The Forestry Forum

I been thinking about it alot.
Winter is real hard on me with my health.  
I wouldn't start a sawmill business as all you folks have that covered. Maybe one of you guys would like someone to saw for you once and again. Maybe help with sales ect. 
I would probably build a tiny house to live in if possible. 
Take this year and maybe part of next to close things out in New Hampshire. 
I have only been to Florida I don't think that's a good fit for me.
The cost of living and property taxes are getting crazy in New Hampshire. Lot of money moving in. New Hampshire is a good place if your wealthy it has a lot of advantages.  
I'm not a city person.  Some friends moved south and said they didn't feel welcomed .

Many go to N. Carolina, they call them *DanG Yankees.  Around here the money moved up a long time ago. It is a trade off, there is money to be made but you have to put up with them. On the other hand they support good health care, that's why I can't leave. Let us know what you find in the south and good luck, Doug

It was one of the Carolinas that my friend went to.
He said the local white folks weren't very welcoming to them .

Florida is getting crazy expensive.
I'd look at South Carolina or Tennessee. No state income taxes for one thing.

As far as getting along, A lot depends on you. The worse thing you can do is start a sentence with,"up north we did it this way".

When I first bought the Tennessee land the local hillbillies were pretty standoffish.
They warmed up to me after awhile when they saw I wasn't there to change anything and didn't act like a know it all.
Respect goes a long way.

We moved from Southern NY to Western NY and found the same thing. In small towns residents don't like anyone that didn't go to school with them.  I think you will find that sediment anywhere and just ignore  the idiots. If it gets bad call the cops and town officials on them. Soon they will leave you alone. Biggest thing that counts  is find an area with decent health care that doesn't  involve a day trip.

  Boy now that is a hard one to answer. I'd suggest you narrow it down a little more to at least a few states then weigh the pros and cons of living there in each of them. Check the states tax policies and such. Texas, Florida and Tennessee don't have state income taxes but the property taxes may be higher. Some states may not tax your social security if/when you draw it. What kind of medical do you expect to need now and in the future.

    Do you have steady income or are you going to need to continue working and if so how much are you going to need to earn to survive or live comfortably? Some places, like here are pretty economically depressed and wages are low and sales of anything you produce is affected accordingly.

  Sounds like you are looking for a rural area and it may take a while to break the ice and make friends there although I find rural folks tends to be more laid back and generally friendly than city folks.  We lived and visited all all over the world and had exchange students from other countries and my wife said she had more culture shock when we moved here to WV than any other place she'd been. People can be real clannish. Many are salt of the earth and I love them dearly but it took a while to meet them.

    The first 20 years or so here I worked overseas and met and knew few of my neighbors then when I retired and stopped traveling and especially after I bought my mill and started my small business I met a lot more of them.

  What kind of hobbies and entertainment would add to where you choose? How about family ties and such?  Its an hour drive to go see a movie, visit a WalMart, Lowes or HF or such for us. If you have kids or grandkids you want to see often that will affect your choices. Do you have a lot of equipment you need to move with you and if so how much land or shop space will you be needing?

  These and many others are questions only you can answer and you certainly don't need to answer them here - just to yourself.

  Do you want an area where you still experience the 4 seasons even if not as harsh as NH may be? The trade off for the cold winters may be skeeter, snakes, heat and humidity.

  Good luck. I hope it works out well for you. I'd love to have you as a neighbor but not sure our winters and such are that much different than some you have.

Quote from: Raider Bill on March 13, 2024, 12:38:53 PMFlorida is getting crazy expensive.
I'd look at South Carolina or Tennessee. No state income taxes for one thing.

As far as getting along, A lot depends on you. The worse thing you can do is start a sentence with,"up north we did it this way".

When I first bought the Tennessee land the local hillbillies were pretty standoffish.
They warmed up to me after awhile when they saw I wasn't there to change anything and didn't act like a know it all.
Respect goes a long way.

This is very good advice. We've moved to GA,TN,LA, and ended up in SC. Wherever we have lived it's incumbent upon you to make acquaintances/friends. Even though southerners are inherently friendly you are going to have to make the first move. With some exceptions we've found that folks don't beat a path to your door. It is off putting when we get people here from other parts of the US and the first thing they do is start off by complaining about how our area is "lacking" compared to where they lived prior. They do not complain however about the lower property taxes or the reasonably mild climate! In Western NC there is still some logging and smaller sawmillers. Some areas have become pricey due to folks moving from the NE with plenty to spend on housing due to what they got for the sale of their properties "up North". But there are pockets that are still affordable you just have to be willing to live a little ways from all of the convenience of close by shopping, restaurants, etc. I wish you well with your search :thumbsup:

You gotta remember that things change slowly in Appalachia.  These folks have been making their own way for generations, living in the same area for hundreds of years, had ancestors fight for the confederacy and don't like people telling them what to do.  They feel the same way about the government today as they did back then.

The epithet is one word tho, Damnyankees.  One thing northerners bring with them is their political and social views which are totally different up north.  You have to ditch all that and embrace the life in the area you have chosen.  They still value courtesy, helping others and giving each other apple pies.

Be generous with your time, ask for help, ask if you can help.  People in the country talk, so when they talk about you, make sure they say the right things.

Quote from: rusticretreater on March 13, 2024, 01:40:08 PMYou gotta remember that things change slowly in Appalachia.  These folks have been making their own way for generations, living in the same area for hundreds of years, had ancestors fight for the confederacy and don't like people telling them what to do.  They feel the same way about the government today as they did back then.

The epithet is one word tho, Damnyankees.  One thing northerners bring with them is their political and social views which are totally different up north.  You have to ditch all that and embrace the life in the area you have chosen.  They still value courtesy, helping others and giving each other apple pies.

Be generous with your time, ask for help, ask if you can help.  People in the country talk, so when thy talk about you, make sure they say the right things.

Yep, well said!

Most folks in Hays Ks are the same.  most are related to many in the area.  i was accepted as a doc, but neighbors behind us moved there as they have a disabled daughter that went to long term care in a nearby town.  we were friends, but others did not see a reason to get to know them.  do you have any family or friends down south?  any town with interests such as music in Nashville?  Branson Mo is a nice area but has already been found by many and may be expensive.

It's tough to make friends in a small rural town especially as a CFA(come from away)
Most are suspicious of bringing change, once they realize that isn't the cases
All good 👍 
Try to change vehicles plates asap and fake it till you make it 😆 

I transplanted my family from WNY to ETN about 9 years ago...?
Some good advice in the other posts, not much I can add.

"Yeah, I moved down here to get away from all the craziness going on up there! You folks got your head on straight down here! It's a much better place to raise my family."

... Something like that goes A LOOOOOOONGG way to making friends when they notice your accent (e.g. the first time you open your mouth).

Quote from: WhitePineJunky on March 13, 2024, 02:12:27 PMIt's tough to make friends ...Try to change vehicles plates asap and fake it till you make it 😆

My first gig working down here was some remodeling under-the-table with a local guy. He suggested I swap out my favorite hockey team's hat for the local college football team.

"Harder to shoot a fellar when he's wearing your colors."

ffcheesy  ffwave  :rifle: 

Quote from: NewYankeeSawmill on March 13, 2024, 02:47:15 PM

Quote from: WhitePineJunky on March 13, 2024, 02:12:27 PMIt's tough to make friends ...Try to change vehicles plates asap and fake it till you make it 😆

My first gig working down here was some remodeling under-the-table with a local guy. He suggested I swap out my favorite hockey team's hat for the local college football team.

"Harder to shoot a fellar when he's wearing your colors."

ffcheesy  ffwave  :rifle:

It's the truth! Just gotta embrace the local
Attitude! 
I'm speaking as someone who has witnessed LOTS of people move to my rural area since 2020, most have adopted and done well! The ones who come here with expectations don't do good! 

  The best advice I always heard was if you want a friend - be a friend. Don't pry but show interest and respect for others. Help if you can, leave them alone if you can't and your offer to help has been declined. Treat folks like you'd like them to treat you.

    If you start off with how much better it was up north some folks may tell you you should go back (but all will be thinking it).

    Find like minded people to associate with hopefully at churches, school events, local community fund raising projects, etc. Woodworking clubs and associations seem like a good place for you to start because of your skills and experiences there. Those things don't know North from South or Easy from West. Volunteer and donate time and materials to help the community projects.

  Asking a local skilled craftsman, hunter or fisherman for help and advice is a good ego booster even though you may already know how to do something.

I've lived in central Florida since the mid 70's. I probably wouldn't move here now if I had to do it over. It ain't what it used to be. It's way crowded, especially the roads. They are building anywhere they can. It is getting expensive. No state income tax, no SS tax, property taxes are probably no worse than most southern places. If you buy property in Florida the tax rates will reset on the sale price and that might hurt. North central or the panhandle might be better but Orlando is crazy. Forget Miami-Dade.

A real popular bumper sticker used to say "We Don't Care How You Did It Up North". I haven't seen one in a long time, probably because most people here now are from up north. I did meet a fellow last week that was born here. Rare. The news claims we have over 1000 people / week moving into central Florida and I believe it.

