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Why I Can't find a Parking Spot...

By Gary Woltal

Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty 0575737

June 20, 2008 03:28 AM

In driving up to my Realtor office of late, it seems like I have to park around the back, or go back and forth, up and down the rows to get a spot. Boy, there must be a lot of people working on contracts, checking the MLS on the in office computers, or having client meetings. Then it dawned on me,

WHY I CAN'T FIND A PARKING SPOT...

Two Birds A newly released study shows that in 1950 there were 2.6 billion population on the planet. Today there are 6.7 billion. By 2012 there will be 7 billion. By 2050 there will be an estimated 9.5 billion! The U.S. alone is 304 million, third in people behind China and India. They are all after my parking spot! : )

With this comes competition, a potential downside for any of us in business. And that's competition for housing, a piece of the American dream, healthcare, retirement, and even food.

But you know me, I see a bright spot even when it is raining. With more people comes more opportunity. More opportunity to "touch" other people. And for me, much more opportunity for me to find new friends.

So the next time you are stuck in traffic or can't find a spot on the beach or lakeside at that waterfront location, it's not all bad. There are many more people to find and explore all that is good in life. Your InBox will just be more overloaded with jokes from those fun friends you find. You will have more hugs to give and receive, and more barbeques to share. More people to love and to love you.

Yes, we may be getting bigger as a planet in a sea of humanity. But it can make us better too.

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William Feela

WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN

Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Gary....I always laugh at people who will walk a long ways at the mall, but not 1 blk in town.

Jun 20, 2008 03:30 AM

Associate Broker Falmouth MA Cape Cod Heath Coker

https://teamcoker.robertpaul.com - Falmouth, MA

Heath Coker Berkshire Hathaway HS Robert Paul Prop

We can tell which state has let school out by how many plates from that state are now filling out streets and parking spaces! lol

Jun 20, 2008 03:32 AM

Elizabeth Ward Small

REALTOR & CEO The 3B Method Seminars - Burlington, NC

Very positive perspective!

Jun 20, 2008 03:34 AM

Bill C. Merrell

Merrell Institute ~ Appraisal Education Network - Bohemia, NY

Ph.D. - Merrell Institue

Well, At least Active Rain has plenty of parking.

All the Best.

Bill

Jun 20, 2008 03:40 AM

Linda Scanlan

A Fan of AR - Burleson, TX

Gary, I love this post! I was stuck in traffic on 35W (nightmare) for an HOUR the other day..not moving at all..the people on either side of me rolled their windows down and we chatted about everything the whole time! It was great!

Jun 20, 2008 03:56 AM

Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman

Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI

(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

In our parking lot everyone is in a hurry to get the spot and get to where they're going. And the spot in front of the office I call MY spot,,,,I just let everyone use it LOL!

Jun 20, 2008 04:21 AM

Charles Buell

Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA

Seattle Home Inspector

Gary, this is so true. Without large populations we would miss out on a lot of things.

Jun 20, 2008 04:39 AM

Keith Perry

Coldwell Banker - Hiram, GA

REALTOR - West Metro Atlanta

I wrote my name on mine :)

Jun 20, 2008 06:22 AM

Loreena and Michael Yeo

3:16 team REALTY ~ Locally-owned Prosper TX Real Estate Co. - Prosper, TX

Real Estate Agents

I like the way you look at things. It does mean that more people have real stuff to do - which is good for the economy. On a separate note, this morning on NBC Today show, it saw that there are 2% less cars on the road today than a year ago.

Jun 20, 2008 06:32 AM

Melody Botting

Broker Associate PenFed Realty - San Antonio, TX

You Deserve The Best

Pointing out the obvious- And they all have to live somewhere.

Jun 20, 2008 07:41 AM

Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker

Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA

Put 40 years of experience to work for you

The top producers at my company get free underground parking. Solves the problem. :)

It's based on quarterly performance, so some of us will move heaven and earth to get that last transaction closed by quarter end because we don't want to give our parking pass. Even though it's less than $100 a month or something . . .

