Maggie's FarmWe are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for. |
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Sunday, July 19. 2020Stuck inside of the USA with the Italian/Southern France Blues AgainNot a retirement type of person, but Mrs. BD wants a new boat (I thought I had had enuf boats in my life to worry about already, but I love boats. Love farms too, but I like hiking and working the most. Yeah, I likes me a bit of hunting too. She likes the custom Hunts. She likes the trawlers too. This wonderful adventurous couple downsized their trawler to make it trailer-able, and go all around the country - and especially Canada - exploring and having fun times. Trawler Trailer Life. Carpe Diem. Yes, their home base is Florida, but they seem to not spend much time there. If forced to retire, what would you do for fun and excitement while awaiting the Grim Reaper? Trackbacks
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I grew up with sailboats. My dad always called power boats "stinkpots", because they were either diesel or 2-stroke-oil burners, and, well, they were.
Then I bought an old center console shed-junker hulk and brought it back, new deck layout, new Yamaha twins, deep V hull design that was developed for the offshore-lifeguards. What a ton of fun with family and kids - but we were in the Caribbean then, 15 minutes into the water, another 20 to deserted islands with sandy beaches and snorkeling. It was fun, and the 4-stroke Yamaha's weren't stinky. But a boat here in the US is going to be harder to get into the water, around many more people and with too many rules. I'll stick with the hiking, shooting, woodwork, and farm chores, and enjoy my dogs. Retired 21 years ago. Travel, camp with small trailer, hike, explore the Southwest and sometimes Canada and Alaska. In between (when it is too hot in the Southwest) camp Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana. No flying with Covid-19. Had planned our usual Hawaii and possibly Ireland but until it's safe camping just the two of us.
I've never really been interested in boating, but I had some friends who would go water-skiing on the Ohio River. The whole subject of boating is going to become very contentious. Very soon. At issue is the fact that our most important species of marine fish like tuna, and salmon, and cod have been over-fished. Fish stocks world-wide have collapsed to less than 10% of their former level. So we'll have to place a global moratorium on ocean fishing, or face an ecological disaster. In practical terms, that means the Japanese, and Chinese, and Russian, and Indonesian fishing trawlers must come out of the water. And American trawlers as well. The fishermen in other countries will probably try to defy the moratorium, which means that we'll have to start sinking their fishing boats. That's a wildcard; because there's no telling how foreign governments will respond. But we don't have any choice: all ocean fishing must be brought to a complete stop. If we don't accomplish that task, then there will be an ecological disaster which would wipe-out the entire human race. So it's better to think of the ocean protection project as "Mandatory." Not "Voluntary." Look at this crop circle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bP0WH-MzPHA
Do you know what it says? It says that if we don't straighten-up, were going to get our asses handed to us on a silver platter. What we are really facing is the end of the ocean business. The ocean can't tolerate fishing fleets, cargo ships, cruise ships, naval sonar, small private fishing boats, or even military ships, like aircraft carriers. All of that stuff will have to be eliminated. That's a shame, but it's better than the end of the human race. We also need to stop farm run-off. No more nitrogen, or pesticide, or sewage, or anything may flow into the rivers or the oceans. But farmer's are an uncooperative bunch, so we might have to close a lot of farms, while we're taking boats out of the water. That's just the way it is. The world is going to be divided into two kinds of men: those who are responsible adults; and those who are not. The men who get in the way are enemies of the human race. In this fight, there are to be no quarters asked, and none given. Our survival depends on it. Oh that was a good come back! I wondered if the guy was ready to end it all since things are so bad.
When I retired, my wife and I built a beautiful house in the woods of WNC. I planted an orchard and a garden, and built an airplane in my spare time. I'm still flying the airplane (at 200 mph), but have had to give up the garden and am getting too damn old to properly tend the orchard. Climbing up a 15' ladder to pick fruit and, in winter, prune the trees, is becoming problematic with my old knees. Getting old is a process of giving in, giving up, and letting go. (I'm sorry to scare you young folks.)
The Surfhunters are great boats. I have spent a lot of time on a 25 that a buddy owns. Fast, dry, comfortable and efficient. Maybe after my kids are done with college a gently used 29 will find its way to me...
That's funny, a few years ago the Canadians were actually spreading nitrogen in the strait off Vancouver to feed the fish.
Sort of retired however I do occasional consulting, but on my terms.
My wife no longer complains that I work all the time. I hunt--dove season starts September 1, and it is something in season until February. I fish year around...fly fishing mostly. Ski in season. Shoot year round too. Anything outdoors is good. Not much of a camper as I spent enough time in tents and in remote camps around the world in my working days. my toy is a restored, original Ford 2N tractor and a corvette is on the list. No golf, sorry. Now I have grandchildren so building playhouses and swing sets, just finished a go cart with help from my grandson, and a doll house with my grandaughter. Being a grandfather is the best. And this week we pick up the new chocolate lab because everyone should have a dog or two. I'd buy a Hunt Harrier, might have to leave her father it: I'll miss her,
I retired last year. However I made regular weekly YouTube videos before retiring and doing so has been very helpful. If I was not able to keep busy making videos I would get cabin fever in this current calamity. if I had the money I can't think of a nicer past time than doing the great loop of the ICW and Mississipi.
My dream is to live in a safe and sane and clean supportive community in a small house by the water with a workshop and garden and small sailboat and where friends and family can come and visit or stay and also close to a beach. What else could I ever want? At 65, I took the catamaran down from the garage roof.
After 25+ years, it needed some minor work, but should be back in the water by next week. I would prefer a long sailboat voyage offshore, but the virus has made travel from Canada very difficult... I'll have to settle for the local lakes until travel becomes easier... |