Tractor Portability

scruffy · Nov 6, 2000

This one is at Scott AFB just east of St. Louis. Don't know a blessed thing about the topography, but probably as you said. Still a lot of negativity on our part, as parents on both sides are in their eighties.
Will let y'all know when something is firm.

LazyK · Nov 6, 2000

TT, was Chanute AFB SAC Missile Launch Ops.?
Just yesteryear curious.

Lazy K - Chip

gordon · Nov 6, 2000

Great job on the tractor Scruffy but if you go to a state with snow=tractor to push the snow=now you have no more tractor. What to do next? I know get a BIGGER tractor!
Gordon

TWINKLE_TOES · Nov 6, 2000

Chip,

I was only at Chanute a short time. It was a technical training base. I used was because it closed in 1993.

scruffy · Nov 7, 2000

Gordon, actually, I've been considering finding a little Cub and restoring it. At this point, it is a moot question until I find out where we will land next. I am getting closer to thinking about semi retiring and moving up to Oregon! Guess I am getting lazy in my older age. Rather get out and busting tail working on my own property than working for someone just for 'wages'. Trouble is, I would still need to have a reduced income to make it work.

TWINKLE_TOES · Nov 7, 2000

Scruffy,

If you go with the Oregon and the Cub rebuild idea check this spot out http://www.yesterdaystractors.com/. They are in Washington.

Harv · Nov 7, 2000

Scruffy -

I am getting closer to thinking about semi retiring ... Rather get out and busting tail working on my own property

Been having the same thoughts lately. Each day I'm able to spend at the property I work my keister off from sunrise 'til sunset and go to bed stiff and sore -- anxious to wake up and do it again. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I guess it's because it's so different from what I've been doing for the last 30-some years that it has such a therapeutic effect on me. I'd move up there permanently in a heartbeat, but I'm not sure it would be the best thing for my kids.

You tractor folk have totally corrupted a couple of innocent computer geeks! /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

Thank you. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

scruffy · Nov 7, 2000

Harv, having raised four kids in the country, I would express the opinion that it would be the best thing in the world for them (in the long run). Your children would learn much more about 'living' and independance in the country than in the city. Personal opinion of course. All but one of the four has headed to the city when they grew up, but they've all fared well, and have a good solid background to reflect on. All of them love to reminence about growing up in the campground, and the summers spent swimming, and exploring along the river. Go for the country! We have explored the idea, and dollar wise, it is not as expensive to live, so less is needed. Would we lack anything? Maybe, but then experience has taught us that you only lack what you don't really need. If you need it, it will become possible through ingenuity, and effort. (You get the idea that I'm trying to convince myself?) Hard to give up the money, but not hard to contemplate giving up the pain in the rump the work has become.) time for a change!

Harv · Nov 7, 2000

Scruffy -

About moving to the country at this point -- this is probably worthy of its own thread, but I'm not sure how much of a hornet's nest I want to stir up, so I'll keep it here.

DISCLAIMER - Remember, I have spent my entire life (and therefore my kids' lives) in the suburbs of a relatively affluent, hi-tech and heavily populated area. Although I am starting to see the charm and desirability of country living, I am obviously somewhat brain-washed on the "best" way to raise my children. Please don't think I am implying that anyone not raised in such an environment has been in any way "deprived". It just goes to a state of mind, your honor... /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

From discussions I've already had with some of the locals around my "country" property I realize there is a lot of emotion and pride involved, so let me share my perspective and my findings so far in terms of cold, hard numbers and facts:

Schools (a very touchy subject)
Here - percentile ranking in the 90's.
There - percentile ranking in the 60's.

Round trip to school (by car)
Here: less than 5 minutes
There: about 25 minutes

Hospitals
Here: 6 minutes from one of the finest in the state and less than an hour from several of the finest in the country.
There: 30 minutes from a small country medical facility and more than an hour from a "major" hospital.

Playmates
Here - more than a dozen within walking distance from home.
There - none within walking distance.

Activities
Here: Yuppie stuff
There: Country stuff (no problem here - just a transition /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif)

The list goes on, but these are currently foremost on my mind, and should inspire enough controversy for now.

I guess an underlying question that has been nagging me since the birth of my first is, would it be better to raise my kids "city" style and then let them join us in the country if they so choose, or raise them "country" style and let them move to the city at their discretion? Which way would they be more prepared?

I honestly don't know the answers here, but I respect this group enough to solicit opinions, especially from the rural community.

Bird · Nov 7, 2000

Harv, I decided a long time ago that the only people who know how to raise kids are those who have none.

I wouldn't take anything for my experiences growing up in the country, and wouldn't wish them on anyone else, either. I do think it's better growing up in the country, but unfortunately my two didn't; they grew up in the suburbs of a big city, and now my grandkids live in the big city.

When I was a kid, we moved to town for a few months (Dad got transferred) when I was 14, then back to the farm, and back to town again just before I was 16. But there was one thing that's always stood out in my mind. Even though we still had a big house, a big yard, a vegetable garden, and chickens in town, I quickly realized that city kids have no work to do.

Of course, my daughters would disagree, since they helped with the dishwashing (automatic dishwasher instead of by hand as we did), laundry (automatic washer/dryer instead of a wringer type outdoors and a clothesline), house cleaning (with a vacuum instead of the brooms and mops), fed and watered a dog and cat (instead of milking a cow, feeding and watering hogs and chickens, in addition to dogs and cats), and they even watered a few house plants (instead of taking care of a pecan orchard, fruit trees, vegetable garden, berry patch, etc.). And they never knew what it was like to not have indoor plumbing, air-conditioning, TV, etc. I'll have to admit, though, that both of them found jobs on their own and stayed employed from the time they were 15.

Thank goodness we can now live in the country and have all those conveniences, too!/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Bird