People never cease to amaze me. But you could be right about the financial problems. Many people are hurting but won't let on why. They feel like failures and are embarrassed to tell other people. It seems like you're handling the situation in a very nice way.
Rhonda is right, at least we all have yards to put fences up in, when so many are losing their homes. It's very sad.
Kinda of reminds me of 'Mending Wall' by Robert Frost.