It is hot/humid here 5 months a year but winters are mild. Don't think we had a freeze this year in Orlando. Hurricanes happen sometimes but not every year. They can cause problems for a week or so. Bring a generator!

As far as fitting in, you'll meet nice people and others anywhere you go. If you decide to move to Georgia, don't tell anyone you are from Florida. ffsmiley

Camping up north for 53 years [we bought the land last spring] I learned a long time ago I don't want to be one of them. Never the less I have made a few close friends up there. It didn't happen overnight. 2 of them operate sawmills. Merle had a song ' the way I am' and I am good with that. On the other hand in a remote area you help who ever.

Recently read the cost of homeowners insurance in Florida could go up to 9k for a home by the end of this year if something isn't done to control it. Sounds  like that is something you should look into for the areas you consider. What you save on taxes can easily  disappear to other costs of living. 

I was born in the same city and hospital most folks here in Stokes County were born in.  I was raised mostly around Greensboro and High Point, an hour away from here.  But I'm still not from around here...after 36 years. 

Good  advice has been given on getting involved, finding some common interests with neighbors and never saying "the way we did it ...". 

There's nothing like figuring out the gathering spots for the local retired guys whether it's breakfast at the Bojangles or around the pot belly stove at the country store.  Once you do, quietly hanging around will eventually get you noticed.  

I think the word is due diligence. Do your research and make a short list than visit to confirm.

I really like NW Arkansas. Our economy is on rocket fuel due to the corporate headquarters of Walmart, Tyson Foods, and JB Hunt being located here. Low cost of living, taxes, good health care, shopping, moderate climate, and lots of recreation. I wake up every morning and look out across Beaver Lake to the Ozark Mountains and try to take in a sunset every evening.

The word is out, and we are one of the fastest growing areas in the nation. Because of that locals became an extinct species some years ago. Nobody is from here! Makes it easy for a newcomer to feel right at home. The growth does present a problem as there is a shortage of rentals. Houses are going up all over to keep up with demand. If we don't manage the growth correctly cost of living could go way up along with traffic congestion. Austin Texas faced this same problem years ago and did not manage it well IMO.

We have extensively traveled the US for the past 30++ years.  Northern Arkansas and Southern Missouri would be my choices but I would stay from the Mississippi River areas. 

That's funny, it's actually pretty simple, don't even try to fit in down south, you won't.  We have secret handshakes, secret tells, gestures, and even the way we drive by our neighbors houses that let us all know who is who.   

The best you can do is just try to be a good person, and most will recognize that even though "you aren't from around here."  It'll only take a few years, unless you don't wave when you drive by, or try to be pushy, and then it'll never happen.

North Alabama is the center of the universe and the best place to live in the world.  Of course G-A, Arkansaw, Tensee (not counting Nashville) and MSippi are all in the top 5. 

Well one thing I can say is that the summers are hot, really, really, hot compared to where you are now.  About July I start looking at where there may be some chunk of affordable farm ground that is further north, but not too far north, not expensive, not too populated, but has an economy around it so I can make a living.  By the time I have searched through all the websites hosting farm and rural land it's October and it's comfortable again so I give up on that project.  

In all seriousness if you really wanted to come to a rural area that is close enough to a population base so one can still get what they need and have the independence of being out in the country then come and see me.  I will put you on the 70 and in charge of the mill crew.  I need a good sawyer that also knows how to keep a crew moving, also happen to have more than enough land, timber, and equipment that a tiny or not so tiny house could be built without too much trouble.  We are dog friendly around here, only caveat is that you would end up with a view of cows grazing on green hillsides, but we could fence them out of the pond so your fishing isn't disturbed.  I am being serious. 

I have seen folks from West Virginia come into Virginia for the whole day just to do shopping.  I have been asked where to find things and then they take off in a big hurry. You would think they would look up things on the internet so they know where to go(if they have it).

I used to live in Northern Virginia then I moved west to the Shenandoah Valley. The biggest thing I had to deal with was the laid back style of the people who run businesses.  A lot of businesses are closed on Saturday.  More than once I have found a business closed during the week even though the sign said they had business hours that day.  Also, barber shops are harder to find now.

Getting your car inspected could take half a day.  I needed some brake rotors turned and the guy said come back in a couple of hours.  Then he locked up and went home early with my brake rotors inside the shop.  Luckily I had a second vehicle to get me through and I now own a brake lathe!

Then I figured it out that a lot of these people work multiple jobs to get by.  They have to go home and work on the farm doing things that have to get done now.  Sometimes it seems they just don't care, but its the way they have always done it and if you try to get them to change they can get a bit ornery.

From your other post, it seems like you really do need a change of scenery. I'd suggest you seriously consider Southside's offer. If he can hook you up with a place to stay and steady job (with weekends off), it takes a lot of stress off you, and life becomes a lot simpler. Run with that for a while, and see where it leads you. Maybe it's a place you want to stay, maybe you move on after 12 months? Who knows. 

What the others have said about fitting into a new community is all correct. "That's not how we did things back home" is the wrong thing to say. "How does that sort of thing work around here?" is a better approach. The fishing advice is especially valid, because even if you know what you are doing, there will be local knowledge (different species / water conditions etc). And just working 4-5 days a week, means you have the time to get some fishing etc in. 

I will echo the nw Arkansas Southern Missouri sentiment winters are pretty easy down there in fact if you get South of I 70 it's a bunch milder, than it is north of I 90...
I spent 4 years in Columbia MO yes they had winter, but it was from about Dec 15 to Valentine's Day but you get to trade the milder winters for more miserable hot weather. 

People move here and I wonder what brought them to this small town.  Maybe cheaper real estate.  Certainly not being close to banks, shopping centers, doctors, fast food, pizza delivery or plentiful jobs.  We do have a 30 minute four lane to take you to those things and places.  So you need a decent pickup. 
If you move South, just don't brag that you used to work for the Sherman Match Company.  ffcheesy

I'll say that the quickest way to get put on the ignore list in a new town down south is to call the cops on someone.  You'll need to be able to get along with the neighbors; maybe not be friends but calling the cops is the way to make enemies.  You'll need to interact with them enough to know who to trust, and who not to. 

John

I grew up in Western NY, Went to school in Central NY, Lived in the Hudson Valley, Then I moved to Tennessee 30 years ago.

I started in Middle TN near the Alabama border, then 30mi west of Nashville, now East TN south of Knoxville.

I did struggle in TN at first, much of it my fault, but it was a very stressfull time for me.

IMHO East TN is hard to beat overall, summertime is hot but middle/west TN is hotter, it tends to cool off at night here.
Winter ............... more the cooler months. I get less snow and cold than Middle TN. I don't own a snow shovel.

I bought my farm 20 years ago, I will never be one of the locals, in this immidiate area the locals are part of 3-4 familys that have lived here forever.
They will always have a grudge against the federal government fot takin there land to build Tellico lake (flooded in 1979).

on the other hand there have been so many people move here in the last 30 years that the bias isn't that bad.
Be a good neighbor, DO NOT say but this is how we do it back in .....
Don't be the know it all, some times these old hillbilly's do know what they're talking about.

With the huge influx of people the last few years you will need to get pretty far away from any bigger town to get affordable property.
forget Nashville and the surrounding countys, stay probably 50mi away from Knoxville, Chatanooga.
Upper east Tn I am not sure, I was told by a friend from WNY that the Bristol/ Johnson city area is priced higher than she expected.


Do you know the difference between a yankee and a DanG yankee?

a yankee is some one not from here, a DanG Yankee is some one who moved here......

Lots of great reply's and pointers have been posted. Lots of good things to think on. 
But having said that.  
 Bruno, maybe you should move. Maybe a change of scenery is just what you need.  But think hard and long before you make a move.   When we hit hard times like your pulling through  right now sometimes pulling up stakes and chucking everything sounds good.    But maybe its not really a move you need as much as a resolution for some of the problems your dealing with.    I'm not saying your just running from it all.   What I am saying is that where ever you go, there you are.   A lot of those troubles will either come with you, or never ever be resolved.  So, all I'm saying is let it simmer a while.  Don't make any hard decisions when your feeling this low.  When things get a little better, then make the call.  
Hope you can think it through and make a good choice.   

Quote from: 21incher on March 13, 2024, 07:49:01 PMRecently read the cost of homeowners insurance in Florida could go up to 9k for a home by the end of this year if something isn't done to control it. Sounds  like that is something you should look into for the areas you consider. What you save on taxes can easily  disappear to other costs of living.

Mine hit $11K last year so I dropped the wind coverage which brought me down to just over $1K for fire and liability.
It's a huge concern here as there nothing stopping these crazy increases.

I'm also hearing the same is happening in Cali, Gulf states coastal areas and out west due to weather and fires.

Quote from: rusticretreater on March 13, 2024, 11:38:23 PMI have seen folks from West Virginia come into Virginia for the whole day just to do shopping.  I have been asked where to find things and then they take off in a big hurry. You would think they would look up things on the internet so they know where to go(if they have it).

