Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
This log boathouse under construction is on
a lake in north Georgia. It is part of a major
new private building project using antique
logs and stone.
was a jewel, but far beyond electricity and the reach of
a well-driller.
They reasoned that the inconveniences would be
minor compared with the beauty of the place. Drink-
ing water came from a neighbor's well. They used a
generator to run machinery and rechargeable batter-
ies to run the stereo and computer. They pumped
creek water to a rooftop tank for utility water. A wood
cookstove helped heat the house, and both the refrig-
erator and summer-use, two-burner stove were
propane. They were very organized, meticulous, and
everything went like clockwork.
And they had several very good years there, while
inflation raced on. Sure, they both had to find work
away from their homestead from time to time, but for
the most part it was good.
Then their goals shifted, as goals will. About the
time they turned 30, they realized there was a lot more
world out there to be experienced, and the shortcom-
ings of their place (and of each other, incidentally)
became evident. Everything they had was tied up in
the house, land, barns, and garden. So leaving meant
selling.
Like most of us, they hoped to find special people
whose likes and tastes would fit the place. Unfortu-
nately, also like most of us, they found these special
people are usually also poor. No one with the money
to buy would consider their 1c-mile ledge-rock road
and creek ford, or their electric-powerless, non-
running-water house.
With a good $100,000 (much of it in labor) tied up
in a unique handcrafted log house with stained-glass
windows and full gas kitchen; horse barn and pig
operation and numerous sheds; fruit orchard and
well-cared-for garden, these people ultimately had to
just about give away the place to someone else who'd
be willing to spend most of his time subsisting. The
inconveniences translated here simply and clearly to
dollars lost.
A dream gone bad. Even if this couple stayed
together and on this land, their needs, values, and
aims had changed; this situation would have grown
worse for them. They now look at the adventure as
seven good years, on which they've each closed the
doors with few regrets.
I know, however, that $50,000 or so apiece from
the place would have made it a better experience to
look back on. Now it will cost much more to do some-
thing like that again, and the capital just isn't there.
I know lots more stories like that. Our own Mis-
souri place, though equipped with heated floor, air-
conditioning, dishwasher, two fireplaces, deck, two
