Helping Neighbors is Awsome!

[thavil]

I'm a retired Fire Captain here in No. Calif, and now raise and train Labradors as Gundogs. Yesterday I was out on the property training when a neighbor drives in and parks. I walk over to him and he looks at my new John Deere 3320 and says shiny new toy! I got a big grin and said yes, I needed it badly. He asked me if I hired out and I said no, I'm new to this tractor stuff. He told me he has to dig out the lid to his septic tank and it will take him "days" as he is in his 80's. I said "Oh heck no you ain't", let's go dig it out. He said he had to go to town right now but asked if I could help him this coming Thursday. Absolutely!
This is the second time I have talked to him in three years but I expect we will be good friends from here on.

Gary

There's no way I would turn down helping him either, you're being a great neighbor. Good luck with the job and be careful while digging. Make sure someone calls Miss Utility (I think it's called "Call Before You Dig" in CA) before you start.

 

[jmdrewme]

I'm always doing odd jobs for all the neighbors and loving every minute of it!!! I love love love my Kubota
B7800!

 

[scesnick]

I help out the widow across the mountain all the time. she is taking care of her 90 yr old father,very disbled stepson and a small campground with a large lake all on her own.

She is a very nice lady and even though I haven't accepted a dime for the past 6 yrs of helping her, she never fails to try to pay me every single time I help her with something. lol.

 

[scesnick]

I also have a friend who owns a coal company. He knew I was getting ready to clean out my 3/4 acre pond. I planned on renting a track loader for this large job (at $325 a day !)

Well, wifey called me at work and asked if i rented a excavator? I said no why? she said there was one sitting in our yard when she got home. I then got a text from my buddy, and owner of the excavator. All the text said was, "let me know when you are done so my guys can come and pick it up"
Man, I gotta buy him a few cases of beer !

 

[thavil]

I also have a friend who owns a coal company. He knew I was getting ready to clean out my 3/4 acre pond. I planned on renting a track loader for this large job (at $325 a day !)

Well, wifey called me at work and asked if i rented a excavator? I said no why? she said there was one sitting in our yard when she got home. I then got a text from my buddy, and owner of the excavator. All the text said was, "let me know when you are done so my guys can come and pick it up"
Man, I gotta buy him a few cases of beer !

That's a great friend there!!!

 

[Dogtrainer]

Today I went to help the 80 yo neighbor dig out the septic tank. The outlet corner of the tank was bearly exposed and he was able to describe the position of the tank. The problem was the opposite end of the tank was under 3 feet of dirt. The tank was buried on a hill. I placed the tractor over the outlet, downhill side and started my first scoop of dirt. The bucket sank into 1 foot of soil and as I curled the bucket the whole section SLID OFF of the tank exposing the first lid. Wow! Too easy! The other lid was under 3 feet of soil we had it uncovered and both lids exposed in 15 minutes. A good way to make friends.

 

[moored4]

Good Job and now he thinks your a pro! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[maximus1277]

It feels good to help, but you have to be careful working on someone else's property. I almost learned the hard way. A friend of my wife asked if I could come over and prep a section of her backyard where she wanted to install a kids playscape. I thought why not.... I could have it done in half hour... All that I needed to do is to remove 6-8 inches of turf and dirt, smooth out any uneven spots and I would be done. The property borders woods and the spot I was working on was way back on the far end of the lot. No other houses around, just woods and sticks. As I started to peel away dirt with the loader, I felt something catching the bucket... First reaction, it must be a root from one of the trees.... For whatever reason, something told me to stop and take a look. Guess what: It was a yellow gas line less than 6 inches below going away from the house and towards the woods. I almost had a heart attack. Just to imagine what could have happen if I pushed a bit harder. Lesson learned: Call before someone asks you to dig.

 

[rsewill]

It feels good to help, but you have to be careful working on someone else's property. I almost learned the hard way. A friend of my wife asked if I could come over and prep a section of her backyard where she wanted to install a kids playscape. I thought why not.... I could have it done in half hour... All that I needed to do is to remove 6-8 inches of turf and dirt, smooth out any uneven spots and I would be done. The property borders woods and the spot I was working on was way back on the far end of the lot. No other houses around, just woods and sticks. As I started to peel away dirt with the loader, I felt something catching the bucket... First reaction, it must be a root from one of the trees.... For whatever reason, something told me to stop and take a look. Guess what: It was a yellow gas line less than 6 inches below going away from the house and towards the woods. I almost had a heart attack. Just to imagine what could have happen if I pushed a bit harder. Lesson learned: Call before someone asks you to dig.

That's the law.

 

[mjribeiro]

I offer a hand to my neighbors all the time, spread some dirt or stone, clear some brush, remove some snow, etc....

Last month I helped my neighbor spread 6-7 yards of topsoil in some low spots he had in the yard. This month he stops by with his new toy, a Z06 Corvette. After drooling over it for a while he tosses me the keys and says go for a spin! Now that was a fun 'thank you'!