Here's what I've been told and here's what I've experienced. Planting a small banana in a larger pot is inviting rot, especially when the plant is young, transplanted, or in stress. Bananas like things wet but only when actively growing. A small banana likes water, but only so much. Also as part of plant respiration, water evaporates through it's leaves. Let's say you put a 6" tall banana plant in a 5 gallon pot. You water the plant and the dirt in the pot. Now what happens? The banana plant not only has the water it needs, but many times more than what it can ever use. It can't escape the wet dirt that surrounds it because the water is contained in the pot (even with drain holes). It only has so many leaves of a small size that it can't "evaporate" all that water. Eventually...it succombs to rot. Whereas if you plant a small banana in a smaller pot, it can take the water to the point where the soil starts to lose some of it's moisture, thus letting the roots "breathe" in the dirt. Once the banana grows bigger, you can repot it. I learned this the hard way, planting small bananas in a large pot. I wondered why they didn't grow and then rotted. I thought, "well the banana is gonna get huge so I better just put it in a big pot now!" But that thinking cost me. The next baby bananas I put in six inch pots and they are loving it!!! New leaves coming up with no sign of distress...the difference is night and day!! Zach

You can probably find the Ronbow vanities cheaper than $1000 online. I bought mine online w/no sales tax, and the single sink one was $880 without the granite top. This was considerably less than at the kitchen design store I first saw them in. Having said this, however, I wouldn't say the quality justifies this high price. Spending less than half the Ronbow amount on a vanity you might find at Lowe's or Costco seems like a good deal. I don't regret my purchase because I loved the style and was able to get all of the sizes I needed for my bath. If you can find something that's the right size/style and most important, the right price...sounds like you've got a winner.

>>None of it is terribly happy news, but in terms of calamities, I'm not quite understanding why it's such a big deal. You are quite right. It isn't. But that's not a good media headline. The media has always preferred to tell you the glass is half-empty and leaking fast, becaus that's what sells. >>Aren't recessions and downturns typical? Why would this one be so fantastic compared to others? Because people have extremely short memories. As the saying goes, "History has but one page." There are folks who forget or are too young to remember the painful recession/inflation of the '70's (when I had PhD's begging me to hire them for a $4K/yr clerk-typist job) or even the RE recession of the 1990's, when we petitioned and got two property tax reappraisals DOWNWARDS because our brand-new house (bought, of course, at the top of the market) had lost over 25% of its value. >>Historically, have we always expected everything we buy to turn into gold? Yes. And this is why most people do so poorly in the stock market, by buying high and selling low instead of the other way around. Both RE and stocks are best held long-term. Flitting "in and out" of either properties or stocks, to make a profit actually takes a lot of observation, time, work, determination and nerve. It isn't automatic, no matter what the TV infomercials like to imply. There is always a risk, it's a matter of how much you are comfortable with. You are right that in "sell now and buy now" scenario, it probably doesn't matter much. The astute are the ones who sold at the top, stuck through renting for a few years, and are now able to purchase the same house for anywhere from 10-30% less than before. A friend of mine who is an independent CFP (and my former boss, BTW) did just that. His wife HATES renting, but he talked her into it and now, of course, looks like a genius. Even better, he convinced several of his clients to do the same thing, so they think he's a genius too!

antss, you make some important points, for sure. Specifics are very concerning, and it has been easier getting the specifics from Cabinet Pp than Cabinet TopQualLuxeMkt. CabPp actually uses Blum hinges and Tandem UM drawer glides, and hardwood Maple drawers. Cab TQLM uses Blum hinges and Hafelle glides, still no clarity on drawer species. You are also right that it is none of my concern how Cab TQLM spends his profits, it was just a smarty pants comment - my true concern is that I could use that $3,000 on my children. The M&T joint could be an indicator of better quality in other areas - the only thing left that I can figure is fit and finish. Cab Pp uses three coats of clear (can't remember the product - I think Daily). Again Cab TQLM claims to be known for their finish quality, but no specifics. Cab TQLM has been spinning platitudes about quality which have a thread of truth and raise concerns, but no specifics until pressed. Cab Pp has been very no nonsense straightforward. Another interesting point is that there has been a major contraction in the industry, and the luxe market has contracted the most. Cabinetmakers have had to reposition themselves and cut costs to compete. I have received wild variation in pricing. It seems to me that Cab Pp is saving on the case construction and putting value to into the things customers like me are looking for. So if the case construction is adequate to the task, and fit and finish quality respectable....