There are a lot of larger towns and cities with restaurants within 15 miles of me, but the best food around comes off my BBQ (Me), or out of my wife's kitchen (I help sometimes). We have a lot of friends and like to entertain small groups. Our nearest small town is only a mile away. It has one blinking light, one gas station, two stores (one with a liquor license) and a few other small businesses. The town would have died out but, many have fled the cities to subdivisions that have grown up around little towns like this.

all good points. selection of nearby restaurants and wine aside, small town proponent as well. towns of 1000, though, aren't they dying out?

Good morning khalling,

No, I live in northern Oakland county. But my birthplace and old family homestead is in Lapeer county. I wouldn't live in a city. I don't enjoy the collectivist environment. The nearest town has less than 1000 residents. Small town America retains some semblance of independence. Everybody knows your name, but they don't think you owe them. You are not just a number.
Regards,
O.A.

.....no.

take the point away and I'll tell you

Why the upper case P?

Yeah...that's why I already posted it to FLotD lol but I'll give you a point anyway...cuz I'm on a mission.

best line of the day, ben!

do you live in LaPeer?

...you're singing my song.

I will never need, nor accept food stamps. :) If an upheaval occurs, I am prepared unless it is protracted. Then I have a plan B if it turns ugly.
Sometimes history surges and other times it drags on. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?

Hello Ben_C,
It is such a shame such a once vibrant, rich, beautiful state has fallen so far at the hands of the collectivists. They are pseudo intellectuals, but I like your line the way it is. :)
regards,
O.A.

It's hard to understand why the rug is getting ripped out from under you for no good reason isn't it? I hate to be a pessimist, but I hold out no real hope that the economy will get better before it gets oh so much worse...after a complete collapse it might then start to get better. My only hope these days is that I'm wrong. Sigh.

Nothing lasts forever. I am stubborn enough to outlast this wave and make one last push. If the economic outlook improves I can make it all back. If only the property values/ market come back I will be able to liquidate and make enough to retire, but it will be a simpler life. That's not all bad. I will be happy in the knowledge that I provided opportunities, training and jobs for many along the way. I long for the opportunity to do it again. Mi, says "Hi" back at you. The wrong people have left the state, but who could blame them... :)

Line of the day Ben_C! (you can see it in the lounge).

I too am a Michigander. I live in a sea of blue in Washtenaw County surrounded by intellectuals without a clue. Glad for the Gulch!

You are right. Not too far from my area... I was a bit closer to Canada...as close as you can get without crossing the river. :) Sorry to hear your business is eating your retirement but you're not alone. As I like to say "WHAT retirement??" My husband just called me, he's out running around trying to find ammo and some guy came up to him and said (pointing to his Who is John Galt shirt), "Ayn Rand huh?" My husband said, "Yep." And the other guy said, "I'm this close to doing that." Meaning Shrugging. It's everywhere! :) Tell MI "Hi" for me.

I am located near the Oakland and Lapeer county line. My heritage is here, as well as a lot of my family. My family name has been around here since before Michigan statehood. My great, great grandfather fought in the civil war. I have many family members across the nation now. I even have an Aunt and Uncle in Phoenix. My business and property values keep me here. Due to economic circumstances in addition to my own desire to starve the beast I am shrugging. I used to have a much larger operation, but every time I turned around they made the return on my increased effort less fruitful, so I downsized my workforce, retaining the assets waiting for better times. I have ridden out many recessions before, but none so severe. Now I can't sell my properties or business for a price that would allow me to live out the remainder of my life without serious hardship. I used to have money, but paying off machinery and assets in order to weather the storm has depleted my nest egg. I now must work beyond the point I thought I would retire. At least I have the Gulch. :)

It was me.... I just wasn't sure how I described the area I was from. The thumb is big. Is that where you are? I have a sister who still lives there...(she's actually visiting me right now), she'd love to get the hell out of there, but she has a good job and doesn't want to start over at her age, but plans on retiring out here in AZ. What holds you there. It's beautiful, but it's broke and broken. I thought I would miss it, but the only thing I miss is the Fall leaves....and all the water sometimes too. We had no way of knowing it at the time but moving out here was the best thing we ever did...on every level.

Clairvoyance. :)
I do believe I remember a post of yours that stated you used to live in the thumb area. Am I mistaken? I know one of the regulars around here said so. I was pretty sure it was you... If it wasn't you then who was it?
Regards,
O.A.

How do you know where my old stomping grounds are? :)

This is how they shut up those who oppose their greedy grabbing. The smear campaign begins with hints at racism, sexism, whatever "ism" will stir up the blind sheeple, the networks jump all over it like vultures on carrion, and that is exactly the result that the obamabots want. They come in and loot with impunity because the people who produce don't want any more bad press, or punitive taxes.

Yes LetsShrug. I am not too far from your old stomping grounds.