Hi all, I don't have a question, but I'd just like to say how much I enjoy reading this forum. I've been living this life for over 20 years and although I would't have it any other way- sometimes it gets a bit hard to always go against the grain! I'm sure you all know the feeling. It's good to come here and listen to the old-timers and the new, young,exited country-minded folks and what they are going through.Well, the sun is going down here in the valley-time for evening chores. Thanks for listening...

-- Kim Sandker (kosmicpossum@hotmail.com), January 26, 2002

Answers

"Every moment one lives is different from the other. The good, the bad, the hardship, the joy, the tragedy, love and happiness are all interwoven into one single indescribable whole that is called life. You can not separate the good from the bad. And perhaps there is no need to do so, either." Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

-- paul (primrose@centex.net), January 26, 2002.

"Any man who picks a cat up by the tail learns a lesson he can learn nowhere else." Mark Twain

-- B. Lackie - Zone3 (cwrench@hotmail.com), January 26, 2002.

And... don't pluck chickens in the wind.

-- julie (jbritt@ceva.net), January 27, 2002.

Know simplest burnout remedy for me is quick drive into town. Yuck. Think I'd rather shoot myself than live there. And yes this forum lets me know I'm not totally off my rocker...yet!

-- HermitJOhn (hermit@hilltop_homestead.zzn.com), January 27, 2002.

Seed catalogs are a good remedy for me :)

-- Susan (smtroxel@socket.net), January 27, 2002.

This is my plan: Start walking and walking and walking away. Soon (a couple of hours) you will see that if you don't start building a shelter (hardwork) you will be cold and uncomfortable. So you guess that it would be better to just walk back and be glad you have a roof (even if leaky) and some cast iron pans and some potatoes in the gound. Besides, if you were working for "the man" in Big Cityville, you will be layed off tomorrow and be worried and wondering how to pay the gas co. the elec co the credit card co the landlord the grocer the tax man the on and on an on. I can't wait to leave that and get on with real life! (except for taxes...I know they will follow me). By the way...didn't we start out (in the States) WITHOUT taxes? Wha hoppon?

-- Susan in Northern Michigan (cobwoman@yahoo.com), January 28, 2002.

Thanks- you guys are great. I agree with all of ya! I feel a fool for complaining,especially when I see folks in town living on top of each other,never able to grow anything except grass. I took a long walk in the woods today and got a bit of perspective- I live in SW Wis. near Gays Mills- anybody been there? Beautiful area. To the lady from the U.P.- my family is from the Marquette-Negaunee area. I spent my summers there as a kid at my Gramma's. Brought back some lovely memories.Thanks again!

-- Kim Sandker (kosmicpossum@hotmail.com), January 28, 2002.