August will no doubt be challenging. Then again, there’s plenty to do after work hours in Plymouth during “the season”, so I’m not too worried about it yet.
Still, it would be nice to not have to go over the bridge, and a quick look at one real estate section this morning showed that property is still affordable in that area.
For right now, though, I’m glad that it’s a Sunday, glad to have gotten errands done yesterday, and hope we keep power for the rest of the storm.