tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2683635484532947257.post2321066548886904715..comments2023-10-26T04:30:05.952-05:00Comments on Alan World: It's a Dry Heat.....O.K. Just a Little Drier.Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02786705388056397346noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2683635484532947257.post-38688189874103765322007-11-05T17:20:00.000-06:002007-11-05T17:20:00.000-06:00And there ya have it. The opposing views with res...And there ya have it. The opposing views with respect to living in Florida. I have mixed feelings about it myself. The cost of living here is outrageous but winters up north are so unbearable. Summers here are hotter than hell and winters up there are colder than "ice"? I couldn't think of a better analogy. I don't want to live in the woods either.Russellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08180119335854545896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2683635484532947257.post-5925626124069438962007-11-05T13:04:00.000-06:002007-11-05T13:04:00.000-06:00It's a bit early to start rubbing it in......Yes, ...It's a bit early to start rubbing it in......<BR/><BR/>Yes, we up here in Michigan are going to experience our first snow of the season. Although it probably won't stick, it's a sign that winter is just around the corner.<BR/><BR/>But unlike South Florida, living up north in the middle of "Amish Acres" is cheap. First, there is no water bill. You just pay for the electricity to pump it up from the ground. There is no mortgage as Grandpa paid it off in the year 1940...all $300. dollars of it. <BR/><BR/>My electric bill is probably hovering on average of $50. month as I use all "green" low watt bulbs and work at night I use minimal electricity.<BR/><BR/>I'm in the process of figuring out how to disconnect from the power grid by installing solar collectors to recharge batteries that will be running my electric needs. I'm typing this message with my computer running on 12 volt battery power with a converter. A Solar panel will soon recharge the battery each day.<BR/><BR/>Yes, I have a lot of time to think out in the middle of the Manistee Forest.<BR/><BR/>Since I don't eat expensive meats and eat mainly at work which is provided for me, my food bill low.<BR/><BR/>As for heat, I use propane (avg $75.month) which I use sparingly and am working on a solar heat exchange system to supplement it. <BR/><BR/>The only other expense is property taxes with I split with my sister who has homestead exemption. (another $50.)<BR/><BR/>I use about $25. in gasoline for the car each week.<BR/><BR/>So that is why I'm choosing to endure the winters up here for now. For $200. per month can I live up here. <BR/><BR/>I have no debt as the sale and profit of my Florida home paid it all off.<BR/><BR/>If I did move to Florida I probably would be giving over 1/2 my salary just for basic living expenses, sky high property taxes, a water bill, high energy costs.<BR/><BR/>I think I'll just join the Canadians on the convoy down I-75 each January 1st. heheAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com