One of the few drawbacks to rural living

[rgs03833]

Thankx for the thread, I learned a few things today.... I think everything has it ups and downs...

I'm in the City now, but planing to move to Rural when I make my Millions... 5 years from now? LOL.

One thing I will missed most is the conveniences, because I grew up in the City. But living in the City sucks most of the time. Noise, Polutions, can't do anything without people gawking at ya... Even using an Air Compressor to clean your Vacuum, LMFAO.

People in the City are TRASHY... Black, White, Asians.... All the same!!! Where common Courtesy is an Art form, rather than a requirement. Sometimes people blamed on Educations rather than themselves... You hear it all the time... " They are uneducated " How much does it cost to have Common Courtesy? NOTHING !!! Plus Schools and Colleges are everywhere... People live with Excuses rather and blame on themselves... I think people are going backward... They get stupider everyday... They are so STUPID, they don't even know what STUPID means...

I think everywhere you live have its ups & downs... But I rather live somewhere it's Peaceful and no Medicals. " Live Free or Die - The New Hampshire Way " at least you know dying Peacefully!

I think before you guys chose this Path, you must accept all of these Drawbacks before you made that big move / decisions !!!

 

[6sunset6]

Back to the sump pump. This is sure to raise discussion but I would not put a GFI on a sump pump. Put in a single dedicated outlet , put a label on it and don't use it for anything else.

 

[JamesHW]

I agree with 6sunset6 and would add an alarm of some sort (I installed a small 9 volt one on my mom's sump pit and it saved our bacon a couple of times).

But what is this "snow" you speak of? You say it covers stuff and the dogs like it?

 

[clemsonfor]

Sounds like a typical day in paradise.

just think, you could have been sitting in your condo all day channel surfing and wishing you had something to do.
Been there, done that. and I wouldn't go back for all the gold in Fort Knox.

I sometimes wonder what my friends do who either rent apts or houses or live in the less than 10 year old postage stamp size lot subdivison houses. There is so much stuff to do and maintain around my 60 year old house and between the "fleet" of vehicles equiptment maintence boats tractor gathering firewood i wonder how boared they must be. And i only live on a 3/4 acre lot, my farm is hours away and gets taken care of on a few weekends a year!!

 

[clemsonfor]

Living in rural areas really requires a special outlook on life, a certain set of do it yourself skills and a near fearless attitude. My wife and I live in a very rural area. This area, due to a low tax base, is 30 years behind the times on everything, including schools and emrgency services. The only firefighters are volunteer and usually the first medical aid on scene is a first responder. I am one of the firefighters, my wife is a first responder. We have some solid basic training to help each other if the need arises as it could be nearly 30 minutes before the ambulance arrives. The same rule applies to hiring outside help. I am a relatively handy person, can rebuild engines, weld, caprentry, do electrical work, plumbing, you get the idea. My MIL lives on our property as she is widowed and older and needs some basic assistance. Her Kenmore dryer stopped heating (stackable unit) and I metered a few accessable areas (switches, outlets, wire terminal) and found it to have the correct voltage. I narrowed it down to the thermal fuse or element. She called Sears and set an appointment, 3 weeks away. On the day they were supposed to come, they cancelled, treating her rudely and very unprofessionally. The only option now was for me to fix it. Having never disassembled one, I dove in, got the element out and replaced. She could not get anyone to come out. It is very hard to "survive" in this type of setting without the correct mindset. We occassionally get a family move in from the city. They usually last about 2 years and leave. The nearest grocery store is 16 miles away. The nearest hardware store and wal-mart is 30. The Co-Op is 12. Nothing is convenient and if convenience is a determination factor, you will be dissappointed.

I did not think i lived that far out but my distances are not that much different than yours. MY grocery and gas station are closer at 7 miles but walmart, lowes and restaurants are 23 miles away.

 

[Western]

When We got married, I was in LE and the wife was a nurse. So when we are home we have the security team and nursing staff on hand We are 18-24 miles from 3 hospitals, (ambulance service is closer, {satellite offices})

Basic or intermediate 1st aid would be a minimum in my mind for someone moving to the "sticks", but easily accomplished by reading or a class.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Back to the sump pump. This is sure to raise discussion but I would not put a GFI on a sump pump. Put in a single dedicated outlet , put a label on it and don't use it for anything else.

I would hard wire it and install a disconnect. No outlet at all.

 

[GregbkH]

Of course the old pump was two wires no ground, and everything these days is grounded. So I installed a GFCI outlet and ran nomex all the way back to the circuit breaker box.

Now you have your ground. Romex comes with a ground. Like others have said, run a dedicated outlet for the sump pump. A single receptacle. Definitely make sure it's grounded.

 

[forgeblast]

Medicine for the Outdoors is a great book to have on hand. I read though it and then keep rereading it.
I figure we are far enough out there that if something happened accident wise I better be able to do something until ems is able to make it to us.

