family and the clearing machine

[Highbeam]

The cougar hasn't been around much lately. Can you confirm that that is indeed a cougar track?

I have to be honest when I tell you that I am not fond of living with a cougar. If I can't generate enough activity to convince him to relocate, then I will come back here for a solution. I haven't shot it yet but I am generally armed. I like domestic cats but not predators.

There is a commuter bottleneck between this property and my office. They are currently building a toll bridge, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, to push the bottleneck somewhere else. This should help in the short term though and will likely bring the commute closer to one hour.

The deer already discovered my new bridge/culvert crossing over the creek. Now it is a wildlife bridge. It held up well in the rains we had this week.

 

[riptides]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( We are clearing the 15 acres of young forest on the weekends a little at a time. It is about 45 miles away and I don't think we can live there so long as I do the 9-5 without some major lifestyle compromises, mainly a loss of free time due to the commute. )</font>

I do the 9-5, commute up and down the I-95, I-66 area, I-95 now being number 2 in lost time, traffic wise.

I drive sometimes four hours a day.

I LIVE in the country.

I have been commuting for 20 years in this area.

The only thing I miss is sleep. Otherwise, I have a "normal" life.

My point is, do not let a little thing like a commute stop you from being where you want to be.

-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Highbeam]

You guys are really helping things. Kind of like a bunch of cheerleaders boosting me up. I would love to live out there, the commute is the only negative. That and the unknown.

I worry it is one of those deals where the grass is always greener on the other side.

I worry that after I build a home, barn, fence , and all that stuff that if I discover it is not for us that all of the improvements will be a loss. Meaning the value of the farm will be lower than what I put into it.

Lots of what ifs, and the only way to find out is to take the leap.

By the end of this summer, I will have logged and cleared 5 or more acres in the middle of the parcel. The fenceline will be cleared and driveable. The dozer sold and an L3400 type Kubota acquired. The well is in and a septic system is in place though maybe not sufficient for a new home under today's standards.

Neighbors are sparse in the country. I like sitting outside with a neighbor on the tailgate drinking a beer.

Of course these are just the negatives. What are the positives? Living in clean air with freedom to have critters and room to stretch.

 

[em14]

(I do the 9-5, commute up and down the I-95, I-66 area, I-95 now being number 2 in lost time, traffic wise.)
RipTide - The traffic in Northern VA help me to "time" my retirement!
Leo

 

[Egon]

Highbeam:

Thats a nice machine. The root rake will really improve and speed up the clearing.

Have you considered a mesh guard for the front to protect yourself from the unseen tree lashing back or acting like a spear? Not hard for to do.

Egon

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[jwstewar]

Just thought I would also let you know someone else doing a commute. I do a 9 - 5 - well, OK, it is more like 7 - 5:30 day - but only 4 days a week. Been doing the commute now for 15 years. I'm driving 54 miles each way. Takes just over an hour. Depends how many times the radar detector goes off. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I love working where I do - I like the job & the pay is pretty good too. But I don't want to live here in Columbus. Biggest drawback is that you wear cars out pretty quick. Our '97 Accord is pushing 200k. We are looking at purchasing a new family vehicle, but I'll still be running the Accord up and down the highway. OK ride for 31 MPG. Next vehicle will probably be a VW Jetta TDI or something along that line. Good luck and don't let the little commute scare ya. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Highbeam]

Egon: My work is slow and steady so whips are minimal but I have certainly used the overhead protection and the exhaust stack has been knocked off several times. I haven't had many things happen real fast while clearing, always slow motion.

You guys have convinced me. I spent about 2 hours in the seat last night after a one hour drive to the property after work. I like the drive and enjoy driving. The benefits outweigh the costs and if I don't do it now I may never get another chance. Always will wonder what if...

So the plan is survey, log, clear, and grade as needed for construction. Get the well online and plumbed to the "site". Get a good firm road built to the site. Get a septic solution designed and approved, there is an existing system on site but need to verify if I can still use it. Get a house plan drawn up and in for permits near the end of summer for a construction window of the summer of 06.

The seat time last night in the very warm sunny weather, the new kid on the way, the nice drive out there, and your support have helped tilt the balance towards taking the leap. I will likely have more questions since I've never had a house built.

 

[ByronBob]

And here I was ready to try to sway you and I'm too late. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[riptides]

Best of luck.

Keep us posted on the projects.

Commuting is never easy, but if your where you want to be at the end of the day, it doesn't matter.

My week is horribly long, driving, heck last week a one way was three hours. But the closer I got to the house, the better I felt.

-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[HuckBB62]

Highbeam, you're just starting what we're 3/4 the way through. We didn't have the children in the equation though so that's another factor entirely. We took a primitive lot and made it a home.

A couple of things and I apologize up front if it seems too forward to offer such suggestions:

1. Our lot had a requirement for an engineered septic system. We utilized infiltrators and plastic tanks. Awesome products and you can certainly do it yourself and save thousands: Infiltrator system

2. I admire your tenacity for getting the big equipment for your own earthwork! Because we live in the mountains, we opted to let a local pro do it. I figure we bought him a new Ford Superduty but he did stuff that there's no way on earth I could or would do! I'm betting that he could climb up the side of the St. Louis Arch with his backhoe! He scared me to death. We bought our little Yanmar for erosion maintenance and such because were tired of paying him.

3. Have you thought manufactured homes? It was a hard choice for us. We wanted log or timberframe but common sense snuck up on us. We went with a good solid top of the line modified floor plan Palm Harbor and put in our own flooring, kitchen, and appliances. There's some things that it's not, like custom, but it's proven to be VERY energy efficient and all the other stuff we did to it make it our own.

We would still be living in our fifth wheel for the next two years if we'd built. I figure that since they don't sell hours and minutes on the shelf at Walmart, I'll save as many as I can. Like you've already expressed a concern for, you're worried about the residual value of your property. Country property doesn't evaluate like the city stuff. We took that into heavy consideration when we chose the Palm Harbor. If we'd have built the log home (we'd already picked out a Kuhn's Bros. home) and custom garage (we plan on a General Steel building with the fake stone siding) I know for certain that we would NOT get our money out in the future. Looking at what the prices are around us right now, we will and then some

Just some food for thought. If you get a manufactured, you can be in in a couple of months. You can build the rest later. We live virtually mortgage free now! (ahhhhhhhhh......)

Oh yeah, on the commuting thing, we got an '02 Sierra 4x4 Dmax. I slowed down and am now getting 19mpg! I drove our Mini a lot but after several close calls with deer, cows, and even a bear, I feel much safer in the truck and I can carry the trash to town too.

Oh yeah, on the well, I can't recommend a water witch enough. I really believe in them.

Just a little hind sight, some of it payed for dearly!

Keep us posted, it's awesome watching the progress.

Just a few pics, I'll be putting more in as soon as the house is all moved in:

Our place.