The population in Texas is nothing when compared to California. More than 35 million people live in this state, and there's way too many of them. We have brown-outs because utilities can't keep up with the demand, our roads need work because there aren't enough hours in the day nor manpower to maintain them -- somebody once said that living in CA is the only place where you can stand in line at midnight at the 7-11. I think some of the people in CA should move to Texas.

Jun 20, 2008 07:42 AM

Gary Woltal

Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX

Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

William: And walking a long way at the mall, or anywhere, is great exercise!

Heath: Check those license plates out for school summer vacation. Very funny.

Liz: Always two ways to look at things.

Bill: Plenty of parking at Active Rain as long as we can steer clear of Proxy Server errors : )

Linda: Only in Texas, the friendly state : )

Sally: You are so gracious and positive with everyone....

Charles: Sometimes being way out in the country and isolated is good but higher densities of people can be good for you as well at other times. Here on the Rain we have virtual density at 90,000+

Keith & Robin: That solves THAT problem!

Loreena: I saw that decrease in driving mileage news story too. Definitely an effect of the higher price of gasoline.

Mel: Them all having to live somewhere should keep REALTORS busy for many years.

Elizabeth: A great motivational carrot for your office. Send your Californians here. I'll get them in a house, and maybe lower your traffice congestion ; ) Wow, 35 million. Huge population.

Jun 20, 2008 08:27 AM

Laura Cerrano

Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY

Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

Gary, This post actually makes me laugh. I wish people here were so calm about the traffic and congestion, there's nothing you can do about it....and they are missing some wonderful opportunities (and I'm sure their blood pressure isn't too well, either!).

Jun 20, 2008 09:05 AM

Gary Woltal

Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX

Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Carole: Yep, you just have to chill out over that which you have NO control over. I beat myself in the head with a bat everyday in trying to get that ingrained in my thick skull. If you let go of things out of your control, you will have SO much more peace.

Jun 20, 2008 09:11 AM

Liz Moras Migic

Chilliwack, BC

Chilliwack, British Columbia - Realtor

Hmmm so day after day when i can't find a parking spot at my office.........I look and think...........what an opportunity - there must be more 'potential clients around?'........lol.......now wouldn't that be a novel outlook? Wow I'll see if I can remember that!

Jun 20, 2008 04:47 PM

Steve Shatsky

Dallas, TX

Great post Gary! Maybe we all need to be driving Smart cars and then the number of parking spaces would effectively double! :)

Jun 20, 2008 04:51 PM

Arina Hanciulescu

RealtyPros - Las Vegas, NV

RealtyPros

Gary, Your optimistic view is intoxicating... To see that the overpopulation of out planet is an opportunity for more love. " More people to love and to love you" is such an wonderful thought... I only hope to remember when in traffic or looking for a parking -:)

Jun 20, 2008 04:56 PM

William Johnson

Retired - La Jolla, CA

Retired

Hi Gary, your post certainly reflects one perspective, probably the right one. Since my view is not exactly word for word the same or even similar for that matter, I'll just keep it to myself,LMAO.

All these people did teach me something though. In the words of Confucius , "If you don't like foot in mouth ,keep it closed". And I always listen to him,lol So there must be some value there, somewhere?

Jun 20, 2008 05:24 PM

Mara Hawks

First Realty Auburn - Auburn, AL

Inactive-2012 REALTOR - Homes for Sale Auburn Real Estate, AL

Excellent point. The growing population needn't be birdensome. :-)

Jun 21, 2008 02:27 PM

Carol Culkin

Diamond Partners Inc - Overland Park, KS

Overland Park Residential Real Estate

Gary - I look at this situation and realize I am being forced to walk for a reason - and I know I need the exercise so I can't complain! Unless it's raining and then I'm at risk for melting!

Jun 22, 2008 05:13 PM