 

[dusty3030]

Pack rat. I keep a wide variety of "stuff"
Faucet leaks, I already have the washer. I've had that washer kit for 15 years, but I've got it.
Lumber, I always have at least 2x4s and 2x6s stuck back somewhere.
Various plumbing items, outlets, switches etc. if I need one of something I usually buy two.
I'm in the same boat, the closest hardware store is 15 miles away and it closes at 5 during the week and noon on Saturday.

 

[Tenn_Blue]

Interesting thread!
We are about 15 minutes from the nearest hospital via car, but our area is supported via lifeflight helocopter - they came when our neighbor had a heart attack and have als on-board. Fire/Rescue provides bls(basic life support), but they are probobly 10 minute response.... Still, we try and be ready for "self emergency care" if needed, and have evac plans in place.
We talked about response time when we moved out here, but as long as our health is "normally" good, we wouldn't trade living in the country for the "security" of living closer to civilization! We are ALL gonna go eventually, and I don't want to live less of a life because of fear of what COULD happen....

As far as getting stuff, it was a big adjustment for me to move out where its a 15-30minute drive for parts and supplies - used to live within walking distance of an auto parts place and hardware store... But I have built up a supply of standard parts and wear items - never throw out a bolt or such!!! And ther is usually enough to do that a project can sit for a while if I don't have parts on hand - get it next trip into town....

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Most rural areas are covered by volunteer fire departments. Means when you call they have to gather a crew before any unit rolls = time. Then travel time to your location = more time.

You would be surprised that a lot of more populated areas have volunteers too...

 

[JDgreen227]

A bit late here, but I agree, install a dedicated 20 amp outlet for the sump pump with no GFCI and I use a pair of water alarms near our sump pit, AND have a secondary backup pump ready plumbed nearby so I can swap out pumps in ten minutes if required.

We live about 5 miles from any "real" grocery stores. Not a problem, because we have enough food and drinking water stocked away to live on for 6 to 8 weeks if required. Ditto cat food and cat litter, and we keep at least 90 day supply of our RX on hand. As for materials and hardware, I have a stock of everything I might possibly need because the nearest mom and pop hardware is the same 5 mies away.

As for medical emergencies, the local FD/EMS is 3 miles away, we had to call them one time and they were here in 10 min (EMS) which makes us feel good.

 

[MarkV]

Ugh! I took this afternoon off to replace a failed 50 year old sump pump in the basement before spring thaw floods it. Of course the old pump was two wires no ground, and everything these days is grounded. So I installed a GFCI outlet and ran nomex all the way back to the circuit breaker box. Needed a 15A breaker so went to the hardware store. They didn't have any. WTF? So I went to the other hardware store. They only had the el cheapo slimline breakers - nothing I could use. WTF?!?

Okay, so I'll check the stores in Waterbury at work tomorrow as this is rural VT and everything is closed at 5pm. Except the bars catering to the skiers coming off the mountain. Holy cow what an aggressive bunch of drivers! 55 in a 35 zone, each one riding the bumper of the car in front, no quarter given to anyone trying to make a turn. Jeezum I'll be glad when the snow is gone!

So back home and down in the basement. I remove the old completely rusted out pump and the PVC line up to the main drain. Plug the opening to the main drain so sewer gas doesn't kill us all overnight. Spend the next hour removing debris and the remnants of the rotted wooden box the pump used to be housed in. The dirt sides started collapsing, so I scooped out a larger sump, then lined it with bricks. The bottom was grit which does not play well with pump impellers, so out into the meadow to kick around in the snow looking for that pile of slate I left there last summer. The dogs thought it was great fun digging in the snow with Dad.

Find the pile. Rummage thru it till I find a nicely sized slab. Trudge back to the house and level the slate in the bottom of the sump. Put the pump on top. It fits nicely. Reach for the check valve and find it's the wrong size for the pump. Crap! Hardware stores closed. Something else to pick up tomorrow.

Time for a beer.

Peter nice to see you stop by the forum. Hope all is well for you and yours up in the mountains. I would guess you will get rid of the skiers soon and then you have mud season to look forward to. Such is life in paradise.

MarkV

 

[Boondox]

Interesting point about the GFCI in an unfinished basement. I'd never thought of that, but also have never had a problem with the GFCIs already installed. I think it's because I run everything up in the floor joists overhead. The dampness down there seems isolated to the first three feet off the ground. In a perfect world I'd have hardwired it, but the instructions explicitly said not to do that, and to use a GFCI rated breaker. I'm not familiar enough with electricity to recognize a lawyer warning when I see one.

I grew up in Southern California, about two blocks from the ocean in La Jolla. Spent all my free time in the water so never really had a problem with city life. Then 14 years in the military with the Marines and on various submarines and small surface combatants. I think that's where I picked up my desire for wide open spaces.

