Another Myth Debunked

I guess there goes that whole "Jobs Americans won't do" argument.

The sub-headline: Applicants line up to fill jobs left empty by Swift plant raid

What the heck do all these other people do?

My wife and I are moving from our lovely home in Hopkinton, MA (anyone want to buy a house?) to the NY Metro area. We are starting to settle on NJ as our landing place. In looking at houses though, I can't believe what you can't get for the kind of money I am willing and able to play. I like to think that I am doing pretty well for a guy in his mid-thirties. According to the government, I am in the top 2% of wage-earners, but when I look at what these houses cost, I have to wonder - what the hell do these people do for a living or how did they get their money?

I am not trying to live in Manhattan. Pretty much, my commute is going to be an hour to get to mid-town. Yes, I am looking at houses in areas with good schools. I think I must be doing something wrong.

What tech toys should I lust after?

Here's something truly distressing. I don't really feel like I have a need for any new tech toys. I am in a virtual panic. The things that are out there I can really use, I have. For Christmas, the wife and I finally bit the bullet on a GPS. I like to believe I have one of these in my head, but with us moving soon to NJ, I am sure it will be helpful. So this has me in virtual state of panic. Like a junkie without a dealer.

Here is the best I can do at lusting after items. Truly they seem so eccentric to me that I can't coax myself into true desire.

• Dell 30-inch LCD computer monitor - tons of pixel glory - lovely, but a little much.
• Video iPod - I think I will wait for the "full-screen" version, which I think will be out in the spring
• 1080p LCD - I don't really have a place to put it, honestly.

I am struggling to come up with other things. Leave your suggestions in comments.