Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[diver64]

My morning….

Not sure if I’ve told you fellas, I’m over this snow

Couple more years and my little one will be outta college (6 years) and it’s time to move south!!!View attachment 1226728

When the wife's kid was finally out of high school we went from the state East of you to NC. Weather is pretty nice. Hasn't snowed in 2 years I think and other than some hot weather a bit in the summer it's not bad. Today it's going to be 70 but that is a little unusual for this time of the year.

 

[MustangMike]

I looked into NC but they have a personal property tax

I'm right on the border with CT. Lots of folks move there for lower property tax only to get hit with Personal Property Tax and Income tax on pensions and even (sometimes) Social Security. It is often like a minefield trying to figure out where taxes are lower overall. Ironically, a teacher in CT has a crappy pension (compared to NY), is taxed on the pension and does not pay into Social Security (pension is in lieu of Social Security).

If I had a choice I'd move to the Dakotas, Montana or maybe Nebraska.

Many places out West look picture post card perfect, but most of them don't have many hardwoods to speak of. I guess I'm a bit spoiled, but I can't imagine not having good hardwoods to cut and burn!

Ironically, the Catskills used to be almost all Hemlock, but when the clear cut it (to tan the leather for the Civil War) hardwoods grew up in their place!

 

[Lee192233]

I'm right on the border with CT. Lots of folks move there for lower property tax only to get hit with Personal Property Tax and Income tax on pensions and even (sometimes) Social Security. It is often like a minefield trying to figure out where taxes are lower overall. Ironically, a teacher in CT has a crappy pension (compared to NY), is taxed on the pension and does not pay into Social Security (pension is in lieu of Social Security).

Many places out West look picture post card perfect, but most of them don't have many hardwoods to speak of. I guess I'm a bit spoiled, but I can't imagine not having good hardwoods to cut and burn!

Ironically, the Catskills used to be almost all Hemlock, but when the clear cut it (to tan the leather for the Civil War) hardwoods grew up in their place!

My main motivation for moving west is the bird hunting opportunities and mile after mile of grassland to explore with my dogs. It would also put me in the center of all the good hunting states.

I would definitely miss all the good hardwoods. Would have to get used to burning cottonwood!

It's the same in Northern WI forests. They used to be predominantly white pine but after it was cleared it the Maple, oak, basswood and aspen grew back.

 

[MechanicMatt]

I should have been more specific on the taxes. I was talking about property taxes. Take Missouri for instance. A customer of mine a few years ago was paying $900 a year for property taxes on his house and 40 acre parcel out in the country. At the same time I was paying $5500 for my house and 3 acres out in the country in Taxachusetts. Our farm next door is right up there with my house. Our woodlot across the street is under chapter 61a which saves us about 80% - 85% on taxes.

I’d LOVE to only be paying $5,500 in property taxes

 

[MechanicMatt]

My main motivation for moving west is the bird hunting opportunities and mile after mile of grassland to explore with my dogs. It would also put me in the center of all the good hunting states.

I would definitely miss all the good hardwoods. Would have to get used to burning cottonwood!

It's the same in Northern WI forests. They used to be predominantly white pine but after it was cleared it the Maple, oak, basswood and aspen grew back.

Pheasant and prairie dogs!!!

Guy could have real fun hunting them all the time!

 

[svk]

Good morning everybody. Random question: is there anywhere that sells OE replacement bolts and nuts for cars? I noticed that the major parts stores like rock auto have all the parts, but they don’t seem to have any of the fasteners.

 

[Lee192233]

Good morning everybody. Random question: is there anywhere that sells OE replacement bolts and nuts for cars? I noticed that the major parts stores like rock auto have all the parts, but they don’t seem to have any of the fasteners.

If we need OE bolts we get them from the dealer. Not sure of an online option.

 

[snobdds]

I'm right on the border with CT. Lots of folks move there for lower property tax only to get hit with Personal Property Tax and Income tax on pensions and even (sometimes) Social Security. It is often like a minefield trying to figure out where taxes are lower overall. Ironically, a teacher in CT has a crappy pension (compared to NY), is taxed on the pension and does not pay into Social Security (pension is in lieu of Social Security).

Many places out West look picture post card perfect, but most of them don't have many hardwoods to speak of. I guess I'm a bit spoiled, but I can't imagine not having good hardwoods to cut and burn!

Ironically, the Catskills used to be almost all Hemlock, but when the clear cut it (to tan the leather for the Civil War) hardwoods grew up in their place!

What are hard woods? Our hard wood is cottonwood.

I have never burned a hard wood in my life.

 

[SimonHS]

What are hard woods? Our hard wood is cottonwood.

I have never burned a hard wood in my life.

https://duffieldtimber.com/the-workbench/timber-trends/hardwood-vs-softwood-what-are-the-differences

 

[JimR]

I looked into NC but they have a personal property tax . My old cars just to register them would be a huge amount it’s based on book value of the vehicle . And you pay the property tax every year . The road use tax is 3% when you first register but that’s a one time fee

That personal property taxes really sucks and is ******** in my opinion. Having that, they can tax you on every single piece of equipment that you own including tractors, attachments and what ever else they deem personal property. That could be a gun collection, boat, camping trailer, motor home, whatever.

 

[JimR]

I’d LOVE to only be paying $5,500 in property taxes

That was a few years ago. It is now over $7K on each house. Our seperate woodlot is only a few hundred. Two years ago they jacked up the woodlot taxes to $2k. We put it in Chapter 61a to fix them.