We was just makin' conversation wit yuh and when you got your drawer's in a twist we decided to go look fer somebody more friendlier. ffcheesy ffcheesy

    Sounds like you may need to snowbird it with South Side for a while and come down and saw logs with him in the winter when its too cold then ease back north for the summers and avoid the bugs and snakes. That will at least let you dip you toes in the water  bit before you decide whether to move permanently.

    And the real beauty is you can drive an hour or so north and come eat some catfish and venison hash with us up here.

Howard, I was on a hunting trip with a friend in West Virginia, not far from Romney. It was an annual trip for the family and about 15 guys show up to the old family farm, I was a guest from Florida. Well, during the poker game that night, in a discussion about politics, my friend (who lived in Florida but was a family member of the West Virginia clan) called his brother (who lived in Romney) a 'Hillbilly'. Might have used a couple more adjectives in there but wow, gloves came off and they were about to go at it over that comment. I learned not to go north of Georgia and call someone a Hillbilly.  :wink_2:

I also learned the deer have shorter legs on one side so they don't fall over when walking around the hills. Oh, and a chainsaw was used to quarter the deer, don't remember the brand..........

Quote from: WV Sawmiller on March 14, 2024, 09:54:26 AMSounds like you may need to snowbird it with South Side for a while and come down and saw logs with him in the winter when its too cold then ease back north for the summers and avoid the bugs and snakes. That will at least let yo9u dip you toes in the water  bit before you decide whether to move permanently.

 

This sounds like some good advice. I bought my first farm in this area forty five years ago. I am still a outsider to what is left of the local farmers around here. In forty five years a lot of farm land around here has been turned in to acreages so a lot of city folks have moved into the area. Never had any kids and worked nights in the city for years so never got to know to many folks. All the older guys I used to work with farming some are long gone. We own enough land no one is close to us and that's the way we like it. Taxes are high around here and land is high priced. We can have real winter around here. January this year was a good example. Wife says she likes to be home for Christmas so no snow birding for us. We have a pretty good life around here.

The term "Hillbilly", like most Southern slang terms have two distinct and opposite meanings, so facial expression and delivery will determine how it is received and what offenses it may incur.  For example, looking at a person disparagingly and calling him a hillbilly, no matter where he lives, is shorthand for, and in no uncertain terms, saying right to his face, "Hey you dumb !!, crawl out of your run down shack in the woods and learn something from me, because you don't know nothing and I'm smarter and better than you." Yep, all that from the word "hillbilly" used incorrectly.  From your description, I would have expected the situation to have escalated quickly.  
      

At the risk of sidelining the discussion to Politics, my Wife and I agree with the philosophies of the South :usa: . I have lived all my life in New England and do enjoy the seasons - yet to see a better place than NE in the Fall, the winter less as I age though. We have talked about moving South when we retire in a few years but I can't stand humid heat. I could maybe do the mountains of Tennessee.
It can be good here depending where you are - as Aaron Lewis sings in Northern Redneck: "There's rednecks North of the Mason Dixon"
At the end of every work day I look forward to leaving the City and driving to the country where our acreage abuts the State Forest.

Personally, I would give it a go for a month or more to see if you really like the change. Southside's offer sounds like a Barry Bonds home run for you! Good luck.

  And a Yankee was someone living in the Glaciated north. A *DanG yankee was one who came south and went back. A GD yankee was one who came and stayed. smiley_smug01 smiley_thumbsdown

    And remember it was the "War of Northern Aggression or War for Southern Independence" not the Civil war. :thumbsup:

Some of the others have alluded to RVing.  That may be the answer Bruno!

Rent one, go see Southside, come by here (I have 30 amp RV plug), trip over to see 123maxbars, then down to Yellowhammer, and to Magicman.  From there west to some of our Texas brethren or back east to Georgia.  Customsawyer is there and caveman isn't far away.   On the way home you will find Mr. Poston in SC, DonP in SW Va and Howard in West Va.

I'll bet I missed some Forumites and for that I apologize.  There are plenty to see down this way. 

You get the idea.  Come down and look around.  See who you you are acquainted with.

Then you can get an idea of what it's like in various areas of the country.  

One thing to know is east of the mountains and south of Lynchburg, Va temperatures can get mighty hot and humid during summer.   July and August here are just about guaranteed to have 85 degree and hotter days - many days are 95 and some are 100.

The good thing about winter is snow doesn't last more than two or three days.  More than 6" of snow is more and more unusual.  Most days in winter reach the 50's, some days are 40's and fewer are below 40.   We do get plenty of freezing nights November through mid-March.  

Even in the mountains, it's unusual for snow to pile up and linger down this way.

Tornados are a slight concern, as are flooding and fires.  We are inland far enough that hurricanes don't pose a direct danger - except Hurricane Hugo...

The one thing I have heard from several folks who moved south from northern new england is that church and religion is far more important to fitting in. New England in general is probably the least religious part of the country while the south is definitely the bible belt. I remember when hiking with a car through the area one year, I would be way out in the mountains and come upon a small valley (AKA a "cove") with maybe two or three hundred acres of sort of flat land and down in the middle would be two or three churches. Its sure looked to me like the entire population could fit into one but a local commented that sometimes folks didnt get along with one another so they would start a new church. I am not trying to start a fight over which is best its just different.

As the others commented health care is a big issue, There are regional medical centers in the SE but in some cases they may be hours away. Reportedly there far fewer ambulance services out in the rural areas. I did a big project 15 years ago in eastern NC (near Swamp Loggers territory) and when we had to plan emergency response, there was a county ambulance service but the nearest critical care hospital was 2 hours in either direction.

  I came across this and thought it might be applicable:

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/19-people-moved-one-state-181602222.html

    Yes, I have a lot in front of the house with power available and a well for guests with RVs to hook up to. No sewage yet but maybe I'll add that one day for guests.

Jim! Having been to your place it would be sad to move off it. 
But  Southsides :sunny: offer sounds wildly ideal. I'd follow up on that offer!!! ffcool ffcool ffcool

https://www.ramseysolutions.com/real-estate/cheapest-states-to-live-in

Might provide some direction Bruno,

Best  D

Quote from: YellowHammer on March 14, 2024, 10:55:41 AMThe term "Hillbilly", like most Southern slang terms have two distinct and opposite meanings, so facial expression and delivery will determine how it is received and what offenses it may incur.  For example, looking at a person disparagingly and calling him a hillbilly, no matter where he lives, is shorthand for, and in no uncertain terms, saying right to his face, "Hey you dumb !!, crawl out of your run down shack in the woods and learn something from me, because you don't know nothing and I'm smarter and better than you." Yep, all that from the word "hillbilly" used incorrectly.  From your description, I would have expected the situation to have escalated quickly. 
     

Hillbilly is incorrect English. It is Hillwilliams  ffcheesy

I would never say 
That's how we do it up north to someone 
I had a guy from California work for me for 15 years . I herd that every day and know how it comes off to folks.
I have learned to watch , listen and observe. Keep my mind open.
I have always tried to fit in .
It can be hard when your 400 lbs 
You kind of stick out and get labeled as lazy when your not.

You sound like a humble Man, you'll be well received by good people wherever you go.  :thumbsup:

Bruno ever had any thoughts about the mountain states out west? 
The dry climate is very comfortable both summer and winter. Humidity ruins both in my opinion and there's plenty of areas "off of the beaten path". 
I was hell bent on moving west, but I was bringing all of my stuff. Too far for all of that, but from Kalispell MT straight down into ID (western) and down into UT is where I roamed about and definitely liked that region. 
I love the culture, food and people of the *south, but the summer weather became unbearable to me and I actually moved North. 

* that actually should be "country" or generically "the sticks", the further from the city and suburbia the better. There's good and bad folks everywhere in my experience.
That seems to be directly linked to the distance from highly populated areas. ffcool

My Uncle moved to Meskete Nevada and loves it .
It looks nice but I would like to be someplace where I could mill again or help at a mill .

I need to outfit a van or build a truck camper like I want.
Take a few trips . Maybe spend a month in the winter looking. 
I would keep my place here and live in a camper for the winter somewhere but I heat with wood .
My mobility is not the greatest but I still have alot to offer for a small sawmill operation. 

In my opinion it comes down to the expression: " People don't care what you know, until they know that you care". Covers most all personal interactions no matter which side of the Mason-Dixon Line you hail from ffwave

Bruno,  Maybe try and come down during the summer also.  A lot of people move to Florida because they wintered there.  Summer comes around and they can't handle the heat and humidity.  They then become half-backs.  Moving half way back to the north. ffcheesy

I moved to North Carolina from the north country of northern New York in 1998. Took a couple of years to find a spot I liked. I highly recommend western north carolina if you decide to move.  You are welcome to come visit awhile to see if you like it. As others have said, mid summer will be a good bit hotter than you are used to, but that's what they make fans and air conditioning for!

Quote from: Bruno of NH on March 15, 2024, 04:22:37 PMI need to outfit a van or build a truck camper like I want.

There's a significant number of folks around NZ that live that way. There are of course downsides to having "no fixed abode", but a decent size bus or truck can be set up for pretty comfortable living. 

