We poured 40 yards from the old quarry back in 05. Still looks good. The new place down the road used the 2020 mix. Cracking by year two. Same finisher too. It's the fines, plain and simple.

Wow, that tracks with my experience too. I stopped forcing myself into those group events and started messaging people specifically about things we both dealt with, like a shared vendor or a project we both touched. That got way more replies than a quick hello at a bar ever did. I think people are just more honest and focused when they can type out a real thought instead of making small talk over drinks. The in-person stuff is fine for getting a feel for someone, but the actual leads came from those targeted messages for me.

The weird part nobody talks about is how these things can mess with your head even after they're resolved. Like you get the score fixed, the accounts closed, but then you start second guessing every financial move you make. You wonder if the next person you date will think you're hiding something when you say you won't do joint accounts anymore. It's not just about the money or the credit, it changes how you see people. That trust thing gets broken in a way that doesn't show up on any report. And honestly, that might be the bigger cost than any late payment ever was.