I shared this because the issue is affecting my area as well as SV, and I'm sure many other areas as well. I live in southeast Alaska, and our housing costs are

I shared this because the issue is affecting my area as well as SV, and I'm sure many other areas as well. I live in southeast Alaska, and our housing costs are some of the highest in the country as well. Here it's a mix of factors; we live right on the edge of the mountains, next to the ocean, so there's a shortage of land that's suitable for building. The problem is exacerbated by well-off people buying up large homes that sit vacant in the winter and developing lodges that are only used by tourists during the summer. Just a few days ago there was a heated conversation on our community's facebook "chatters" group about how online shopping is hurting our community. Another local business is closing up shop, and people were encouraging others to shop locally whenever possible. "Encouraging" is a kind word; many were chastising anyone who talked about shopping through amazon. One person commented that he had grown up here, and lives on his fishing boat because he can't afford to buy a home. He says he buys as much as he can through amazon because it's the only way he can make ends meet. This is a guy who catches the "wild caught Alaska salmon" that many people ask for in nicer restaurants, or buy in fish markets like Pike Place in Seattle. Our community is responding in some interesting ways, like helping people figure out how to build small homes that are easier to heat efficiently in the winter. We're looking at more efficient ways to use the land that's available for building. But all of this might be for nothing in the face of economic disparity; I wonder if we'll continue to sort things out, or if it will take a large-scale economic collapse to force the issue. I hope for the former, but I won't be surprised by the latter.