The local "Fair Ground" / Speedway track is set up for motor homes, and there are probably a dozen or so parked up there at any one time, some basically "permanent". Or they might vanish for a few months 
 chasing seasonal work in other areas. It basically came to light when Covid hit, and NZ had the first lockdowns. Basically you had to go home and stay there, except for "essential" things. Cops turned up at the A&P grounds and said "Hey, you all need to go home". Guy points at the truck behind him, "That's my home".  

"Ohhh, OK. Well park the motor homes  ~50ft apart, then we can tick the call off as "isolating at home", and we won't have to hassle you again".  

One of my friends parents was homeless like that.  ffcheesy
They was retired and just traveled around the USA.

Not all that long ago people worked their whole lives so they could aspire to live full time in an RV....

   I have a USMC friend from my last duty assignment who sold everything he and his wife had and bought a motorhome, set everything up for check to bank for his retirement checks and regular payments and they just travel back and forth across the USA. It takes a different mindset to live like that or on a houseboat or such but they have been doing it several years now and seem to like it. They use mobile phones and e-mail or other internet social media to correspond with family and friends.

I think I would stay and find something else to do.
I have a lifetime of tools and [stuff]. Way too much [stuff] to move I want to keep. ffcheesy
And friends I would not see again If I moved. Family too.
The townspeople all know me. Good and bad. ffcheesy
I'm good friends with all the Firemen and policemen in town having been on some town committees over the years.

I wish you the best of luck in whatever you do.

QuoteOne of my friends parents was homeless like that.  (https://forestryforum.com/board/Smileys/alienine/cheesy.gif)
They was retired and just traveled around the USA.

When I drove truck met a few drivers who lived out of their truck on the road full time. They didn't care when they got "home" as the truck was their home. Their permanent address they only visited a few times a year, and any paper mail went to a PO box. All their banking and bill paying was done electronically, showers and laundry were done at the truckstop, and an occasional stop to any Walmart nationwide to restock the fridge. Calendars didn't mean much as days blurred together, only days that counted were on the drivers log when to take a 34 hour reset. Some never saw snow, and the furthest north they ever wanted to be was the slow lane on I-40 west.

I could totally get into the mobile lifestyle, at least for a few years. Ain't nothing around the home place but work, anyhow☺️

  Its certainly a different lifestyle and needs a different mindset.

  When I left the USMC and we moved here to WV and came to roost permanently my daughter made new friends who had been here all their lives, as had their families. One asked her how she could stand to move around every 2-3 years and lose all her friends. Her response was very astute IMHO "I have made a lot of new friends by moving around. I have never lost any. Some I don't see as often as before but they are still my friends."

  Military kids learned significant people skills at an early age because they learned they and their friends would be moving around quickly so they did not wait to make the first move. My kids would see a moving truck driving slowly through the base housing or the subdivisions near base where lots of military families lived. They would see where the truck stopped and run introduce themselves to the new kids, watch them unload the truck for a few minutes to see what kind neat toys, bikes, etc. they had then they'd show them to the neighborhood playground or a neat tree in some kids yard to climb.

    While the parents supervised the unloading of the truck and unpacking my kids and theirs were already playing. We'd meet the parents and talk with them about schools, shopping. churches, etc and note if they had older/teenage kids who might be future babysitters.

  I still am usually the first one to make a comment about a book someone is reading in an airport or something they are looking at in WalMart and that breaks the ice and pretty soon we find we have common interests.

  Yes, you can't haul a complete auto workshop and toolroom around with you so RV life style is not for everyone unless you can find new hobbies to enjoy. There are other fun things out there to see and do if you look and you may have to make the first move.

  As a young Marine Officer with a newlywed wife we moved from duty station to schools and such and my wife would immediately talk to the neighbor lady next door as she walked the dog or hung out laundry or such. Pretty soon they were sharing a cup of coffee then out shopping or sight-seeing. I remember the other young wives crying when we or they had to move and saying "I'd been here 6 months before you came and didn't have a single friend." That was true but they had never taken the first step to say hi and talk a minute or two like my wife always did.

Yep, I was the son of a career Marine and we moved every 2-3 years until he got rank and was assigned to Quantico/HQ Marine Corps in Washington DC.  I got to live in Hawaii on the company plan for 3 years.

Son of a Methodist minister here.  We moved 13 times by the time I was 18.  Loads of friends in lots of places.   

With today's technology, it's not hard to stay in touch, IF you want to stay in touch.  

Lots of good information folks 
Lots to digest and to think about 

You can haul the tool room too, we built houses on the road for over a decade. I enjoyed being in a community for months at a time meeting the people and seeing local sights rather than just touristing thru. I wouldn't want to do that in this climate but there are other jobs out there that haul no more tools. I have heard the tablesaw and compressor coming up the aisle together tho  ffcheesy.

Its been a few days sense you started this thread Bruno.  Still holding your own? 

Still running the mill filling orders 
Have a new helper starting this week . The mill is busy just need some good production. 
The mill has been down off and on for 3 weeks 
The red wire that goes to the test light on the 38hp Kohler was broken . Took me some time to find it . Some day no problems others it wouldn't start.
I think I got it on Saturday 
Let's hope

Okay Bruno, good to hear your still at it. :thumbsup:    Keep moving ahead brother.  

You couldn't  pay me enough to move down south in the heat and humidity.  Steve   

I don't know about that, personally. If I could drive from my air conditioned garage to my air conditioned sawmill, I might give it a try. ffcheesy

I think it all depends on what you're accustomed to. I was raised in central Alabama and once turned down a good job in Decatur, Alabama because I didn't want to move north- 90 miles.

I hear ya. I remember when there was pipeline work up here, when the first cold snap hit I was in the local farm and fleet store. The southern guys were in making a run on every sort of warm clothing😂 The problem was that 15° was just a "soft" cold snap, when it would actually hit where the highs were below 0, those guys tailights were last seen heading in the direction of the Mason/Dixon😁 

 I would be doing that process in reverse, about mid-May I would imagine, if I tried living down South. I'd probably already be getting complaints for "spandex sawin'" by then😂

I am fortunate to live in the center of the USA!  We do not have an accent, our feet do not stink, we have and love all 4 seasons and some extremes of weather, but we say if you do not like it, wait 10 minutes and it will change.  We eat all kinds of food and love almost all of it!   :snowball: :sunny: ffcool ffcheesy ffsmiley rayrock

Doc,

   If you guys can just get over that overwhelming modesty you will probably be perfect. ffcheesy

Quote from: doc henderson on March 18, 2024, 09:26:29 PMI am fortunate to live in the center of the USA!  We do not have an accent, our feet do not stink, we have and love all 4 seasons and some extremes of weather, but we say if you do not like it, wait 10 minutes and it will change.  We eat all kinds of food and love almost all of it!  :snowball: :sunny: ffcool ffcheesy ffsmiley rayrock

...........and 10 minutes later that weather will be in Texas.   And if you don't like that, wait 10 more minutes.  We also have 4 seasons.  Presummer, Summer, Postsummer and Winter.

I just want to add.

We are full down here. :thumbsup:
:sunny:

My old junior high math teacher Mr. Channel had a saying.  "You lie, your feet stink, and you don't love Jesus."  you could not say that these days.  

All depends on what your accustomed to. No desire any longer to go further than a days drive, going and coming.  ffwave

Quote from: doc henderson on March 18, 2024, 09:26:29 PMI am fortunate to live in the center of the USA!  We do not have an accent, our feet do not stink, we have and love all 4 seasons and some extremes of weather, but we say if you do not like it, wait 10 minutes and it will change.  We eat all kinds of food and love almost all of it!  :snowball: :sunny: ffcool ffcheesy ffsmiley rayrock

Plus the Wizzard of OZ made Kansas famous to all us youngun's that watched it in awe on our black and white tvs :thumbsup:. 

You have to lookout for the flying monkeys!

My memory of Kansas is the softball size hail, and being told that it's common.

People there expect there new cars to be hail damaged soon.

I think some of you's weren't around in 1939 yet, nor was the TV.  ffcheesy ffcheesy But yeah, they pretty much wore out the old reels during the 60's and 70's around Thanksgiving every year religiously.  ffwave 

Kansas cold weather - A buddy and I were hunting pheasants there years ago, a big winter snow storm was starting and the landowner told us that since we were from the south, we needed to leave or they would find us and our dogs stuck in a ditch somewhere. 

So we skedaddled, and as we were on one of the little 2 lane highways heading home, my buddy said something like "Yeah, these folks are used to driving in this weather and we aren't, so we don't need to worry about them hitting us, we just have to keep the truck on the pavement."

No sooner had he said that than we saw a UPS panel truck coming down the hill, sliding sideways down the centerline, taking up both lanes, in slow motion.  Slow enough for us to pull over to the shoulder, not quite into the ditch, and look at his eyes as he slowly slid past us, just easing down the little hill.  He straightened things out when he got to the bottom, and kept going and we got back on the road, and we decided, sure enough, the farmer was right, we Southerners would end up in a ditch if we didn't get back south because the locals couldn't drive in this stuff, either.  ffcheesy

By the way, when we left the truck in the morning to go hunting, and the weather was nice, I put a half empty can of Cola on the hood and when we came back to the truck in the early afternoon when the sleet had started, the can was frozen solid in a sheet of ice to the hood and we couldn't pull it off.  It stayed on until we got about to St. Louis.

