@Richard Young If it were me, I would hire a local member from BP to drive by and take photos quarterly or monthly.  

This may be quarterly, semi-annaully, annually or even weekly (for homeless here).

In other words, if I see a shiny quarter on the ground, I'll pick it up, but I'm much happier stepping over it to get to the wrinkled hundred dollar bill.Never replace them in the quicksand.

Take a smaller salary if starting out and give yourself quarterly dividends on the profits you make.

probably not a threat previously, but with dubya and his military madness adventure, now there are many new threats from many more quarters.

@Ben Leybovich  I personally think oil is a crazy win/win buy right now and probably will be for the 1st quarter of 2015 although who knows if it will stay this low or go lower. we all use oil/fuel so if its cheap then we are benefiting by lower cost for our consumption, if the costs go up then we win by being long in oil, win/win!

Pick up your quarters at the end of the day...plan to pay for as many bills as possible with cash...But alas, that fantasy came to an end.

But I do think this current recession is deeper than you indicate: "The unemployment rate is only 6.5%, the entire economy only declined by less than 0.5% in 2008" Last quarter and this quarter we are definately recessing, and unemployment numbers (like foreclosures) will grow before they expand again.

Myfico.com lets you order reports from all 3 bureaus and provides correct FICO scores versions used for mortgage lending, auto lending and credit card approval for a one time charge of $59.85 or a monthly subscription of $29.95 which will give you updated credit reports every quarter but does allow you to cancel at any time.4. 

(1) Bull market (first quarter of 1975 through the third quarter of 1980): real home price increased by 69% over 23 quarters.Bear market (1980 Q4 to 1984 Q2): real price decreased by 9% for 15 quarters.(2) Bull market (1984 Q3-1989 Q4): up 67% for 22 quarters.Bear market (1990 Q1-1997 Q2): down 37% for 30 quarters.(3) Bull market (1997 Q3-2006 Q4): up 166% for 38 quarters.Bear market (2007 Q1-2012 Q2): down 43% for 22 quarters.(4) Bull market (2012 Q3-2015 Q1): so far the price is up 27% for 11 quarters.Good luck with your search!