And if you go to dinner parties and you talk to your friends about their financial security, all of them are feeling a little less certain.

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If you want to go to Del Mar for lunch or dinner, or to the famous racetrack nearby or the renowned Torrey Pines golf courses, two of the biggest regional attractions, why drive yourself?

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Moreover, this year, you might be one of many, planning to make healthier selections when you go out for dinner.

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But from the time I got interested in this over a four- or five-year period, I'd go to lunch or dinner with people and they'd say, 'What are you working on?

WSJ: He Drills for Answers | Robert M. Edsel | Cultural Conversation by Joanne Kaufman