I hope you are right. Inflation is one of those things that can be really hard to judge from an anecdotal standpoint, which is why the CPI, which is imperfect, often receives even more scorn than it deserves. If you have a population heavy with small contractors, farmers and rural types, which I imagine is the case here, you are likely to see inflation as higher than it is economy wide because you are in the baskets -- trucks, retail building materials, fuel -- that have had the hardest time. If you are, for example, a welfare recipient in the city, you likely aren't seeing much inflation at all, as you don't likely drive much, and have no dominion over your own domicile. That's not to say anecdotes are unimportant, but they need qualification, as you qualified both of yours.
Another personal difficulty, and one I run into, is that I am pretty immune to inflation in that I am partially retired by choice, have basically what I want, and don't think much about what I have to pay about things, because what I am buying is either minor, or it is because it is a purchase I really want to make. So if N570 is selling on gunbroker for $600/8 lbs, I dgaf. I am happy to buy it*. I would feel very differently if I knew that over the next ten years I was going to have to build, or remodel, a house and send two kids to college. So I would discount a lot of my own anecdotal experience as outside of the mainstream preference wise.
Anyway, I maintain that the only smart course of action is to be looking at all reports and trying to figure out what is going on, BUT, that for most people who work for a living, the only tenable course of action is to live life, do your best, and not focus on what cannot be changed.
ETA, your last post is much along my way of thinking. Lots of WTF that doesn't give the clearest picture. Elevated, but balanced, risk. Also truly tight SFH inventory strikes me as much better than whatever the fuck we saw in 07-08.
*sorry guys, I'm the one fucking it up.