Despite the vagaries of the real estate market, owning property shouldn't be considered as a short-term investment, and the principles of sustainability require us to look beyond the dollar returns that we may or may not achieve in our lifetimes. The earth was here a long time before any of us and it will be here for many years after we pass on. Ownership should be viewed as accepting a caretaking opportunity and an investment for our children; everybody's children. If we are able to provide good homes or improve the air, water or quality of the soil on the piece of ground in our trust, than we have increased our own value as human beings contributing to the economic, ecologic and biological systems that create world community.

Of course there is a lot of disagreement about what constitutes an improvement. My choices favor nurturing over toxic; diversity over uniformity and unpaved over concrete. All the flattest, best ground in California has been dedicated to the Car. Agency permits for any development project require automobile access and parking. This generally requires that the ground most suitable for easy access for old and young humans, gardens, meadows, recreation etc, becomes reserved for roads and parking lots. You can drive anywhere in this state, easily, but many farms, sanctuaries and wild places have been sacrificed for parking and transportation.