Signs Of The Times

Posted on | March 14, 2009 | Leave a Comment

No one can possibly be unaware we’re in a tough economic time, either through job loss, financial loss, or just from the news. What I find interesting are the more subtle indicators and things that don’t make the news.

Like my dentist office where normally, appointments are stacked up through the day and missing one means waiting forever to get back in. But the other day I had a different experience going in for a regular visit for a cleaning and checkup.

Normally a technician does the cleaning, while the man himself pops in afterward to do the five minute check-up, then rushes on to the next person, fitting it all in while doing crowns, fillings, root canals, and so on. However much to my surprise my dentist did all the work himself. When I asked why, he said it made no sense to have a temp come in.

What he didn’t say, but I observed, was he just wasn’t all that busy. Obviously he had to cut back on permanent help. Also noted that the area wasn’t as sparkly as usual which told me there was also a cut-back on cleaning help – nothing serious, but noticeable.Â Â

Another subtle change is traffic. In speaking with an associate recently, she observed how much her commute home had shortened. More than 10 minutes shorter, plus where there used to be a consistent bottleneck of bumper to bumper traffic, she doesn’t even have to hit the brakes these days.

And where there once was lots of waiting in line to be seated at restaurants, that’s mostly gone -even on Friday and Saturday nights. Plus the drive-through at Starbucks no longer goes around the block – I can actually get a coffee reasonably fast.

So look around, there are some bright spots. However, one that is not so bright, is that while there are a lot more unemployed folks these days, there are also more working from home, either remotely or on their own business. That has translated into stores being more crowded during the traditionally quieter times of day like mid-morning and afternoon when those of us trying to avoid busy times like to go. Oh well, can’t have everything.