I have to agree, I hand split about 90% of my wood and it is a great workout. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have a splitter but it is hard for me to justify with my budget. I will put aside knotty rounds aside and get a rental probably twice a year.
I had a 18 year old helping a few years ago and he couldn't keep up with me at all…. He said I gotta stop I'm winded after half the truck bed was empty. I jumped up and threw off the rest then split most of it while he watched. He then asked me to never ask for help again...
One more benefit - On Monday I start at a new project with a different company.Yesterday had do the pre-employment physical/drug screen along with strength & agility tests on these special machines that measure your resistance in pulling,lifting,bending,twisting,flexibility etc. The job I'll be doing is pretty much routine for me (same or similar to what I've been doing for the past 25 or so years),its rated a "4" on a scale of 1 to 5 for degree of physical activity (I miss the days when they just sent you to work without all this paperwork,special job names/tests & bureaucracy.... ) Anyway,you had to get a minimum score of 4.0 on the total score to pass. I got a 4.5 out of 5. Not bad for an old man.... The therapist asked me "Do you have any special workout routine to stay in shape?" "Yes I do. I do tree work,cut/split/stack firewood 3-4 days per month year-round in all temps & weather conditions & occasionally still climb trees as well...I haven't set foot in a gym (except as therapy to rehabilitate a couple work-related injuries some years ago) since I was 16 years old...." I will admit that with each passing year its getting harder to pass these physical tests,but so far have done OK. Hope that continues until I can retire in 7-8 years.Then I'll do something less strenuous until I can collect my pension at 62.....
Amen!!! to that Thistle... I'm still active duty USCG and at 52+ Just maintaining the weight standards is tough enoughlet alone the PT aspect of it! They don't expect the same from me as they would a 21yo but I still have to maintain my girlish figure
LOL right on....I still enjoy my beer,bacon & a few other things but eat lots of healthier things in addition.Its all about moderation now,smaller portions etc. When I was in early 30's,I didn't know what moderation was....
I'm sure you'll all hate this, but I think I won the genetic lottery. I'm 6'3 and have never weighed over 185. I eat at drink as much as I want and haven't been to the gym since college (which is about 12 years ago now). The less physical activity I do, the less I eat (not as hungry)...the more I do the more weight I'll gain. I'll probably put on 10 lbs of muscle this fall once I start doing firewood more regularly.
Wait till you hit about 45... That'll change... I was like that till about 35, then............ I hope it stays like that for you! I too had a great friend, 6' 2", 170lbs drank like a fish, ate what he wanted and never gained an ounce..., I hated him..... I get fat looking at a bag of cookies.
Yep, the only thing it'll have cost me to heat my house for 3 years, is about 40lbs. 5 years ago I was pushing 280 (I'm 6'3"). Started cooking more for myself, stopped drinking sweetened drinks, and got down to 250. Now between hauling and splitting wood by hand, and push mowing my lawn, I'm down to 212 - a good fightin' weight for me.
You'll have one heck of a pension with fantastic benefits when you retire. The non tax health care is worth thousands. Some states don't tax a vets retirement. Maine does tax it all it can. By the way, if you think your figure is girlish, you have been out to sea too long.
I sure hope so… As a man of the military, like you, People think it's given and how they forget we earn it! I feel "all" military no matter where you live the your pension should not be touched!!! Here in NJ, the ba$tards tax it. I'm going to take up a residence where only God know's where I'm at when I retire, And of course my friends here!.
There are a few states that are military friendly. NH, TX, FL come to mind. If you still want to be a wood hoarder, than NH is a fair option. Not hard to get away from the city, and easy to get to the ocean when you want. Seems to be a very clean state.
You could move deep in the woods where there is alot of wood to cut,Where I'am at we can cut standing dead trees on the forest land(federal)lots of them.
PMP, I'm looking! I'm gonna give this place to my Daughter for a head start in life! She also loves it here, I want to be away from civilization, "within reason" where I can basicly do as I dam well please!
It seems, well over 95% (at least) of everyone on this forum understands and agrees totally with your thoughts. Sounds like a great plan. When we were looking for a place a couple years ago, I was trying to find a property that had a stream on it that had a decent drop in elevation. Never happened... of course. Oh well. No complaints here. I found firewood! Good luck with your search.
Thanks Stinny, As a matter of fact If you look at my signature, I already "have" 3 Fishers ready to go on stand by! 2 for the house and 1 for the work shop… I bought them as I saw them for sale and saved them from becoming a hyundia or what have you
When we sold the old farm, I had no idea what to do with the Fisher, but I wanted to keep it. We had the small lot where the cabin eventually was built... so, I cleaned it up, wrapped it in a moving blanket, and attached a piece of plywood to the legs (for support)... then double wrapped the whole thing with a HD tarp and ropes. We set it in the woods up there in 2007. It's still there. My son wants it for his shop someday. Prolly be a rusty mess when he finally gets it... dunno.
That's Ok, They clean up! We have CG and Navy ships that are steel and have been floating since the 40's….