 

It's amazing how many people forget how to drive on the snow and ice every year. Or even if we go too long between snow storms.

There's always a village idiot or more in every town up here.  ffcheesy  Yeah, you don't have to be from the south to see slip sliding. Lots of people put all season radials on instead of good winter tires. Quebec makes you put winter tires on by law. Some people think they are invincible in those SUV's.  smiley_thumbsdown

We get snow so rarely, the roads become the party zone here...best to stay at the house. 

There's lots of idiots on the roads when it's clear, mix in some impairing substances and snow and it's like a demolition derby out there.  I had a fellow think it a good idea to do doughnuts in one of my hay fields in the snow.  The state had redone the ditches the previous summer and built some erosion control settlement basins in the corner of that field.  Yep, he found it.  The Highway Patrol came, I didn't call.  Turned out the guy was drunk, got arrested and a DIU.  His truck stayed in the settlement basin until it was dry enough for the wrecker to get it - it went to impound.  I felt no sympathy...

 I saw someone said that some of (maybe all) the Scandinavian countries don't use road salt, but they have laws that mandate winter tires be used. I'm not typically in favor of government looking out for me, but I hate road salt so much I'd be willing to back something like that. 

 Minnesota is a bit odd, even though it has for the most part it has had left leaning (or full left) government, some things are pretty unregulated. Sometimes to a fault. We have no state mandated vehicle inspections (there are some counties or municipalities that have them though). My county (Itasca) doesn't require building inspections, just a building permit. The state requires inspection for sewers and electrical. 

 One example that is often in the forefront of my mind is logging practices. We do have some BMP training and agency certification we go through, with CPR and safety training. But I read about the regulations some of you deal with, and it is much more stringent than anything we do. A couple areas, machine weight for one. I've read guys saying they couldn't use such and such a machine because it is over  a weight limit. Here the only consideration is can your lowboy haul it, and will it stay above the swamp?☺️

 The big one that gets me is how areas being logged are shut down. I've seen examples from the PNW where the area is flagged off, the road into the logging site closed off etc. I remember Skeans sharing pictures of the gates and such they had on their job closing it off to the public, where I at the time was working a USFS job, landing wood right on the USFS gravel road while the public was allowed to gawk, get in the way, and otherwise pretty well do what they pleased. We even had some firewood theft on that one, people were backing right up to the piles and loading up. 

 We are not able to restrict public access in any way on public land timber sales, unless it is an area that is normally restricted anyways.

we love the Wizard of Oz.  We still have relatives of the WWE that live here.  we also like the play Wicked that sees things from the witches' point of view.  My dad was an army MP.  He later did arial photography to make maps, was a pilot, and then a truck driver.  We lived on a steep hill in Concordia, Ks.  Our family when it got cold and snowy or Icy, were about the only ones to still park at our house in bad winter conditions.  My dad took great pride, that he and his sons could make it up the hill, turn a kitty and head down the hill, turning the wheels into the curb and stop in front of the house.  forgive me, but it was best to go past some neighbors that lived down the hill from us, that parked at the bottom and were walking up.  My cousin Mike and his family always came up on Christmas eve, after mass.  Mike got out of the car, and in his leather soled shoes, started sliding.  he would have gone to the bottom (3/4 of a block) if he had not laid down in the snow and crawled to the curb.  It did not help that 3 generations of loving family were in the front yard laughing at him.  just saw Mike in my shop today.

The only restriction on public access here is on public lands used for agriculture, and that is fairly new. Forestry roads are not gated unless the mill owns the land. And I know the local mill gates their roads to keep locals from making dumps on their land. Which is some kind of retard doing the dumping since garbage pickup comes by their drive way once a week. And no one here charges a tipping fee if you take in your old fridge or stove or washer. They just tell you where to unload and off you go. Like I said, the world is full of boneheads that have false narratives in their heads. So and so told them this or that so it's true.  smiley_thumbsdown

Probably 20 years ago a friend and neighbor, in his early 60s then, moved from PA to west central NC to be near a daughter and grand kids so already family there. About 2 years after they moved we stopped to visit with our RV for a couple days. He told me taking his partially restored antique tractor down got him hooked up with some good guys in short order. If I remember correctly it was a late 30s JD 2 cyl, one of the smaller ones. 

Surprised nobody's brought up food yet!

Bruno,you might just as well stay home,nobody here can stay on the subject.

Robert, your peasant (Okay Pheasant) hunting tale in Kansas reminded me when our daughter got married in Glarier Park about 9 years ago. The day before the wedding we had walked to a small lake behind the lodge where we heard moose often came down at sunset so we went hoping to see and photograph some at sunset. None came and it was getting dark and not prudent to be out so we were hoofing it back to the parking lot. We could hear 2 local ladies behind us talking out greenhorns from out of state. Suddenly we heard a moan from near the trail and looked and a cow moose, evidently in heat, was calling. She was about 30-35 yards away and laying down. My free lance photographer wife started taking pictures and one of the ladies stuck her little camera up in the air and took a picture. Wooof - a blinding flash. My wife yelled at her to shut the flash off and told her she was going to get us all killed. The lady said she did not know how so my wife told her she'd send her some of her pictures. The other lady had her phone up in the air recording the calls. Suddenly a huge bull moose appeared and started nuzzling her. (Yes - the cow moose -not the lady with the cell phone. :uhoh: ) We were watching and taking pictures and local expert was recording everything on her cell phone. Finally the bull got the cow to get up and they walked parallel to the trail for a while. We were following and getting more pictures. Finally I told them "We have got to get out of here. This is not safe" It was dark, the bears were out and I know moose kill more people than bears and this was a big bull who seemed pretty agitated - not at us "YET". We heading backing and the sound lady started playing the calls back. I told her "Shut that off! Bears come to those calls too, you know."

  We made it to the parking lot exchanged contact info and survived another questionable encounter in the wilds of Montana.

  A month or so later a lady called and I answered the phone. Turns out it was the lady wanting the moose pictures. My wife was downstairs and asked "Who called," I replied "Its the moose lady." I could hear her laughing on the phone. I hung up and my wife got the info and sent her some of the moose pictures.

  Just because people live there does not mean they know what they are doing.

This is why Bama is such a great place.  We ain't got no snow, we done kilt off all our mice and bars, and I ain't sure what a flash camera is, but it sounds dangerous!  Roll Tide!

Ahhh Howard, I was imagining that story ending with you being accosted by an amorous bull moose on account of that "moose lady" replaying those cow calls😂😂

Quote from: barbender on March 20, 2024, 11:47:37 AMIt's amazing how many people forget how to drive on the snow and ice every year. Or even if we go too long between snow storms.

Or only see it every couple of years. 1" of snow basically shuts us down. Doesn't happen often, or last for long, but it's chaos when it happens. If you expect snow, you drive a 4wd and have winter tires on it. My car is completely useless in snow, wide low profile tires and traction control that messes things up. 

Then there was a cool summer day trip my wife and I took on the Blue Ridge Parkway where we pulled our car into an overlook with our windows open. The only vehicle there (on a moderately busy day) was an RV with license plates from a state not to be named but way north of here and just south of a big big city.  

We soon learned why the overlook was deserted.  There was a lady, presumably associated with the RV, chasing a black "kitty" with white stripes on its back... she was running after it with a dishpan and calling "here kitty kitty kitty."  But the RV might have been a rental...I doubt it.  

We realized why there was only one vehicle there.  I didn't even stop the car.    

  Reminds me of the picture posted for the "Found lost cat. Looks kind of loke Siamese. Deformed tail. Very bad disposition". On the poster was a picture of a snarling possum.

Have we determined what Bruno's definition of "south" is?  For some NH folks, south of Manchester is "the South" and south of Nashua (a/k/a Massachusetts) is "the deep South"!   ffcheesy

Quote from: 47sawdust on March 20, 2024, 07:54:24 PMSurprised nobody's brought up food yet!

I just went back up North to the WNY area last week. Dropped $175 at the Italian Butcher, about $150 at the German butcher, and probably $200 bucks just in beer! Can't get Molson Canadian down here, it's a SIN!