When I left the service and attended grad school in San Diego, I couldn't believe how folks managed to stay sane in a big city! You live in close proximity to too many people and know very few of them. All roads lead to the mall, and every road has at least three signs every quarter mile. Crazy!

I absolutely love country life and am prepared for most things with my tools and hardware, sheep on the hoof and more in the freezer, etc. But I sure took that 50 year old sump pump for granted!

Medical needs. Wow, as a former military PA I never actually thought of that! Around here if my wife or an animal gets injured I take care of it. If I cut myself and it's a place I can reach, I deal with that too. It completely grosses my poor wife out when I dispassionately examine a gaping wound and deal with it. But we're also lucky in that we live on the outskirts of a tourist town, and that town has attracted a small hospital full of talented physicians that have likewise escaped big cities. The ER docs generally refill my needs for suture material, irrigating syringes and the like on my infrequent visits.

View of my grill this morning

 

[scott_vt]

Good Mornin Pete,
Good to hear you on again, I know your a very infrequent poster, but glad to hearfrom northern Vt... :thumbsup:

Im not sure how far your along on this project, it sounds like your using bricks to encase the pump. You might consider what I used in my Ct homes basement. I have two sump pumps, one on each side of the basement, in both spots I used 18" x 18" concrete drain tiles. All they are really is open ended concrete pipe with about 1 1/2" wall thickness, with holes all around the periphery.

After jack hammering through the concrete floor and digging out the hole, I inserted the drain tile, and packed gravel around the outside diameter of the concrete.

On one side of the cellar, I dug up along one entire wall and installed drain pipe just below the floor, and ran the pipe to the drain tile.

Good luck with your project ! http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/72203-water-basement-help.html

 

[clemsonfor]

Interesting thread!
We are about 15 minutes from the nearest hospital via car, but our area is supported via lifeflight helocopter - they came when our neighbor had a heart attack and have als on-board. Fire/Rescue provides bls(basic life support), but they are probobly 10 minute response.... Still, we try and be ready for "self emergency care" if needed, and have evac plans in place.
We talked about response time when we moved out here, but as long as our health is "normally" good, we wouldn't trade living in the country for the "security" of living closer to civilization! We are ALL gonna go eventually, and I don't want to live less of a life because of fear of what COULD happen....

As far as getting stuff, it was a big adjustment for me to move out where its a 15-30minute drive for parts and supplies - used to live within walking distance of an auto parts place and hardware store... But I have built up a supply of standard parts and wear items - never throw out a bolt or such!!! And ther is usually enough to do that a project can sit for a while if I don't have parts on hand - get it next trip into town....

Even in some cities usually its 10-15 minutes to a store depending upon what it is, like lowes or HD or Autozone or advance, esp if the town has large residential areas and heavy traffic to get to the commercial spots.

A bit late here, but I agree, install a dedicated 20 amp outlet for the sump pump with no GFCI and I use a pair of water alarms near our sump pit, AND have a secondary backup pump ready plumbed nearby so I can swap out pumps in ten minutes if required.

We live about 5 miles from any "real" grocery stores. Not a problem, because we have enough food and drinking water stocked away to live on for 6 to 8 weeks if required. Ditto cat food and cat litter, and we keep at least 90 day supply of our RX on hand. As for materials and hardware, I have a stock of everything I might possibly need because the nearest mom and pop hardware is the same 5 mies away.

As for medical emergencies, the local FD/EMS is 3 miles away, we had to call them one time and they were here in 10 min (EMS) which makes us feel good.

So you live in town? When i lived in the city i was often times farter away than 5 miles from the hardware store and sometimes to the "good" grocery sore? HHAHA just messing with you.

 

[turnkey4099]

Good Mornin Pete,
Good to hear you on again, I know your a very infrequent poster, but glad to hearfrom northern Vt... :thumbsup:

Im not sure how far your along on this project, it sounds like your using bricks to encase the pump. You might consider what I used in my Ct homes basement. I have two sump pumps, one on each side of the basement, in both spots I used 18" x 18" concrete drain tiles. All they are really is open ended concrete pipe with about 1 1/2" wall thickness, with holes all around the periphery.

After jack hammering through the concrete floor and digging out the hole, I inserted the drain tile, and packed gravel around the outside diameter of the concrete.

On one side of the cellar, I dug up along one entire wall and installed drain pipe just below the floor, and ran the pipe to the drain tile.

Good luck with your project ! http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/72203-water-basement-help.html

I bought this old place back in 76. Small shack (learned while rehabbing it was two shacks pulled in an nailed together ) 26x26 with full basement and concrete floor. Water seeped through the block walls on 2 1/2 sides. I spent one winter ?happily? occupied with single jack and cold chisels chiseling out a trench down those sides leading to a sump pit in one corner. Dried the basement out. Never did put in drain tile, just left the open trench.

HarryK