what would you do differently ?

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what would you do differently? if you could start all over again, what would you say to this question. i am purposefully phrasing my question in a general way, to see how many different types of answers arise. thanks gene

-- gene ward (gward34847@aol.com), April 22, 2000

Answers

i'll try the first answer. i think i would have done 2 things differently, which are tied together. i would have gotten a better education, not only my college degree but also a skilled trade that would allow me to earn a good living anywhere anytime. related to this i would have been more financially responsible from that age (18- 24 or so), so that now, 20-25 years later at the age of 42 i should have been financially secure from the education/skilled trade ability. this would ( imho ) make my homesteading much more easier. i once read a quote, i think it was by george bernard shaw, that said "youth, what a pity it is to waste it on the young people". funny but very true. if i only knew then what i know now..........

-- gene ward (gward34847@aol.com), April 22, 2000.

I would have stayed out of credit card debt and put more money in the bank for emergencies and for the land we have always wanted. I would love to go back to my twenties again ONLY if I could take my acquired wisdom with me!

-- Vaughn (vdcjm5@juno.com), April 22, 2000.

But, if I had done anything differently, would I have the 'hard won' wisdom I have now? Would I trade it? Could I? "Regrets, there have been few-but alas, too, few to mention"

-- Kathy (catfish@bestweb.net), April 22, 2000.

I saw this little saying somewhere (maybe even on this forum), and wrote it down: "Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending." (Maria Robinson)

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), April 22, 2000.

I wouldn't marry my first husband! But,guess I wouldn't appreciate the one I have now as much if I hadn't had a lemon to compare him to! Also,I would have gotten the papers on the goat that is now the foundation and matriarch of my herd.At the time I didn't care about the papers. Now,I have 4 or 5 generations of goats related to this one and can't register them until I get the papers on the first one.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@transport.com), April 22, 2000.


I've made plenty of mistakes in my life but I couldn't change a single one of them, because everything has led me in some small way to the wonderful husband I have now, the three great kids I had with my X (even if he wasn't so great for me), and the near-perfect life I have today. I know it isn't really perfect but it's so good that I have to pinch myself sometimes to believe it. And I don't deserve it either.

-- Peg (wildwoodfarms@hushmail.com), April 22, 2000.

I can't think of anything that I would change. My life has be full and rewarding, I have built 3 homesteads from scratch, starting with raw land, I learned everything the hard way, (as they say), there have been rocky times and I have been broke many times too but everything I have learned has been filed away in my mind including my mistakes. Much knowledge has come from The MEN & Countryside magazines, neighbors and dumb luck and now days this and other forums, I am still learning. My wife and I have a wonderful place now and living is fairly easy but it is getting to be more work than I want to do, so sometime in the next 3-4 years we will sell the farm and move on too a place with a better winter, less land, perhaps a 5 acre something, a few chickens.

-- Hendo (OR) (redgate@echoweb.net), April 23, 2000.

Move to the Ozarks 20 years ago,it has what most homesteaders (except UPERS) are looking for long growing seasons,inexpensive land and low taxes,a long history of self reliance among the local people and little interference from big brother

JAY

-- jay (jay@townsqr.com), April 23, 2000.


Well, I would Never get a credit card. Goodness those things are night-mares! Should have them paid off in a years time, crossing my fingers. Would of bought more land, farther away from any town. Would of used no-climb fencing instead of woven sheep fencing even though it is alot more costly. Hummm,,,, other than that...............

-- Bergere (autumnhaus@aol.com), April 23, 2000.

Well, I would Never get a credit card. Goodness those things are night-mares! Should have them paid off in a years time, crossing my fingers. Would of bought more land, farther away from any town. Would of used no-climb fencing instead of woven sheep fencing even though it is alot more costly. Hummm,,,, other than that...............life`s pretty good. We are not rich by any standard,but Happy. :O)

-- Bergere (autumnhaus@aol.com), April 23, 2000.


I am sorry,,, I did not know I hit the sumitbutton twice. Could someone Please delete the first message.

Sorry :(

-- Begere (autumnhaus@aol.com), April 23, 2000.


I would have started earlier, and bought a lot more acreage. Other than that, I am satisfied with what I have done, including all the stupid mistakes that I have made...they were the best learning experiences.

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), April 23, 2000.

No matter what I would have done differently, I would have ended up pondering this question, and wondering what I should have done differently.

I would, like others have said, rather screw something up than not live through the experience. Something new doesn't always mean something better, gotta take chances.

