Homestead mailing list

["Don Bowen" <don.bowen AT earthlink.net>]

> Don, You have valuable skills and an interesting outlook on life. Go where
> you think you will be most happy and where your personality and your
> skills will be appreciated.  I thought you had decided to settle somewhere
> in Arkansas or Missouri and were looking for land out there. Whereever you
> go please keep up your journal.

I am in the Missouri Ozarks at Gene's place.  It has many positive
attributes, good people, decent weather (except for today's 100 degrees) and
cheap living.  The longer I am here the more I want to stay here.  I will be
returning to California in the late fall to work out some things then
depending on how they work out be back here in spring in time to plant a
garden.

Next years plans:
Assuming things work out in a manner acceptable to all.  I haven't worked
out contingency plans.

Have built a 30 by 32 insulated pole barn shop 
        200 Amp electrical service
        External shed for dust collector and air compressor
        Plumb shop for air and dust collector
        Pour 1/4 concrete floor
        Build out the rest of the floor in wood.
Start on A-Frame
        Seal up the many poorly assembled joints
        Replace front deck
        Build a stair to the front porch
        Extend the roof and build a screened in porch.

These thoughts are the basis of a possible budget.  Of course things may not
work out anyway I would like this winter and the stock market could tank and
destroy any hope of a budget.

The above plans also lay a foundation for the following year.  Other than
the stock market tanking these plans depend very little on the wider world.
Gasoline may jump to $5.5 a gallon but that would do little more than slow
down plans.  That may also cause some things to be cheaper than planned.

Don Bowen  KI6DIU
http://www.braingarage.com/Dons/Travels/journal/Journal.html