Sick of cutting grass in WNY

[gordon]

It always amazes me at the different real estate prices from different areas of this state let alone this country.
Quite simply supply and demand at it's best. But a million dollars for a lot is almost as insane as California prices.
I can relate to you wanting to get out of the city!!!
MOST city folks don't care about anything except themselves and getting the golden egg. But there are a few good city folks out there./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I'm real close to getting the parcel of land butting up to one of my long boundries---so close I can taste it---but the owner sill isn't budging off his asking price. It's not listed with any agent and he is in no hurry to sell but by the same token I'm in no hurry to get ripped off--supply and demand at it's best I guess.

Scruffy I hope that you make it back to the country soon there is nothing better than to sit on the front porch and hear nothing but the animals and bugs!!
Gordon

 

[Bird]

It's definitely living in a different world out here in the country instead of the city. I've been here nearly 6 years, served two years on the board of directors of the water company, and two years on the volunteer fire department. It's 7.75 miles to drive over to my brother's place; sometimes don't see another car on the road in that distance; sometimes meet 3 or 4, and if you don't wave at everyone you meet, they'll wonder what's wrong with you. I've had neighbors help me build fences, feed my animals when I was gone overnight, and goodness knows what else. I also know where I can borrow trucks, trailers, big tractors, and nearly anything else you can imagine, and of course, I do the same for them. An awfully lot of jobs sure are easier if you have 1 to 6 helpers.

Bird

 

[scruffy]

Bird, Gordon, You aren't telling us anything we don't already know! Born and raised there, lived in the country at least 45 of my 54 years. It is enjoyable to stop by the neighbors for a cup of coffee, and a little visit, and end up spending the day helping to fix whatever! In my experience, all has been returned 10 fold (in some way) by those I've helped! At least I thought so, even though they never. City folk (for most part) have no idea what community means. I was at a supermarket a few months ago, and when I came out, some fellow was trying to load some wicker furniture in a Toyota sedan. I asked him where he lived and he indicated it was just a couple miles away, I told him to load it in my pickup, and I would run it over to his place for him (gave him the option of riding with me, and I would bring him back to his car, or I would follow him) he was 'flabbergasted' that someone would do that for him. Tried to pay me, but I just told him to help someone else. New concept for him I guess. To me, that is the way I was brought up, and the way I've been used to living. Where we are, we can enjoy the wild life, birds, rabbits, coyotes, bobcats, mountain lion etc, but the only way in or out is through 11 miles of city either way you can go. Thankfully, theres 6 to 10 miles of country between us and the city, but its a pain to go through 'no-man's' land to reach an interstate north or south.

 

[TomG]

Well, there have been benefits here near you in Ontario. We demolished a building and had the hole filled the end of June. Mid-July my wife says 'Maybe we should plant some grass.' I say 'OK, but I don't think it will do much good. Wrong time of year. It probably won't sprout, or just sprout and die.' We couldn't get enough water from the dug well to think about watering new grass. So, my wife just throws some seed around by hand and walks around on it a bit. Well, I was wrong. It grew, and now I've got that to cut it as well. At least I think that's a benefit.

Some government meteorologist type wrote an article saying that this hasn't been an especially wet summer, it's just that it has rained every week end. He must be commuting from someplace else. I wonder how many years you could just throw seed over topsoil in July, do nothing, and have lawn in September.

 

[gordon]

Not to be too much of a redneck but there is a country song on the radio that says about the same thing--no don't pay me just pass on the favor. And in the end of the song the favor is passed onto his wife by a rich lady leaving a very large tip for her. Can't remember the name of the song but it hits home. A really good song!!!

Get this my mother inlaw is standing in line at the supermarket the other day and has a cart half full of food. There is a man behind her with just a gallon of milk. She asks him if he wants to go in front of her. His reply was---just mind your own darn business lady! I couldn't believe it when she told me this. Some people are just knuckleheads to say the least.

The shame about city life is there is so little trust between people. Everyone has to be on their toes and has to be afraid of getting ripped off. The need to have alarm systems just because of the crooks.

Bird I didn't even thing about the waving while passing another car or truck on the road. You better or they will think your stuck up or something!!!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Wave to someone in the city and you just might get a little different kind of wave back at you. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

But quite simply in life what goes around comes around!!
Gordon

 

[Anonymous Poster]

This has nothing to do with cutting grass but will stay within the lines of country living. I'll admit my dad and I have not always seen eye to eye on things but one particular incident he told me about will always make him a BIG man in my eyes. He is a retired plumber. Can of suds and a smoke makes him happy. A fella he got to know needed some plumbing done and asked his advice. Before he finished his question, my dad had his torch and tools in hand. At the completion of the job the guy tried to pay him. My dads' reply was "Your friendship is worth much more than the job cost.....keep your money." In dad's eyes all he was doing was helping a guy out. To this day, dad has an open pass to fish in the pond behind that fellas house.

 

[Harv]

In recent years I have begun living a double life -- still a city boy during the week, but now a country boy on most weekends. I gotta admit, I see the contrast in lifestyles just as you say.

You're story about the waving took me back a couple of years when I started seriously maintaining the country property myself. Whenever I was working near a road and a car drove by, I thought I saw the driver waving at me. The first couple of times I thought it must have been somebody I should know and I was a little embarassed I didn't recognize them.

As time went by and it seemed like more and more people were waving, I (with my city-boy mentality) concluded that I had spent so much time working up there that more and more people recognized me. I was very slow to realize that it was just a neighborly gesture of good will and it didn't matter who I was. /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

You're right -- wave at a stranger here in the city and you better count your fingers when you're done./w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

Now when I'm spraying the fenceline and I see a car coming, I make a point of waving first. If they don't wave back I think to myself, "tourists!". /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[scruffy]

You folks are right about that country 'wave'! Those same folks are just as apt to stop and give a helping hand if they see someone have a little difficulty with something. Here in the L.A. area (actually Orange county) you are apt to get a middle finger back if you wave at someone. Even the so called neighbors in this canyon have no respect for each other (only 10 or so houses), they will fly down the road at 30-35 mph (12 wide asphalt ribbon with corners, etc) and get mad because you are in the way going the opposite direction at 15-20 mph. More than once I've bit the ditch or bank to get out of their way. Courtesy? Not that I'm aware of. They only speak to each other to belly ache about something. Homesick for country? You bet! Let's get back to where people are human! This ol' country boy is more than ready.
Speaking of 'Neighbors', anybody seen any post from MarkC in the past week or so?

 

[WVBill]

I have to join the chorus here. We live in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. Bought nearly 4 acres with a new house here two years ago. I still work in Washington DC but hope to be in a position to "retire" in just a few years.

I'd recommend West Virginia to all of you (but please just keep this between us, we don't want to start a stampeed). The Summers and Winters both are relatively mild with hot and cold "spells" but nothing real bad that lasts.

Folks around here are mostly still that - "Folks". Gotta wave at them as you pass by. I went to write a check at the Southern States shortly after we moved and proceeded to start pulling out my sixteen forms of identification out of force of habbit. The clerk said "We don't need that. If your check bounces, we'll just tape it in the window so everybody will know..."

I like it here.

Bill

 

[Bird]

WVBill, my wife's from Princeton, WV (south end of the state), so we've spent a fair amount of time there in the past 35 years; beautiful country. And my principle parts supplier for my air tool repair business is in Beckley; great folks who not only promptly ship me parts but immediately fax any documentation I want, answer any questions I have about air tools I'm not familiar with, etc. Before I started using them, I checked with a couple of places in Dallas and they didn't want anything to do with me other than to take my money if I wanted to buy something.

Bird