Except, I should not have bought the Ford Mustang when I was a teenager, and I never plant enough tomatoes.

-- Rachel (rldk@hotmail.com), April 23, 2000.


Nothing, but then I've been described as a crusty curmudgeon. I have and use credit cards, but only those that pay me for using them, and I ALWAYS pay up each month. I've been pretty lucky, got what I consider to be a good education, and found a wonderful wife. I fought the system and was severely punished (in a benign way) for fighting for what I thought was right. And I did fight! But the people who worked for me always appreciated me backing them in spite of higher management's selfish desires. Lost a few bucks in the process, but never had to avert my eyes from the guy I saw in the mirror when I shaved each morning! "To thineself be true"! GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@mix-net.net), April 23, 2000.

I should have never got that Houston Oiler tatoo!

Just kidding!

-- Lorin (netorcs@pacbell.com), April 24, 2000.



One of mine is echoed several times above....Credit Cards! I wish I'd never heard of the dreadful things. We've just about reached the point in our plan now were we're completely out of bondage from them. NO MORE 27% interest! NO MORE financing depreciable assets, like a nice dinner etc., FOR 15 YEARS! I respect those who can use them responsibly, but for the vaste majority of us that is an impossibility, with society constantly whispering in our ears (our shouting from the roof tops!)...buy more....buy more....that's what will make you happy!...buy more...after all it's good for the economy!...NOT!

The second goes along with the first. I wish we'd gotten out of the consumeristic lifestyle sooner. My wife started this odyssey several years before I got on board. I wish we'd started sooner. I wish I'd woken sooner from my "70 hour a week occupation so I can buy more junk I don't need or have time to enjoy" stupor. But I'm awake now and man does it feel good!

-- Steve in TN (lynswim@mindspring.com), April 24, 2000.


I would never buy a new car.

-- Jennifer (KY) (acornfork@hotmail.com), April 24, 2000.

This is not something we should worry about. We should be concerned about not repeating our mistakes, not how we would change what we already did. The simple truth is if you were in the same situations without foreknowledge you would do what you already did. Like it or not doing them the first time worked to your advantage. You learned something. Valuable lessons are a precious commodity.

Little Bit Farm

-- Little bit Farm (littlebit@calinet.com), April 24, 2000.


It is pertinent to try and not make the same mistakes over, but why can't we learn from other people's mistakes?? Most of my "valuable" lessons have come at a great expense, not only monetarily, but to my soul as well. I made the mistake of trying to farm with my dad, it was a family deal, too much family, not enough deal. I agree with Gene, I wish I would've developed a skill or trade and been good at one thing at least, instead of the jack of trades-master of none that I am now. And then got a professional degree as well.

-- dave (IA) (tidman@midiowa.net), April 25, 2000.

I wish I'd known I was kinesthetic and need a physical job. I wish I'd listened to an idiot and NOT planted running bamboo. And I wish we'd planted more fruit trees our first years. And I wish I'd been less inclined to think of authors as gods and didn't expect to react just like the Nearings. (reading their REAL life might change your opinion about him/them)

-- Anne (marshwiggle2@aol.com), April 25, 2000.

Anne: Before I forget, I'm curious, would you explain you Nearing comments. No Comprende

I'm another jack of all trades, master of none. I did't get much past HS and would do differently now but I guess its not too late. Considering going back to school.

-- john leake (natlivent@pcpros.net), April 25, 2000.


Another query for Anne: I have read most of the Nearings books, but don't understand the REAL life story part of your message? Is there another book on them? I understand what you mean about looking up to authors as gods, as I used to do that too. I have learnt to take it all in and realize at the same time that this is only how they live - it may not be for everyone.

-- heather (heather@bolen.bc.ca), April 26, 2000.

John, I always used to wish I'd finished college, instead of getting a job to support my family when I became a dad. I also always used to wonder what I would become "when I grow up". But I have finally come to the realization that I've gotten a lot more education, and better education in some ways, by being a "jack of all trades". I moved to a very poor county in Oregon long ago, and it was necessary to work at a variety of jobs in order just to get by. But I've made it work, and if I had a chance to change things and have a college degree, even if I got it for free, I wouldn't take it. I've "earned and learned" a dozen college degrees in terms of skills, knowledge, and character development. Don't worry about not finishing college. There's worse things that could have happened.

JOJ

-- jumpoff joe (jumpoff@echoweb.net), April 26, 2000.


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