Getting to the end of February, 2012, and barely a taste of winter in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.  I know it's not the driest winter on record, but certainly the least snow, most sun and warmest I've seen in 25 years of experiencing Tahoe winters.  There is an upside to endless, beautiful, spring weather with about a total of 30 minutes of snow shoveling and care free winter driving.  But I think the resident flora and fauna are not going to tolerate such an aberration in climate as well as the human species.  Skiers and ski resorts are decidedly displeased with Mother Nature.  In a severely recessed local economy the weather report has been bleaker than the business section of the local newspaper.  Oh well, complaining apparently has very little impact on tomorrow's weather, so might as well keep the snow shoes in the closet and enjoy another pleasant hike through the uncovered forest trails.  Now if winter hibernates again next year, we may have to have a more serious discussion about the climate.

As mentioned above the local economy's pulse is near a flatline (positive note:  there are decided signs of an increase in commercial construction in the South Tahoe area in the last few months).  The fallout from a five year decline in property value that evaporates nearly 50% of property value is hard to grasp.  So "they" say the economy is on a steady march to higher ground.  But at ground zero on Main Street it's still a matter of week to week financial existence, with job and housing insecurity a constant fact of life.  

Editorial Opinion:  It may be time for the Tahoe Basin to begin modeling its future more like Yosemite and Yellowstone than Reno.  Lake Tahoe is a natural wonder and an unoffical National Park.  A very sustainable future for the local population and the stunning environment can result from embracing this reality.... Now back to the regularly scheduled blogging.

This may sound all too familiar to anyone who has found their way to this blog because they have been denied long term disability benefits.  It's the acute suffering and financial need of nearly all of my clients, and people simply calling for advice, that keeps me dedicated to the single practice area of working on behalf of disability insurance applicants.

More on the local environment, economy and long term disability insurance claims and law in coming posts.  Be Happy, Randy Noah