You need a place to live 
I keep repeating that phrase time and time again in my mind. Got to live somewhere, have a place where you get your mail and stay at least part of the time, close enough to work to commute back and forth. And I am blessed with a good job, that despite my complaints in my mind, actually pays quite well. Not that many people do make $100k a year, even if with inflation it doesn’t seem like what it once was. I know, I was studying the public pay records for the many people in my company — and looking at the region’s average wages. And I do good work, I have saved a lot money up, I can afford to buy a house with cash if I want. These are the facts.
I am going to look at that somewhat run-down, abandoned house next to my parents house out in the country Monday morning at 7:30 AM. I didn’t have to call the Realtor or make an appointment to look at it. But I did. It costs me nothing but time, and it’s a good way to learn about one option. I like the size and the price, and the idea of fixing up an old house. It’s right on the highway, which means the constant roar of truck traffic and borders my parents house. But easy commute for living relatively rural. It seems less moldy then my current apartment, and when you consider it’s paid for, much of what I am paying now in rent could go into fixing it up — adding a heat pump, solar power, etc. Big enough to have some livestock, next to my parents house so I could take care of them. But who knows if I can get it in this competitive market. Plus I don’t want to spend the next few days doing paperwork when I could be in the Adirondacks.
And I’m not sure I’m ready to settle down. I am looking forward to my next 5 days in wilderness, come Tuesday. I like being able to get away without animals to feed or property to take care off. Yet, at the same time, it feels so kiddish to be living in same run-down apartment I’ve had since being a researcher, making less then a 1/3rd what I make as a director now. I like riding my mountain bike to work, but how many adults do that? Plus I don’t really want to settle down in New York State, even if it’s where I am now with my job — one that I do damn good work at and are relatively well compensated at. Still, I neither like the options avaliable and I don’t like New York. I really want that off-grid property in a pro-second admendment state. But could I live there for a decade, building my career and skills, before moving on?
I really feel damned if I do, damned if I don’t.
Deck
Yeah, ad revenue!
Well, hopefully my blog ad revenue will continue at the rate it has the past week for the rest of summer. At $50 a week, it might actually pay for good portion of my truck’s camping trip fuel bills this summer. That said, I’ve not been lazy, and actually been updating and re-doing a lot of maps on my blog lately with the latest datasets. Since September 20th, I have made $700 in ad revenue. It makes the sting of paying $530 for three years of the hosting seem much less of a bite. Of course I’ll have a lot less after the tax man bites.
It’s kind of fun getting paid to tell my story, share photos and maps of the places I love. I put a lot of time into the blog, creating new content and developing ideas. And the blog has certainly helped me develop not only my GIS skills but also my data science experience and knowledge which has been key at getting my position in overseeing the Data Services department. I can do so many amazing things with a few lines of code, mostly thanks to skills learned as a blogger. Made some great connections too through the blog.
Friday, putting off heading out of town until Tuesday 
I just wasn’t sure about the weather this evening, and I was like do I need two nights camping in Vermont when I’m heading up north come Tuesday after work through Sunday to beat the heat wave. I am at one level bummed out about not camping this weekend, but this evening looks stormy and wet and it would be a lot of work to pack and unpack for the weekend. Plus my bike broke down again yesterday, only hours after I got it back on the road.
Yesterday was a pretty nice day, 
warm but not super humid. Put the fixed tire back on the bike, I went to Albany Rural Cementary for a ride and to take a second look at Erastus Corning’s grave stone, because I accidentially deleted the previous photos 
I took of the grave. Then I rode home, got refreshed with some kefir and blueberries along with rice and beans, laid back for a minutes and headed out on my way. Then I rode home.
Last night I rode down to Pine Hill Arboretum. 
I was going to go to the bank but forgot my check at home. It was nice there, but buggy. I do wish they also had more of the trees identified for easy knowledge. Still it’s a place of serenity — bar the road noise — I should visit more often, it’s not far from home.
Then I rode out to the Bender Mellon Farm Preserve until a little before dusk. 
Started hearing a louder clicking noise from the front wheel. I thought I had a loose or broken spoke — but when I got home and started checking the tightness of spokes — all seemed good, I was worried I might have a failing wheel bearing. It’s the front wheel, so it’s cheaper to replace if necessary. I didn’t ride into work today, as I didn’t want to damaged things. But coming home tonight, studying the wheel more carefully and watching the rotator spin, I think I might have caused the problem myself — I tried adjusting the wheel and bent spoke myself and I think I just made it even more out of true. I got to go back to the shop and hand over even more money tomorrow. 
It’s a bike, I ride it a lot, it’s cheaper then car repairs I tell myself. Hopefully they’ll have it fixed by Tuesday.
I was going to go out to Vermont this weekend, but with the heat wave coming and my desire to get to the Potholers, I decided against it. I took off Thursday and Friday — Wednesday is also a holiday, so I plan to head north on Tuesday. Originally I planning on going to Stewart Landing and maybe hammock camping there Tuesday or Wednesday, then heading up to the Potholers but I am concern I’ll have work shit to do and need good cell service. 
Better to camp up around Mason Lake for the first two or three nights, then on Thursday or Friday head over to Piseco-Powley for two or three nights. I figure if I’m unreachable come Friday and Saturday, it’s not the end of world, I’m doing the vacation thing and all of the targets 
that need to be cut will be cut and the rest of things can wait or others can do it. I might be talented with the SQL statements and AWK and R but others know how to use computers too. 
I’m going to miss the Save the Pine Bush organizational meeting, at some bar off of New Scotland, but I’d rather be in the wilderness then trying to stay cool in my nasty old apartment.
The house down the road from my parents house is up for sale and I am going to tour with the saleperson. It’s a nice size house wise at under 800 sq feet, but it’s only 4 1/ 2acres and it’s right on the main road, so I’d be sleeping with road noise all of the time. Price is good at $150k cash as is, but it’s need a lot of work I’m told. No moldy carpet which is nice though. They won’t finance it though, the power and water is off and I don’t know about the systems. 
I guess I’m serious that’s things for the home inspector to determine. Not sure if it’s right for me, though I could see adding a heat pump and solar and it might be good as a round out my career in Data Services before leaving New York for good in 13 or 14 years when I hit 45. I’m looking at it before work on Monday at 7:30 AM, probably won’t be able to catch the bus in but I can drive. Maybe my bike can be picked up after work. Plus driving in means I get home a bit earlier, which is good as I need to pack for my five days in wilderness beating the heat. 
I’m really excited about using the rubber tube, floating and swimming in the potholers and going kayaking. 
I’m actually not that serious about the property, more curious, and I want to get the Adirondacks then spend my days in a lawyer offices. But it’s worth a look.
That said, I’m hoping I get my bike back by Tuesday, 
and it can be an option of activities to do up north, although honestly it seems like it’s going to be too hot to do an awful lot of riding. I think it’s more of a weekend to swim and float, maybe do some kayaking. Lots of reading and relaxing, that is when work doesn’t interrupt things. 
At least at the potholers nobdoy can reach me or bother me.
