"Galen Hekhuis" wrote in message
...
If the pond will not move to me, then I guess I'm gonna have to move
to the pond. Well, I'm not going to really move there, I just got a
building put back there and I'm gonna get AC power back there. The
building is going to be air conditioned, and has sliding glass doors
looking over the pond.........

=========================
Why not buy a used inexpensive travel trailer from Craig's list and pull
it
back there? They're like small motel rooms complete with beds,
toilets/showers,
AC, heat, sinks and stoves and even small fridges. You can get small
ones in good condition for less than $3000.

--
RM....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
rec.ponder since late 1996.
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö

On Tue, 28 Jul 2009 23:44:06 EDT, "ReelMcKoi" wrote:


"Galen Hekhuis" wrote in message
.. .
If the pond will not move to me, then I guess I'm gonna have to move
to the pond. Well, I'm not going to really move there, I just got a
building put back there and I'm gonna get AC power back there. The
building is going to be air conditioned, and has sliding glass doors
looking over the pond.........

==========================

Why not buy a used inexpensive travel trailer from Craig's list and pull
it
back there? They're like small motel rooms complete with beds,
toilets/showers,
AC, heat, sinks and stoves and even small fridges. You can get small
ones in good condition for less than $3000.

I thought about that, then figured it wasn't really what I wanted. I
used to live on a 27 foot yawl and years later on a 32 foot sloop, so
the close quarters don't bother me much. But I wanted a real
composting toilet (I know that sounds kinda strange for a priority,
but I sure didn't want to put in a drain field and I really didn't
want to fuss with a chemical toilet). Then there were other little
compromises I would have to make, so I considered it, and then decided
that the modifications I would have to make would be too much work,
and work is something I try very hard to avoid.

"Galen Hekhuis" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 28 Jul 2009 23:44:06 EDT, "ReelMcKoi" wrote:
Why not buy a used inexpensive travel trailer from Craig's list and pul
l
it
back there? They're like small motel rooms complete with beds,
toilets/showers,
AC, heat, sinks and stoves and even small fridges. You can get small
ones in good condition for less than $3000.
----------------------
I thought about that, then figured it wasn't really what I wanted. I
used to live on a 27 foot yawl and years later on a 32 foot sloop, so
the close quarters don't bother me much. But I wanted a real
composting toilet (I know that sounds kinda strange for a priority,
but I sure didn't want to put in a drain field and I really didn't
want to fuss with a chemical toilet). Then there were other little
compromises I would have to make, so I considered it, and then decided
that the modifications I would have to make would be too much work,
and work is something I try very hard to avoid.

========================Gotcha. :-)
--
RM....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
rec.ponder since late 1996.
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö

On Tue, 28 Jul 2009 23:44:06 EDT, "ReelMcKoi" wrote:


"Galen Hekhuis" wrote in message
.. .
If the pond will not move to me, then I guess I'm gonna have to move
to the pond. Well, I'm not going to really move there, I just got a
building put back there and I'm gonna get AC power back there. The
building is going to be air conditioned, and has sliding glass doors
looking over the pond.........

==========================

Why not buy a used inexpensive travel trailer from Craig's list and pull
it back there?... for less than $3000.

Because than he'd attract tornadoes? ;-) Actually reading Galen entries
sounds like he's got the building w/sliding glass door already. For under
$3K he can spiff it up pretty nice I would think. ~ jan
------------
Zone 7a, SE Washington State
Ponds: www.jjspond.us

On Thu, 30 Jul 2009 11:07:51 EDT, ~ jan wrote:

On Tue, 28 Jul 2009 23:44:06 EDT, "ReelMcKoi" wrote:


"Galen Hekhuis" wrote in message
. ..
If the pond will not move to me, then I guess I'm gonna have to move
to the pond. Well, I'm not going to really move there, I just got a
building put back there and I'm gonna get AC power back there. The
building is going to be air conditioned, and has sliding glass doors
looking over the pond.........

==========================

Why not buy a used inexpensive travel trailer from Craig's list and pull
it back there?... for less than $3000.

Because than he'd attract tornadoes? ;-) Actually reading Galen entries
sounds like he's got the building w/sliding glass door already. For under
$3K he can spiff it up pretty nice I would think. ~ jan

That 3K is getting soaked up by the cost of getting power out there.
It's only $.50 / foot to have the trenching done, but when you figure
there's 800 feet, that's a fair chunk of change. Then there is the
sheer cost of the cable (minimum of 3 wires heavy enough to carry the
load). It looks like it will be darn close to a grand just for the
cable (the weight of the cable makes shipping costs very important).
Then there are the additional circuit boxes, breakers, etc. As a
retired electrical engineer I thought electrical stuff wouldn't be a
major expense, but I'm not a licensed electrician in this state and
there just aren't that many corners to cut, anyway. Oh well, I've
often said that projects take way more time and money than you
estimate, even if you take that into consideration. This is no
exception.

