u/Bravadette

My close friend and I have this recurring argument...

She wants to relocate, but says she cant without work in that state (MA), because landlords require proof of income. On the other hand, she has plenty of savings, and more than half of the feedback from rejections she receives is "We found a candidate who lives closer."

I really dont think the proof of income is a complete requirement. Ive done the searches myself. Not all of them specify how verification will be performed beyond background or credit check so maybe they do require an offer letter of sorts, but i dont have evidence that those listings require it.

So, will she really just have to wait more than the few years shes been trying to find work in MA just to move?

Is anyone else struggling these days, especially seeing the increasing amount of species extinction alongside a loss of funding for our work (and where that money is going instead)? Since last year, I've finally broken into the field I've tried to get into for a decade. It feels like it was for the wrong reason. Like there's a scramble to help ash and beech, but only because "energy infrastructure is national security" and not because... I don't know... the consequences of unmitigated growth???

Maybe its because im new though. My experience is below, for context.

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I didn't expect this many folks to be bothered by it. You never hear stuff about it on the news unless the issue is as flashy as a lanternfly or an orca. I showed my mom and dad a photo of a healthy ash tree with a full canopy and they looked like they were having a moment. They're not even really into this stuff. I just walked in and it went something like this:

"Did you guys know ash trees are on their way out?"

"Yeah, you told us last week. Why, did you see something?"

"No. Look at this, though. Have you ever seen this?"

"Wait, what... That's what they're supposed to look like? Oh my god. But... Wait, is this because they're sick?"

And then I explain the suckers and what those mean.

Then, of course, there's the actual fieldwork where if there's interaction with the general public, it most likely will go something like this: "Good morning just surveying the neighborhood for trees. I wont be in your yard for too long."

"Oh, huh. Whatcha looking for?"

"Ash."

And then they tell me some variation of "I just want to cry / I don't understand why this is happening," and I'm helping them with their own grief.

I don't mind it, but I genuinely didn't expect people to have noticed any of these changes around them.