"Tom Sherman" wrote in message
...
Edward Dolan wrote:
[...]
It is strictly a cost thing. My parents let the house go and it is now a
hopeless situation. The only thing I am doing is trying to prevent the
city inspector from condemning the place as uninhabitable. I am in a race
with the house as to who is going to go first, me or it.

This confirms my suspicion that Mr. Dolan could get away without working
much (as he likes to mention) because he inherited property.

The secret to my success is never having married and never spending much
money. I am a saver that would put the rest of you to shame. The only things
I have ever splurged on are some of my recumbents and my stereo gear. You
also must never spend money on houses and cars and other such extravaganzas.
Think poor, live poor and be poor. That is how you avoid work.
[...]

Small towns here in the Upper Midwest are a paradise on this earth and
sooner or later the whole world will want to live here. The only thing
that keeps folks in the cities is their jobs. Otherwise, it is no
contest.

I have the police scanner on all night when I am up and do you know what
all the calls are about. Yup, you guessed it - barking dogs and playing
music too loud. And these very minor problems are taken care of with
dispatch by the police. Sometimes I just can't believe how civilized my
home town is. You should all be so lucky as to live in a small town in
the Upper Midwest.

On the other hand, small Midwestern towns can be socially and
intellectually stifling. (For the record, I lived in or near a small
Wisconsin town for about 10 years) and near a small Illinois town for
about 3 years.)

That is somewhat important when you are young. As you get older it becomes
less and less important. I live mostly in my own mind as is suitable for a
hermit. But even when I lived in New York, I only knew a handful of people.
A social butterfly I never was.

--
Regards,

Ed Dolan - Minnesota