2. misc-audio
  3. 192740-153278

Heed the warning! My soundsystem and records are a pile of ashes

Hi Audiogon family,

Wanted to reach out with a message of warning to please endorse your soundsystem on your insurance policy if you have not already. I have just lost my home and all belongings in the Eaton Fire in Altadena, CA, and I will likely not be able to recover it in full because I did not specifically insure it.

This also goes for records! I'm learning that I will probably be sub-limited on my $80k record collection that I have been assembling since childhood.

I know that stuff is stuff. I literally had to evacuate within minutes because of my house's proximity to the fire's origin. How I wish I had grabbed some of the priceless, unbuyable records that I searched high and low for throughout my life. But I'm alive, my family is alive, and that's what matters most. 

I've worked so hard to provide for my family all these years - we are not a trust fund situation. Records/hifi - MUSIC - was, is and will continue to be my most beloved hobby. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy, and hope some of you may heed my advice to avoid losing your priceless collections.

I have a gofundme setup if anyone is feeling generous, but would appreciate any thoughts and prayers as well. I've found encouragement from my community has been a major saving grace for us during this time. Also, if anyone has experience starting again from the ground up, I'd love to hear your inspirational stories.

128x128nardandsaffron
deep_333
1,471 posts
 

You and your family are safe. Material things can be recouped.

Someone i know lost his firstborn almost 20 years ago and he still feels like shooting himself in the head every year the hint of a birthday rolls around... Doesn't matter how wealthy one is or not, life has all kinds of ways to break you. You ain't taking a single atom with you on the way out...it's all taken back 100%.

So...fire, records lost, etc isn't too bad.. A qobuz subscription at 10 dollars a month in the near future will fix you right up and the insurance will take care of the housing situation. Rent a li'l place by the beach in puerto rico or something for 500 bucks a month and the sound of the ocean will make things pretty good.

terry9
2,353 posts
 

Good luck to you and all the others in LA. 

timothy468
12 posts
 

A friend lost absolutely everything except for the clothes on their backs when a faulty built-in home vacuum system started a fire. They are all, now, living happily ever after - having fully recovered from that trauma.

"Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit"

Perhaps someday we will look back upon these days with joy.

The Aenid, Book 1, (Vergil)

Prayers going out for your safe recovery.

cal87
3 posts
 

In my book, you are the luckiest guy in the world. Several years ago, my wife died suddenly.  The record collection and audio system I had at the time were magnificent and meaningless. Be thankful every day for your family. Not much else matters. 

sns
3,318 posts
 

Sorry for your loss. I've been closely monitoring the situation out there, complete devastation in some areas. Trying hard to imagine how I would cope if faced with similar loss, and these losses are not simply individual but entire communities have been lost, major trauma here! I've watched many videos of the devastation, how surreal to see such a beautiful area of the country now looking like a war zone. How will people carry on after this!

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