Monday, August 5, 2013

The Joy of Not Working

I just finished a book titled "The Joy of Not Working" by Ernie Zelinski. It's really good. I think I'll read it a couple of more times for all of the information to soak in. It talks about the soul-sucking drudgery of working in today's corporate world and dropping out to live on much less income but more freedom.
I feel that it is applicable to retired people as well. It's a whole book on what to do when you have more of your own time instead of selling it to the highest bidder.
I'm planning on heading out west, next year, and panning for gold. My first place to go will be Happy Camp, California. There is a club named "The New Forty-Niners, there. They own the rights to placer mine on miles of the Klamath River. I'll go there and get trained on dredging for gold. Later, I'll head out on my own and see if I can find gold elsewhere.
I lent the book "The Joy of Not Working" to Gary T. He has trouble with his job and it might encourage him to quit. I also loaned him "Illusions" by Richard Bach. It's a metaphysical book that Gary said was beyond him. He couldn't see how matter could be an illusion since he has believed in it his whole life. I told him to try to dissolve some clouds for himself. Maybe he'll try. I have about a 95% success rate with that.
Jim told me that he would sell his acreage in Harper's Ferry for $25,000. I'll try to buy it. I went by the bank today with some questions about that. I found that they would want 25% down and they asked if it was susceptible to landslides. I told them that I didn't think it was.
He also wanted an appraisal done; I'll have to ask Jim to do that.
I'm going to have to come up with $6000 for the down payment and the closing costs. I think I can come up with it if I sell my etchings.
The advantage of this place is that it fits in with my survivalist thinking. It's near the Mississippi River and I could have a garden and livestock on it as well. It's also good for hunting. I would feel a lot better if I had it; I could also use it as a target range for sighting in my various guns.
The disadvantage is that there would be hidden costs that would come up. Such as: installing a septic system, drilling a well, putting in fences and buying farm implements.
It might not be worth it. I got into the expense of having my own land back in the eighties, in California. I know that it adds up.

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