Bill I saw this and thought it could have been you if you hadn’t moved north so dad gum far.
TomC
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Another role model.
Tom, I hope Bill will forgive us 
(The reporter says authorities offered the man an apartment several times, but that he would probably die if he had to leave his cabin.)
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I am understanding more everyday why people are so committed to such a simple life. First of all, it is very peaceful. Yes one can drown out or ignore the sounds of the city when there. Grab a chair and sit down in the middle of the woods and one can get lost in the sounds nature provides.
Being a very social person, I can hop in my truck and get my dose of people when I choose. The people I’ve met up here are really nice and enjoyable to talk to and deal with.
I am where I need to be.
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Bill I understand you feelings. I had the same feelings when I moved from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles to the farm. Now that has worn off or become common place and my thoughts are of building a “tiny” house on the back forty. The farm has become common place and I don’t have the busy life, we do have a house to keep up a driveway that needs attention in order to go to town---- which I seldom do. Thank God I have my wife, but if it was not for her, I would down size on the back forty.
And JO from what I have heard about Sweden, you have the beauty of both worlds. You live a much simpler life than we do here and you still have an industrial job for your finances. Not entirely reliant on living off the land, but close. TomC ( It will be closer when you get over to woodgas.)
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Bill, I fully understand too and I envy you for your courage to take the step. I think I’m In the same boat with Tom. I agree with his statement:
Tom, I think you are refering to Sweden in the 70s and early 80s. I’m sorry to say but since then we’ve got totaly wrapped up in the treadmill of global finance.
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JO Please don’t tell me that. My vision comes from Johann driving his red woodgas car around the country and that WWII truck that we get to ride in ( on a video ). The old stone buildings, narrow roads that sometimes go between the house and barn, trees abound and beautiful people ( not what you see here at Wallmart) You still heat AND cook with wood and saw your own lumber. I have been in the “rat race” so long you guys simpler lives are very appealing, although I know with my health they are something that I can only dream. Enjoy what you can while you can TomC
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Is this the new status you are speaking of??
http://norwegiandefenceleague.info/index.php?option=com_flexicontent&view=item&cid=14%3Aworld-news-europe&id=169%3Anorwegian-army-chief-european-citizens-can-no-longer-expect-to-live-in-peace-and-security-without-defending-themselves&Itemid=151&preview=1#.VrIDgdIrK1s
Bill, I can’t thank you enough for your help, motivation and plasma cutter this week. I was really starting to get the mid winter Blah’s. Kind of over it for now after seeing some progress. You were absolutely right about my welding helmet. My eyes are really burning today. I will have to get another before doing anymore wrlding. I think I may bring the Dakota in for its ball joints and intake gasket tonight after I take my granddaughter home . Once it is ready I will have to make a trip up to check out your homestead. Take care and stay warm
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I can’t wait for your visit Jim.
I got a 5k generator running today but it was only at 53hz. So I will see if I can increase the rpm to affect the hz. If I can make that happen, I should be able to weld here. I just have to change out the receptacle.
I really enjoy your place. You have a big garage, lots of tools and a lot of cool junk. It’s like paradise.
Take care.
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It’s a little on the pricey side but I got one of these helmets.
http://store.cyberweld.com/jaweheblinau.html
The main reason I chose this one is it was the least expensive one I could find that had the sensors above and below the lens instead of the Harbor Freight helmet that only has them above. Before I’d wind up blocking them sometimes and getting blinded.
I was really surprised how much better I could see while welding too.
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I didn’t know top and bottom sensors existed. So many times, like you said, the one I have has been blocked. Not a bad price to save one’s eyes.
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No, not at all. Extremists do exist on all flanks, but are not worthy our attention, I think.
I was more thinking of our old famous companies beeing sold out and then moving abroad hunting for cheapest labour. Our mines beeing emptied for free by forign big bucks. Stressed out workers due to higher profit demands from forign owners. Elderly people seeing their pensions cut in half, health care, schools…You name it. Criminality is going up - I wonder why?
25 years ago you could not find a singel begger in our streets. Now the problem seems to be big enough that some provinces made it illeagal to beg. What’s next? Beeing poor is a crime?
While I’m at it:
Rural abandonment.
People are moving into the cities in search for jobs. Hardly even farmers left in some parts of the country side.
In the 70s we were almost self suficient when it comes to food. Today only 30%.
Beef is shipped in from Argentina and Brasil, pork from Germany and Denmark, veggies from Spain and fruit from Chile and South-Afrika.
And milk - we have milk and yougurt from Austria in our supermarkets. Why? It’s good for several mounths??? I would never buy that milk.
I don’t know of any milk cows in a 50 mile radius today. When I was a kid there might have been 50 small farmers with milk cows within that same radius. Our neighbour used to have 10 cows or so. Their calfs sucked our tumbs sore.
Me and my friends used to stand barefoot and hold the electric fence as log as we could. I don’t think I ever won but I did start working as an electrician when I grew up.
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Thanks for the link Marvin. That I looks like it nice one, Pretty reasonably priced for a quality helmet. It is not worth going blind to save a c note. I am sure I can sell enough junk that I will never miss to get one.
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The company I work for bought my Jackson auto helmet about 16 years ago for $250. It needs to be crushed to stop it.
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Okay, the wood shed is taking shape. I was unable to make a friend so I continued with cutting the the small timbers in half with a chainsaw.
Other than a tarp, I don’t know what I can use for a roof. Any ideas?
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AG steel roofing panels BillS.
Use screws. Watch your screw lines. Then you can reuse again later.
Regards
Steve Unruh
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I’ve been keeping an eye open for scrap steel roofing in Craigslist to keep my costs down to the screws I have on hand. But…dry wood is more important. So if no other available options, I will purchase new stuff.
Thanks Steve.
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Hi Bill, If you have odds and ends 1/2’‘or 1’’ lumber, cut them into shingles, they will last a long time. Al
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Bill when I first moved here I started a woodshed just like that. I never did get to putting any sides on it. My roof looked just like yours minus the tarp. Then I got a tarp, threw it over the firewood. Never did finish it. It was a few years before I got enough salvaged dimensional lumber to build what I have now. I found it real hard to put a roof on uneven round wood without using more lumber to make it straight than it would take to frame a roof to begin with. Maybe some pine boroughs under and over the tarp. The problem with that is it will have to carry the snow load because it won’t slide off. This year I bought the shed my 69 is in for a woodshed, but the truck gets it till spring.
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If you can find some green houses around,when they replace the plastic covers.the old ones are still good for wood tarps and sheds, good sun resistant plastic.
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