Homestead mailing list

["Frank Fries" <frank.fries AT imagewireless.ca>]

> > It's nice to have someone else on the list who really understands what
> > COLD can be. most of these southern wussies have no idea ;-)
>
> Now wait a minute....we don't freeze our "assets" off...we have proper 
> gear to wear. LOL. Seriously, it is pretty cold here but we are winter 
> people and enjoy it both in outdoor activities and in front of the fire.

Hi all and particularily Ray and Rene,

I joined the list a few days ago (was a lurker occasionally in the past).. 
I am from a little north of Montana and North Dakota.  It has been known to 
get a little cool here also.

I had thought I had little in common with so many of the listmembers - seems 
to be a lot from the southern US and hardly anybody from the northern part - 
especially in the west and central areas where it gets cold.  There appear 
to be a few from the New England states where they have snow but as I 
understand it, rarely get much below -20 F.

Nice to know that at least a few people would truly understand the 
expression "wind chill" which only really becomes vicious once you get into 
the lower temperatures.

So much for the differences though, there are more similarities - I note 
that in the "homesteaders vs survivalists" thread that I can and do identify 
with most of the members.

I talk to some of my co-workers (who are neither "homesteaders" or 
"survivalists") and they just don't understand WHY a person wants/needs to 
grow their own food, do canning, etc.  They think that it is easier to just 
buy a tomato at the store instead of growing it.  Everyone on this list 
understands though.

I know when I try something new and it turns out well, I am thrilled 
(learning to bake bread, or can something, or grow something new) - when I 
mention it to most of my city living acquantances, they can't understand why 
someone would want to do those things when they can afford not to.

It is nice to have a group of people who understand why people WANT to be as 
self-sufficient as possible - but don't necessarily think they need to.  I 
think survivalists may do some of the same things because they NEED to, but 
not because they WANT to.  James and Gene summed up quite nicely the 
differences and feelings on this subject.

Frank