The back pond has a small spring in it somewhere, I am pretty sure of
this because the water level never drops and a tiny "outflow" creek
never dries up, although when it is dry like it is now, the flow isn't
much more than a garden hose on about 1/2 way. I think now, when it
is dry, the outflow is just fed by seepage from the pond. When it
rains and is wetter, the pond actually flows over the western edge
(kind of a natural spillway) into the stream that flows down to the
Suwannee River. I think (hope) it is the mechanical agitation of the
water (when it is wetter) that helps keep the duckweed in check. That
is a big reason for getting power back there. I have hopes that the
agitation of the water by an aerator will inhibit the duckweed. I
have a pond out front which used to be pretty much covered in
duckweed. A few years ago, I got a backhoe to clear out one side. (It
was a rectangle, about 40x120 ft, surrounded by trees and growth, I
had one of the long sides cleared.) Today, while it still has
duckweed, it is 3/4 - 4/5 clear of it. The time lapse camera told me
why. Although the front pond looks entirely still, when you view it
as a movie where the frames are ten seconds apart you can distinctly
see two almost whirlpools of water which pick up a lot of speed in the
wind. At the back pond, I had a solid blanket of duckweed and almost
no water movement. Now that a wide section of it has been cleared, I
can see east-west water movement (especially when the wind blows). I
think I can also see (wishful thinking?) "stress cracks" on the once
unbroken carpet of duckweed. I don't particularly want to eradicate
it, but I'm hoping the water motion (much like the wind blowing across
the water) caused by the aerator will banish the duckweed to the still
backwaters of the pond, leaving most of it clear.

"Galen Hekhuis" wrote in message
...
I don't particularly want to eradicate
it, but I'm hoping the water motion (much like the wind blowing across
the water) caused by the aerator will banish the duckweed to the still
backwaters of the pond, leaving most of it clear.

(Brevity snipped)

==========================If these ponds never dry up, why not add a few inexpensive goldfish
or small koi? Someone may have a few culls they'd love to get rid of.
These fish love duckweed and will get rid of all of it in time.
--
RM....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
rec.ponder since late 1996.
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö

On Sun, 2 Aug 2009 02:40:01 EDT, "ReelMcKoi" wrote:


"Galen Hekhuis" wrote in message
.. .
I don't particularly want to eradicate
it, but I'm hoping the water motion (much like the wind blowing across
the water) caused by the aerator will banish the duckweed to the still
backwaters of the pond, leaving most of it clear.

(Brevity snipped)

===========================
If these ponds never dry up, why not add a few inexpensive goldfish
or small koi? Someone may have a few culls they'd love to get rid of.
These fish love duckweed and will get rid of all of it in time.

Like I say, there is at least one otter living there (saw it again, on
two different days, if it is just visiting it's taking its time). I'm
rather reluctant to (what I'm afraid would amount to) just "feed the
otter." Besides, the pond flows into the Suwannee River, so I'm a bit
reluctant to toss just any old fish in the pond. They might breed,
and I know so little about fish I might unwittingly release The Fish
From Hell into these peaceful Florida waters.

"~ jan" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 28 Jul 2009 23:44:06 EDT, "ReelMcKoi" wrote:
Why not buy a used inexpensive travel trailer from Craig's list and pul
l
it back there?... for less than $3000.

Because than he'd attract tornadoes? ;-) Actually reading Galen entrie
s
sounds like he's got the building w/sliding glass door already. For und
er
$3K he can spiff it up pretty nice I would think. ~ jan
------------
Zone 7a, SE Washington State
Ponds: www.jjspond.us
=================================
Yes I read that and assumed it's one of those buildings you
buy and they deliver it on a flatbed truck. Nothing is in it.
The little trailer could be set next to or attached to it. To my way of
thinking
it would be easier and less work since everything is already in
it to live or spend time. The empty building would come in handy
for all that "stuff" people tend to accumulate.

--
RM....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
rec.ponder since late 1996.
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö

The empty building would come in handy
for all that "stuff" people tend to accumulate.

Highjacking this thread, as this comment made me think of something. Maybe
some can relate.

