Balsam Swamp is a sprawling state forest that stretches almost 5.5 miles east-west across 4 towns. The area is very rural, and the landscape surrounding the State Forest is predominantly forested. Balsam Swamp State Forest is comprised of a mix of native hardwood forests, hemlock swamps, and conifer plantations. There are no designated recreational trails on the forest, but there is ample opportunity for self-guided day hikes to explore the diversity of habitats represented on this State Forest. Additionally, the western section of Balsam Swamp State Forest is adjacent to Five Streams State Forest to the south.
The main attraction of this forest is Balsam Pond. The impoundment is approximately 152 acres and is a popular destination for fishing and paddle boat sports. Balsam Pond is a warm water fishery that contains a mix of largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, brown bullhead and sunfish. Tiger muskellunge have been stocked in the past with the last stocking occurring in 1995. However, there have been very few reports of anglers catching any of the adult tiger muskies. A shallow gravel boat launch is suitable for launching small fishing boats.
A small rustic camp ground is also located at Balsam Pond. Camping spaces are available at no cost on a first-come, first-serve basis and there is no running water or electricity. A fire ring, outhouse, and picnic table are provided for each camping space. A sign on Balsam-Tyler Road in Pharsalia designates the entrance to the boat launch and camping facility. This is a carry-in carry-out facility. Please do not litter.
The fact is the days have gotten very short, and while the mornings aren’t quite as dark, you have to make the best of the limited daylight. It’s just part of living in the northerly climate.
Having done a lot of reading lately about self improvement, and observing some of the less than positive things I say about myself, I’ve come to realize that I need to start becoming more confident on who I am and all that I have achieved.
If I wasn’t so good at my job, I’d never have such a good paying job in mid-level management, and I wouldn’t have the beautiful view of the mountains from my office I can look out on every day. I wouldn’t be able to afford my nice truck or all the adventures I do. I’m a director, alas maybe one of the most tender foot ones in one of most successful political organizations in the nation. I should never forget that fact. I make above the median wage for the region and not even that bad for many parts of downstate.
My blog is quite famous on its little corner of the internet, I often run into readers of the blog all over the state. Do I have a handful of nasty critics? I do but so is the internet. Even if 95 percent of people like it, there are that five percent who are jerks. Guaranteed everywhere. It’s remarkable how many people I run into that read the blog. I should look at page view logs but I know it’s pretty significant.
I can say my truck is getting old and falling apart but that happens with all vehicles. It’s paid for and it’s mine. I like how it gets me places and I enjoy camping and traveling. Will it last forever? No. But I actually think that the problems with it are repairable and most of the issues are more cosmetic than serious. I really shouldn’t fret much – it’s a nice big jacked up truck. A lot of people drool over having such a big truck.
Likewise my apartment has issues and I’ve been living here for fifteen years now. Things break and wear out – but it’s a rental and ordinary wear and tear is something I’m sure the landlord will address when I move out at some point in the future. Going to need some serious work and I doubt I’ll get my security deposit back but after all these years, I don’t really care. I always have options to move somewhere else.
Many people who make the kind of money that I do probably would have nicer living arrangements. But I’d rather save the money and invest it then waste it on rent. I like having the bus line to get to work and being able to walk down to the library. My goal isn’t a fancy suburbanite house but a simple homestead, with lots of land and no neighbors nearby off-grid. Sure, rent doesn’t get you anything past this month but neither does grocery shopping or buying toilet paper – a necessity but I’m also using the savings to invest.
There are a lot of people actually struggling to make ends meet in our country, legitimately hungry or living paycheck to paycheck. I’m not despite pretending in my head to be struggling. My pantry is bare at times and my meals a mishmash as I either don’t want to spend money so I can meet a savings goal or go to the store. I’m so focused on tomorrow – saving money for my own land and a homestead and for a relatively early retirement so I can live somewhere I’d rather live then my rundown apartment – which honestly isn’t that bad compared to how many people live.
In some ways the simple way I choose to live, my imagined poverty, and my focus on saving and conserving is getting me closer to the world I hope someday, to live in. Savings and investments are growing – I’ve been watching the remarkable growth in recent years. I’ve learned how to live with less, using the bus to get around, no internet or air conditioning, keeping the heat low in the winter.
Now I wish there was a lot of skills that I had – a better fishermen and hunter – and that I had more dirt under my finger nails when it comes to farming and owning my own land. But practice makes perfect. It’s not because I can’t gain such skills but it’s because I’ve never seriously tried to hone them. That said, I have many map making skills – and knowledge of computers and programming that many wish they had as well as I do. But at the same time I wish I knew a lot more, but I’m still learning.
Honestly, I’ve done a lot of good in my life and had a lot of successes. A lot of people look up to me, and I should look up to myself more often. I shouldn’t see the rust on my truck, the mold in my apartment and gray hair on my head, but instead recognize my unique talents and successes in my life. And realize that I am successful, that I do good work, I’ve achieved many life goals and successes and there is much more to achieve in my life.
From time to time when I travel both for pleasure and work, I think about getting a bite to eat at local restaurants. I rarely do and most of the time when I do I end up getting take out. It just seems werid to be sitting alone at a table.
Many dinners have bars that somewhat address that concern. But I’ve never been one for small talk, it seems like to me it would be kind of awkward to discuss with the waitress why I’m there, especially if it’s a work trip. Probably missing out on good food in my travels but it just seems werid to be all alone at a restaurant.
I still like my Gadsen flag. The other day when I was out camping down at Aspah Run in Wellsboro Penna, I was asked about the meaning of the Gadsen flag. I struggled for a bit, but I basically explained it’s about getting the government off our are back. I have long said I’m sympathetic to ideas of the Tea Party – namely that government regulates too much in our lives – but doesn’t regulate big business enough. I am no means a Republican, but I do support libertarian causes, and the right of people to live a life free of government harassment.
FYI. If you have Python installed and you need to decode base64 from an email you got forwarded to you, this may be more able to decode it the base64 that’s part of coreutils.
No more riding home from work. Turning that brass desk lamp on at four o’clock each day, watching as it gets dark outside from my office and coming home to my dark apartment. Cold, long evenings.