That's how I know when I'm in the deep south, they don't sell Molson Canadian and I don't understand what a lot of people are saying.
"eh? Say again . . .  gettin' old and don't hear so well " Really, just looking for a repeat so that I can figure it out. 😋

OK, can't resist, gotta share this. True story. I have family all over the country and we have reunions every two years in different states north and south (even Norway once).
 Anyway, we are at the reunion in Maine, late 80's or so. A bunch of cousins and uncles are standing around chatting. So my cousin who was in the host family and ran a marina in Booth Bay Harbor and ran yachts down to the Caribbean, every fall and winter, then flew home, well he was telling  a funny lobsterman's joke, complete with the heavy down east accent which he did perfect. SO we are listening and I notice from Texas, (born and bred) who possesses a thick Texas accent is listening intently, he even had his lips kind of screwed up a bit. Well, when the Mainer finished the joke everybody laughed pretty hard, even those of us who already knew the story because he presented it so well. That is, everybody but my Texan cousin who almost looked a little mad. When the laughter died down he said to the Mainer "You know something? Y'all talk REEL funny". To which we all broke up all over again. The Texan never did get the joke, either one. ffcheesy

Wasn't there a story where a guy from up north was talking about tracking whales, and a guy down south thought he said wheels...? ffcheesy

I do recall that one, of course there was the time I was at a Shoneys in West Virginia with my then girlfriend who became my wife when the waitress propositioned me, or so I thought, when in reality all she wanted to know was if I wanted any "ice" in my Mtn Dew.  The look of complete shock and disbelief on my face as I sat there contemplating my dilemma caused my GF to say "ICE, she asked you if you want any ICE in your drink".  I kinda mumbled yes and shook my head, after she walked away my GF looked me dead in the eye and said "I know what you THOUGHT you heard, your face gave it away".  There was not much talking for the rest of the meal.... :uhoh:

Yeah, some crazy story about some Canadian inserting little sticks loaded with gps trackers into water wheels to see where they go. 

I couldn't understood a word he said. 

Ever see that movie called "Lost in Translation"?
The movie has a whole lot of deadpan humour with Bill Murray getting twisted around by Asian language and culture while on a trip.
 
Well, Resonator was recalling a lunch table discussion at Customsawyer's Pro-ject last year. It was a moment straight out of that movie.
YH is a born in the wool engineer and his mind was having difficulties imagining that a biologist (me) would be using GPS tags to track whale migrations in the Arctic.
I was telling some fine folks from Western Georgia about that, and they didn't seem to have any problem with my Glaciated accent - but Robert . . . no, no, he thought I had to be shooting GPS darts into wheels of some kind and tracking them around the Arctic.
Blank look on my face when he asked me what the heck I was doing that for.
"Water Wheels" was all that his personal wired-in translator was able to come up with.
What I was talking about was 'whales' in the water. 
Me (frozen yonder accent): "whales, Robert"
Him (rolltide accent): "yeah, I heard ya, but what for?"
And did'ja notice that he still thinks that GPSwheels was what I was talking about? What in the heck ? ?
Is that what his career in DARPA was about? Had I stumbled across some super top secret project? Blank looks all 'round. Bill Murray deadpan stares.
Then Jake translated and we all about fell on the grass laughing about it.
Don't those engineers lock-on like a laser on a rocket when they get an idea into their noggins?
Fine folks. Fun to be around. They can make a five-round single hole at 100 yards with a nine twist 308 barrel, just for fun.
Gotta respect THAT.
.
But if you think that thread drift is a big deal on the Forum, you should try a lunchtime discussion at Jake's Praw-ject in Georgia.

So, to make feeble try at getting this thread back on track, Bruno - bring a translator if you decide to move to the South.

Friend of mine lived in Virginia for 3 years. I went down to visit him and his family for a spell. I noticed he was developing an accent and I asked him about how he was fitting in with his new way with words. It sure ain't New Brunswickan. ffcheesy

The "whales" in the south are a challenge, they show up in the darndest places.  My MIL is from west Texas and was telling us about when she grew up and her dad and his crew would bring in a "whale" how the whole town would celebrate.  I legitimately asked her if they got stuck in the creeks or something as that made no sense, I then said something about the fact she was not old enough for that to have been legal, all the while she is looking at me wondering what I am talking about while I make hand movements of a fish type thing flopping around when she says something about "Earl" - I have no idea who he is and how she thinks I would know him, well that turns into more info about how "Earl" comes out of the ground from the "whale", even my wife is standing there bewildered now ready to call 911 thinking her mother is having a stroke when somehow through all of it we realize she had been talking about her dad bringing in a "well" as in a place where one gets "oil" out of the ground..... ffcheesy

Bad thing is that when a whale or azz gets stuck in your mind, it's difficult to get it unstuck. :huh?

I kept thinking about some new types of LiDAR 3D Terrain mapping "prawjects (southern pronunciation) not "PrO-Jetts" (northern pronunciation) we had been working on before I retired, and couldn't for the life of me figure out why anyone would try to map anything in the ocean with old tech gps transmitters because everyone knows they can't communicate underwater, and the wheels Andries was describing would go underwater after the tracking sticks were attached.  It made absolutely no sense to me, none at all. So at one point, when everyone else was nodding their head and saying "Ohh, and Ahhh..." I couldn't help it and just blurted out "What the heck are you talking about?!!"   "Why on Earth would you put GPS trackers on underwater wheels!?!"  You could have heard a pin drop, then everyone laughed so hard that people were spitting beer out of the noses!

We have the language barrier contained right here in our little state, no need to head South to be misunderstood. I'm a few minutes from the NYS border. Two hours the other way is Bahston, where they pahk the cah, and other insults to American English. ffcheesy

 I definitely agree that the Boston accent is an insult to the English language😁

 I've never spoken to Andries, but I can guess that if you take what any of you may have heard on the movie "Fargo", and then add words like "eh" (pronounced āy), prō-cessor, and a-boot, that should be pretty close. As a Minnesotan, I can feel a kinship to an Ontarion's pronunciation until they start throwing some of those crazy words in😁😁

 One time I was in the local gas station. There was a walleye fishing tournament going on, and one of the fisherman started visiting with me in line. After a minute, he told me, "see, I'm from Canada, eh?" I never would've guessed😁

Been watching too much of the Mackenzie Brothers, eh?  ffcheesy ffcheesy

Aw c'mon BB, I think that bawston accent is wicked cool. ffcheesy

Pittsburgh has some pretty good dialect as well. We go to the grocery store and put chipped in ham in our buggy's. Go down by the crick but you have to watch out cause the mud is slippy. Run the sweeper  to redd up.

I was in Pittsburgh many years ago with a group of educators at a conference.  We went to the Primanti Brothers sandwich shop in the warehouse district.  This was when you stood in line to order your sandwich.   

A lady from Charlotte, NC in our group was a transplanted northerner.  I'm not sure where she was from originally.  She was in line in front of me and had the audacity to order a "Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich."  

She couldn't figure out why the counter man was rude to her...

My wife and I were in a Food Lion and she asked the kid if they had any chicken paws, so he went out back and grabbed some. Of course she can't just say "thank you" like a normal human being - oh no we have to stand there and explain just how much the dogs love these.... I was pretty sure he was going to rip them out of her hand and go and put them back in the storage area he was so insulted.  

 There was a guy that moved up here from Maine, his last name was Card. Everyone thought his name was "Cod" from listening to him say it, until someone saw his name written on his time card (or is that time cahd?😁)

I don't quite know how to write what happens to r's down here, but they are heavily accented and drawn out instead of being lost.

Quote from: Southside on March 22, 2024, 10:21:03 PMMy wife and I were in a Food Lion ....

OK, well here's my Yankee ignorance on display, this generates 3 questions:
1) What is a food lion? (assuming a grocery store?)
B) What are/is chicken paws? (assuming chicken feet?)
3) Why was the clerk insulted?

Bonus question:
D) Why does a chicken farmer buy chicken feet in/at/through a Food Lion? :wink_2:

  I wonder if you can buy Babel language lessons to learn to speak New England (Separate tape required for Boston) or vice versa?

    Its bad enough we have American. Canadian, British and Australian English without all the local dialects. Smoking a Fag in the UK will give you lung cancer but put you in prison for hate crimes in the US.

    My 5 y/o GD went to visit her granny and G-granny in New Hampshire last summer and withing 2 days she was already saying things were "Wicked Good"

Tom: If anyone can answer your bonus question maybe they can tell me -
"Why is a blackberry green when it is red?"

We get our Chicken Feet from....
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/20011/25A9E27D-D184-4FD6-AFC2-C2AC5C93EEAA.jpeg)
The same grocery store that has Chicken Heads.

Family friends have a daughter, Katherine,  who when 4 of 5 years old loved a toy stuffed pig.

Her mother had a friend from somewhere in the Northeast who visited.   After 2 or 3 days, Katherine  was calling it a "pee-ugh". 

I'm not sure how to type this

In rural Tennessee, you have to learn when to use Y'all, all Y'all, and Y'ens (You Ens).

I haven't lived here long enough to figure it out, I've only been here 30 years.

There are a lot of other regional phrases that I hear, but there are so many DanG yankees some of them ain't from round here.

Quote from: Old Greenhorn on March 23, 2024, 07:37:15 AM

Quote from: Southside on March 22, 2024, 10:21:03 PMMy wife and I were in a Food Lion ....

OK, well here's my Yankee ignorance on display, this generates 3 questions:
1) What is a food lion? (assuming a grocery store?)
B) What are/is chicken paws? (assuming chicken feet?)
3) Why was the clerk insulted?

Bonus question:
D) Why does a chicken farmer buy chicken feet in/at/through a Food Lion? :wink_2:

1) Yup
B) Yup
3) Dawgs should not eat such delicacies 
D) We didn't have any of our https://k9carts.com/chicken-wheelchair/ (https://k9carts.com/chicken-wheelchair/) available. 