6 years ago my family went thru a financial/emotional/work related
upheaval, and even though most people think we all over do with "stuff"
that stuff really helped. Instead of shopping for more stuff, during that
time period I was going thru my "stuff". I'm talking pond & yard stuff in
particular, that I either didn't set up or put together, whatever. Not to
mention I took more down time to READ.

In our current whole-country economical situation I bet a lot of people are
doing the same now.

My family has recovered, thankfully, hubby's business doing well and I've
been working full time as a paraeducator for the last 4 years, though I've
been one for over 6 it took awhile to gain seniority to have a full day.

Anyway... recently on the news they were asking people, "so do you think
you'll go back to the lifestyle you had when things become better?" Many
people were saying, "Oh nooo... ". I giggle, because I know better. There
are things we've changed, like saving more, but this summer in particular I
found myself gathering "stuff" again... and having less time to read. I
think August will be my month to do so... I hope. :-)

What do you think? Will you or people you know continue to be careful, or
revert to their old ways? ~ jan
------------
Zone 7a, SE Washington State
Ponds: www.jjspond.us

In article ,
~ jan wrote:

The empty building would come in handy
for all that "stuff" people tend to accumulate.

Highjacking this thread, as this comment made me think of something. Maybe
some can relate.

6 years ago my family went thru a financial/emotional/work related
upheaval, and even though most people think we all over do with "stuff"
that stuff really helped. Instead of shopping for more stuff, during that
time period I was going thru my "stuff". I'm talking pond & yard stuff in
particular, that I either didn't set up or put together, whatever. Not to
mention I took more down time to READ.

In our current whole-country economical situation I bet a lot of people are
doing the same now.

My family has recovered, thankfully, hubby's business doing well and I've
been working full time as a paraeducator for the last 4 years, though I've
been one for over 6 it took awhile to gain seniority to have a full day.

Anyway... recently on the news they were asking people, "so do you think
you'll go back to the lifestyle you had when things become better?" Many
people were saying, "Oh nooo... ". I giggle, because I know better. There
are things we've changed, like saving more, but this summer in particular I
found myself gathering "stuff" again... and having less time to read. I
think August will be my month to do so... I hope. :-)

What do you think? Will you or people you know continue to be careful, or
revert to their old ways? ~ jan
------------
Zone 7a, SE Washington State
Ponds: www.jjspond.us

Thanks Jan, fun to see this topic.

I think many people are trying to change their ways, but kind of like
the SUV thing, where many lament about having one when gas is expensive,
then go out and buy another one when gas is cheap, a lot of people have
short memories.

Trick is living within your means. It always has been.
Some get it, some don't.

The Mrs and I have always worked (our own business), and because we are
still sort of young, foolish and actually love our work, plan to
continue.
Tough times means creative adaptation. When one door closes, almost
invariably another opens. Just have to be open for change.

--
To reply by email, remove the word "space"

"~ jan" wrote in message
...

(Brevity snipped)

What do you think? Will you or people you know continue to be careful,
or
revert to their old ways? ~ jan

========================This is difficult for me to answer because my husband recently retired. M
ost
likely we'll continue on as we have, just be a little more cautious perha
ps,
how we spend
our money. Maybe a little less eating out, slightly cheaper cuts of meat
..
I've sold a lot
of "stuff" that accumulated through the years and donated loads of stuff
to
Goodwill. I also had a few yard sales. There's still plenty we could get

rid of.

We've also discussed selling this place and moving into smaller quarters.
--
RM....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
rec.ponder since late 1996.
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö

ReelMcKoi wrote:


We've also discussed selling this place and moving into smaller quarters.


We discussed that too just after my retirement. Looked and planned for
about a year. Then realized we were designing exactly the same old
house. The money wasn't a whole lot different only the sq. ft. (house
and esp yard) was a lot less. We love this neighborhood,so here we
remain and don't regret it. We did get rid of a lot of stuff, fixed up
some minor problems, and made it easier to maintain. Home sweet home.

Chip

"Chip" wrote in message
...
ReelMcKoi wrote:


We've also discussed selling this place and moving into smaller quarte
rs.


We discussed that too just after my retirement. Looked and planned for

about a year. Then realized we were designing exactly the same old hou
se.
The money wasn't a whole lot different only the sq. ft. (house and esp
yard) was a lot less. We love this neighborhood,so here we remain and
don't regret it. We did get rid of a lot of stuff, fixed up some minor

problems, and made it easier to maintain. Home sweet home.

Chip
======================
That may well happen with us. But as we age it's getting harder
and harder to maintain everything. I've considered looking into
some hired help.. someone to come in and clean once a week and
a handyman to look after the buildings, paint, mow etc.
--
RM....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
rec.ponder since late 1996.
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö