Reply #71: I've spent a lot of time on this. [View All]

[Gregorian]

I'm glad you replied. It's an amazing subject. Most people have never had the chance to alter the course of their life in this respect.

I can't put my finger on what is important. I have a number of things that all come in first place. And some of them require that I live away from the masses.

Well, I almost sold my property today. A very wealthy couple showed up and would have simply written a check. But they had reservations due to what I think was their shortsightedness. My tractors spooked them. City dwellers! I predict they'll return. It's a day I waited almost four years for. I'm just grateful that in this economy anyone even showed up to look. And it's a high end price range.

I grew up around San Francisco. I gave up a lot of diversity and culture to have no lights shining in my windows at night. Or dogs barking next door. Logging has been the big factor in my moving. Leave the city, and there is always some kind of problem associated with areas. I guess it might be mining in some areas.

So the bottom line is, we never fully have choice now. We did up until the middle of the last century. But when population grew, people moved to the desirable areas and built. There were dairy farms in the San Francisco area when I grew up. I suffered greatly leaving that area. I'm still struggling to find a place that isn't too remote. But there are options. Renting a room in a house in San Francisco is what some do. A month a year can be lived where there are movies, plays, great food, museums, and intelligent people.

I think for me life is like an individual time trial. I ride my bike through the woods each day. It would be different had I grown up in the middle of nowhere. But I was a child when I learned how to interpret electrocardiograms. I spent time in San Francisco. I was first chair in orchestras and a symphony. I experienced everything this culture has to offer. Now it's madness there. And California has more people than all of Canada now.

I guess life is what we make it. If there is someone to come along with us, we're lucky. I had that. I had a wonderful girl. But we separated. I could have easily spent my life with her. I may never find another like her. And I'm not really looking. And at my age, I'm not even comfortable with someone else around.

And if I stay here, in Mendocino, I'm in a community that is as liberal as they get. I've spent a few years in an area where the Bush bumperstickers are no doubt still on the cars. It was nasty. Community will be important if I ever settle down.

I may off topic from what you had intended this to be about. I like this forum. It's fun to talk with like minded people.