I was raised in an Aggie household.  I almost went to A&M for Aerospace Engineering. I understand Gig'em and Hook'em horns. We are in part of the South, but for the life of me do not understand .....Roll Tide.
 But that's okay, when we first went to an Astros baseball game in the Astrodome, I thought they kept real bulls in the bullpen.  I kept asking Dad when were the bulls coming out.

   I did a project for a couple of years up in Wierton WV in the northern panhandle between easter Ohio an western PA. I could look out my window and see the Welcome to PA sign 300-400 yards away then drive 5 miles and cross the Ohio River and be in Steubenville OH. That was the first time in that area I had ever heard the term "You'uns". I was cultured enough to understand y'all could be singular or plural and such and had worked with people for New Jersey (New Joisey?) and knew about "Youse Guys" and such.

Quote from: Old Greenhorn on March 23, 2024, 07:37:15 AM

Quote from: Southside on March 22, 2024, 10:21:03 PMMy wife and I were in a Food Lion ....

OK, well here's my Yankee ignorance on display, this generates 3 questions:
1) What is a food lion? (assuming a grocery store?)
B) What are/is chicken paws? (assuming chicken feet?)
3) Why was the clerk insulted?

Bonus question:
D) Why does a chicken farmer buy chicken feet in/at/through a Food Lion? :wink_2:

I've no idea at all. ffsmiley Im still trying to figure out the "ice" story Southside told.   :huh?

I have heard this story before.  her southern accent made it sound like she was asking if he wanted some... think back side.  other name for a mule, rhymes with what is left after you let a fire burn out.  last part of the word glass!  this is regarding the ice story, not the chicken feet story as to not cause more confusion. smiley_smug01

 Now Magic, I remember seeing a clip of a fella named Lynn from Mississippi, on a Woodmizer promo video, saying how happy he was with  and what a fine machine his Woodmize-uh was🙂

 I can say with a high degree of certainty that Minnesota is in no danger of becoming non-rhotic in this century.

You'uns and your'n are common not too far from here as well - mostly rural western NC.

Ice and asz are like the difference among tar, tire and tower - some places they are all said the same way-tar. 

Far is something that burns you as well as a long way to go.  Then there's vin nay ger- a form of fermented apples used for pickling cucumbers. 

Context is important...Southside!  ffcheesy

One thing I noted back when I drove truck is just as there is a "Mason-Dixon" line, there is also a "Hun" line that I would cross. That being once I got past southern Illinois and stopped at restaurants, the waitresses were apt to say: "What can I get you hun?" (As in "Honey"). Maybe it was just southern hospitality, or maybe they just figured I leave a good tip (always did). ffsmiley
The one thing I had to get used to is they referred to all soft drinks as "Cohhk" (Coke), even if I ordered a Pepsi. ffcheesy

Ted I'm 22 miles from the NC border Western NC and East TN are about the same.


Another thing to point out about living in the south
When someone says "Well Bless your heart"

what that really means is you are not an intelligent person (edited to FF standards).

It's commonly considered an insult

And tea is sweet tea, ie sugar water with a hint of brown. you have specifically order unsweet tea, or just unsweet.

Machinebuilder
I don't believe that my wife's Aunt Bessie who lived in southern Iowa and used that phrase often, meant it as you have implied. just sayin... she had a heart of gold and said it with feeling. She's been gone for 40 years, so maybe interpretation of the phrase has changed (for you anyway).

Just saying the word "sorry" can convey many different feelings, depending on the inflection of the voice while saying it.

Used to be I never had to specify my tea as "sweet", there was only one kind.  Never knew anything about tea any other way but sweet.

Now I'm tracking. Thanks doc. ffcheesy      You guys gotta splain stuff more, some of us are loggers ya know. ffcool ffcheesy

Hone your linguistic skills with Gerald on "Clarkson Farm"

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jLj_GARcO20&pp=ygUUY2xhcmtzb24gZmFybSBnZXJhbGQ%3D

If someone in Albany offered you coffee and you said yes, please, it would come with cream in it, even if you specified "regular", as that was regular.  I think if you put "little" in the phrase "well bless your little heart" it may be implied.  most time the people in the surroundings catch it but often not the intended target.  We went to Virginia to visit my uncle and cousins I had never met.  My aunts name was Toots.  they would ask if we wanted a "drink", and that implied a carbonated beverage.  a log was called a stick.  there browning 10 g pump was called big Bertha, and they got a real kick out of letting us shoot it.  so did WE.  Toots' mom made a big family dinner and still cooked on a wood stove in a regular log cabin.  She had an Eletric stove and oven out on the back porch and used it to keep things warm.  for some reason Toots called me Brown instead of Bryan.  guess I had a tan that summer. ffcool   :usa:

Der 'tis and der can't be no tiser   ffwave

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQ4MWia6xmA

Back when I had a real job I had a factory rep I worked with a lot. He was from Arkansas. At first it was quite challenging for a northerner like me to understand him. I swear he was the voice of Boomauer on King of the Hill.

Quote from: doc henderson on March 23, 2024, 03:46:49 PM........  for some reason Toots called me Brown instead of Bryan.  guess I had a tan that summer. ffcool  :usa:

Would that be Yankee brown? ffcheesy

Bruno...we would be sad to see you go. You were very kind to me when I visited your setup and gave me great advice. If you do go, we wish you well sir. 

Best....

i love accents.  I had a 4-year-old abuse patient in the burn unit at KUMC while I was there as a student doing plastic surgery.  She referred to me as Dr. Brown.   :usa:

Hey, she seemed like a real friendly gal.... ffcheesy  When we bought our place a neighbor who has since passed but lived here his entire life stopped in, it was like an accent time machine. He asked what we were going to do with the land and when I said we planned to dairy his response was that we were going to "have Q's".  I stood there for a minute trying to figure out what he meant as he was being very serious.  My chicken paw wife at the same time was actually thinking "and R's and T's and WHAT?"  - she told me so later, fortunately we didn't have another chicken paw incident at that moment.  

Every now and then in memory of Spencer we look out over the pasture and will remark about the "Q's" we have, that accent became extinct when he passed.

Well... not THAT friendly!!  :wink_2: ffcheesy ffsmiley :usa: :thumbsup:

MRPIGS.      MRNOT.      OSAR.    LIBMRPIGS.      Two West Virginians talking about pigs.Figure it out  ffcheesy

It amazing how many of those pronunciations go way back in time. Coo (like too) was the Old English pronunciation, I think it is still pronounced that way in the Frisian and Dutch languages.

Cow=Kuh in German.

I have a cousin in Norway who married a Canadian. They met in Denmark when he was working for BP out of England somewhere. They married and settled in Tønsberg Norway and he got a job with Statoil. Those first few years he had to learn to speak Norwegian in a professional business like manner because he made a lot of executive presentation. He is a petroleum engineer working on exploration work and surveys. SO they decided to speak only Norsk in the house until he got natural with it. The Norwegian word for 'cow' is pronounced something like 'kew'. They also have a a word 'queue' which sounds similar, but not quite. "Queue" is used to describe a waiting line like at the movies in much of Europe

 SO one night he comes home from work, dog tired, and they are chatting while cooking dinner.. He apologized for being late, explaining that he had got out of work late, then got stuck behind a HUGE KEW entering the roundabout that took forever to get through. She stopped what he was doing and looked at him very confused and started asking questions about this 'KEW" like just how big was it? what was it doing in the roadway? What breed was it (she comes from a farming family)? He is staring at her now and trying to 'think in Norwegian' and understand these questions and wondering if his new wife was just a little but nutso. Quickly it dawned on her, he didn't mean 'cow' he meant 'queue'. ffcheesy
 AT the time they were both so tired that neither of their brains were sharp enough to catch it right off.  It was so funny to them that they were still sharing that story 15 years later.

I may have shared this one before, but I saw a video where a Brit, knowing that Frisian is the closest language to English and much closer to Old English than modern English is, went to Frisland and tried to buy a brown cow (brunne coo) from a Frisian farmer, by communicating in Old English. It was intelligible enough that they were headed to pick out a cow😂

https://youtu.be/OeC1yAaWG34?si=N3qyaimpo9f0_Ggx

I read a story about a German that moved to Minnesota to work in the woods. He figured he was going to be thefts a while, so he might as well learn English. He picked up on the language fairly fast, and was eager to get to town at the Spring breakup to try it on the townspeople. Well, when he finally made it to town, he discovered that he actually spoke pretty good Norwegian.  ffcheesy

Now that is DANG funny and I HAVE to remember that one, it's a keeper! ffwave

 That is a good one!😂😂 

Quote from: Wlmedley on March 24, 2024, 12:45:44 AMMRPIGS.      MRNOT.      OSAR.    LIBMRPIGS.      Two West Virginians talking about pigs.Figure it out  ffcheesy

Them are pigs.  Them are not pigs.  Those are pigs. The last one, maybe I'd know of I was standing there but, nope not a clue now.   ffcheesy

Hanging on the wall behind the bar in my hometown was this gem:
Savillederedeygo tuzzinbussisinarow
Noshodemistrux summitchikins summitdux

'ell I'll be, em are pigs!

In the South, I expect slaw on my BBQ, red BBQ sauce for real south and yellow sauce from the northern south (NC), cold sweet tea, chili and onions on my hot dog, and of course, "Bless your little heart". Bless Your Little Pea-Pickin' Heart has a slightly more intimate meaning of course. On some far out occasion there can be a sliver of sarcasm if used just right.

Went to visit friends in Maryland once. We took the boat out on the wuter. They were disgusted when I offered them some boiled peanuts. They eat pecons up there, not pecans.

I once ventured out west and the Montana rancher asked if I wanted a pop. I thought he was gonna hit me. It was just before lunch.

here it is pop, and in Albany it is Soooda.  I went to a patient's room once in NY, and he had two 2-liter bottles of coke and orange ???  I said to him, looks like you got some pop.  he looks at me like I was stupid and said, it is sooda.   :wacky: :uhoh: smiley_smug01 ffsmiley

Doc,

   Where I grew up it was Co-Cola. When you asked for a Co-Cola the vendor would ask what kind you wanted and you'd say "RC or Nehi Grape" or whatever brand and flavor you wanted.

    Dad said when he was a kid anybody getting a car would say they were going to get a new Ford even though it might be a Packard , Dodge or a Chevy. A tissue was always a Kleenex and a refrigerator was a Frigidaire. In the UK people still Hoover the rug.

Quote from: TroyC on March 25, 2024, 09:09:03 AMIn the South, I expect slaw on my BBQ, red BBQ sauce for real south and yellow sauce from the northern south (NC), cold sweet tea, chili and onions on my hot dog, and of course, "Bless your little heart". Bless Your Little Pea-Pickin' Heart has a slightly more intimate meaning of course. On some far out occasion there can be a sliver of sarcasm if used just right.

Went to visit friends in Maryland once. We took the boat out on the wuter. They were disgusted when I offered them some boiled peanuts. They eat pecons up there, not pecans.

I once ventured out west and the Montana rancher asked if I wanted a pop. I thought he was gonna hit me. It was just before lunch.

Yellow mustard-based sauce is a South Carolina thing.  No mustard colored sauce for BBQ here.  I've eaten and cooked BBQ all over our great North State (NC), yellow sauce is the exception not the rule.  The great regional BBQ wars are fought annually here, who wins is a matter of taste - tomato based (central and western NC) or vinegar based (generally east of Raleigh).  It's a love it or hate it thing.  Few people land in the middle.

Here's a little pig I cooked a while back.  We often cook two at a time on our double cooker.  Hardwood roasted/smoked,  my BBQ is Sam Jones style - of the Skylight Inn and Sam Jones BBQ restaurant in Ayden and Winterville, NC respectively.


Sawmilling is important but BBQ is importanter!  ffcool

looks great.

  And I understand BBQ in the south means pork, out west it is beef and up north it may well be chicken.

    I prefer the tomato based and not the vinegar mustard BBQ but just so I don't hurt anybody's feelings I'd probably eat either in a pinch. ffcheesy ffcheesy

Ted, I guess I stand corrected on the sauce. I always thought the mustard sauce was from north of us (Greenville, SC). My friend from here in Florida orders it from somewhere in NC. I don't remember mustard sauce when I was a kid. Guess I land in the middle, I'll take either, with slaw please!

We drink pop here. pepsi_smiley 
If you go to the tavern you get "pop with the foam on top" or "barley pop". smiley_beertoast 

In a pinch you could call it soda-pop, but if you just ask for soda you might get a box of Arm & Hammer. ffcheesy

@TroyC as you probably know BBQ is serious business!  The sauce rivalry is like UNC vs Duke vs NC State, or Alabama vs Auburn, or Oklahoma vs Oklahoma State, or Washington vs Oregon ... you get the picture! 

Here we differentiate

At least around here, the term BBQ is always pork. PERIOD.  It's a noun ffcheesy  It's not an activity/party for cooking burger, dogs, brats or whatever on a charcoal or propane grill.  THAT is a "cookout."  If we are going to host a cookout we might say, "Hey!  y'all come about 5:00 we are going to grill out."  Everyone knows that's burgers and hot dogs.  Or "we are going to the lake Saturday, we'll be grilling out.  Come by and eat!"

BBQ Chicken and BBQ Beef are terms we use to differentiate chicken or beef versus just BBQ (pork).

Chicken usually has a tomato based sweetened sauce and caramelized a bit when cooking  - think Sweet Baby Rays style.  Usually beef has something similar but "doctored" with some pepper (a little heat)  of some kind and maybe some other spices.  I usually make my own sauces - mild and hot.

I have a cousin who is a BBQ judge in Upstate South Carolina.  They fight about sauce too.  The yellow sauce isn't bad, I just don't love it.  My aunt used to make it and I've tried to make some a couple of times. 

Badmouthing somebody's BBQ is almost like badmouthing their mama! Some guys keep a fresh can of whoopatz on the shelf just for that! ffcheesy

It's soda, soda pop, pop, spritz, cola, whatever comes to mind. We're multi-lingual.  ffcheesy

Most of the time it was always just pop around here. I have not bought much in years besides ginger ale once in a blue moon.  :thumbsup:

IMG_20240325_111005805~2.jpg

Keep mine on the shelf also. Hope I never have to use it  ffsmiley

Quote from: Old Greenhorn on March 25, 2024, 08:43:23 AM'ell I'll be, em are pigs!

OSAR  =  no cigar yet. 

Another version:  UCMDucks, MRnotDucks, OSAR,UCMWings, LIBMRDucks

The way I heard it: 
MRDucks... CD ED BD Wings? ffcheesy

and in the BBq sauce war don't forget the Alabama white sauce.

Im not a fan of most white sauces

East TN is deficient on BBQ. I have seen people putting frozen butts on the smoker. Ive been told "I don't have time to rub my meat.

When I moved to TN I lived in a small own of Pulaski, there was a fantastic little drive thru joint near my apartment.
Great pork, Ribs, turkey, ham, and really good sides.

I have had the best Brisket in Texas, good sausages too.

I have gotten ok smoking butts on my Big green Egg.

If you're in Tn try the smoked bologna

@TroyC ffcheesy ffcheesy

 All these regional accents, and I haven't even introduced you all to the Native accent. One thing I don't get about Native accents, is that the myriad of North American Native languages were markedly different, as different as Spanish, Czech, and Finnish, but any Natives I've encountered across the country and ones I've heard on TV in Canada or Alaska sound remarkably similar. 

 We have been watching "Life Below Zero" and then the one Native guy on there sounds like he could be right from my neighborhood. 

 This is a local guy, "The Rez Reporter"😁

https://youtu.be/ssCcQdaSJZI?feature=shared

Quote from: SawyerTed on March 25, 2024, 11:03:42 AM@TroyC as you probably know BBQ is serious business!  The sauce rivalry is like UNC vs Duke vs NC State, or Alabama vs Auburn, or Oklahoma vs Oklahoma State, or Washington vs Oregon ... you get the picture! 

Here we differentiate

At least around here, the term BBQ is always pork. PERIOD.  It's a noun ffcheesy  It's not an activity/party for cooking burger, dogs, brats or whatever on a charcoal or propane grill.  THAT is a "cookout."  If we are going to host a cookout we might say, "Hey!  y'all come about 5:00 we are going to grill out."  Everyone knows that's burgers and hot dogs.  Or "we are going to the lake Saturday, we'll be grilling out.  Come by and eat!"

BBQ Chicken and BBQ Beef are terms we use to differentiate chicken or beef versus just BBQ (pork).

Chicken usually has a tomato based sweetened sauce and caramelized a bit when cooking  - think Sweet Baby Rays style.  Usually beef has something similar but "doctored" with some pepper (a little heat)  of some kind and maybe some other spices.  I usually make my own sauces - mild and hot.

I have a cousin who is a BBQ judge in Upstate South Carolina.  They fight about sauce too.  The yellow sauce isn't bad, I just don't love it.  My aunt used to make it and I've tried to make some a couple of times.

Badmouthing somebody's BBQ is almost like badmouthing their mama! Some guys keep a fresh can of whoopatz on the shelf just for that! ffcheesy

Ted, what you said is spot on! The yellow mustard sauce is more a Columbia, SC and low country preference. I do BBQ chicken with that sauce and it's "smack your mama" good. Pork, my preference is always vinegar based, with the exception being tomato based when finishing ribs. I'm making myself hongry ffcheesy

Quote from: Magicman on March 25, 2024, 01:36:59 PM

Quote from: Old Greenhorn on March 25, 2024, 08:43:23 AM'ell I'll be, em are pigs!

OSAR  =  no cigar yet. 

Another version:  UCMDucks, MRnotDucks, OSAR,UCMWings, LIBMRDucks

OSAR = oh yes they are

BB that guy reminded me of my brother in law. No, wait. All three of them. ffcheesy

OS you are correct Gary.  :thumbsup:

I got a few words out of that video. What's wrong with his mouth? ffcheesy ffcheesy Looks like he's grinding his teeth and talking at the same time. If I went to Jakes I would have to bring a translator with me. ffcheesy