Am I lucky or just feeling that way

Chad · #1 02/21/13, 11:51 AM

The rent farm equipment thread got me thinking.

My wife and I recently moved into our little homestead in a tiny Northern California community. We know enough to grow a garden and some of the basics, obviously we're always looking for more knowledge which is a big part of our experience. This is part of the reason I spend so much time on this forum, don't post much but read TONS!

So after moving in, I almost immediately struck up a friendship with my neighbor. For me this is a VERY big deal. I am not what you would call a social person. Recluse would be a better way to describe me. However I hit it off with my neighbor right away. Although he is only a few years my elder he was born into ranching and has a tremendous amount of knowledge. For whatever reason, he has sort of taken me under his wing and has been such a huge help to me. He has basically become my mentor.

So the question is. Is this common?

I'm sure this was much more common in the past, but what about today with people removing themselves further and further from each other?

mzgarden · #2 02/21/13, 12:07 PM

I believe you are lucky. I am defining lucky as fortunate and I believe having an experienced person come alongside you, share their knowledge and help you learn makes you fortunate and therefore lucky. As to whether this is common (happens alot), I think that's harder to gauge. There are probably people willing to teach with no one willing to learn and vice versa. That a teacher and a learner paired up naturally -- the very best combination available.

FarmboyBill · #3 02/21/13, 12:37 PM

Yes, it was way more done in the old days. A young guy buy a farm, or rent or lease it, more likely, Whether he was knowledegable, or had all his machinery or what. He was valuable to everybody in the neighborhood as a threshing hand, wood cutting hand, and a for hire corn picker hand. So, Those neighbors he helped tried to do their bit to help him along so that he felt needed and wanted.
Nobody needs thresher hands, or wood cutter hands, or corn piocker hands much anymore. Fact o the matter is, most people dont think they need anybody.
Im pretty much that way myself. Other than cutting wood. HATE THAT

luvrulz · #4 02/21/13, 01:48 PM

Most of the people doing what we're doing are very helpful and informational. We live in small town Kentucky and there are people we call on whenever we have an issue or something happens and we are not sure what to do.... It's very handy and MUCH APPRECIATED, isn't it? Some of that is small town living - some of it is doing what we're doing..... Like minded people attrack like minded people.

Chad · #5 02/21/13, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvrulz

Most of the people doing what we're doing are very helpful and informational. We live in small town Kentucky and there are people we call on whenever we have an issue or something happens and we are not sure what to do.... It's very handy and MUCH APPRECIATED, isn't it? Some of that is small town living - some of it is doing what we're doing..... Like minded people attrack like minded people.

Yes, I should have added in my original post, that I have stressed to him that if he needs ANYTHING to call me first. I am more than happy to repay him in anyway I can. My property has tons of oak that needs to be cleared. Lets just say he will never need firewood as long as I'm around!

Bret · #6 02/21/13, 02:13 PM

So much about being lucky is always thinking that you are. He sees something in you too. You must be a good neighbor also. Good work.

dkhern · #7 02/21/13, 06:58 PM

bassicaly it amounts to being a good neighbor. help and get help. ask questions. last fall i had 4 red oaks that hat died. i dont burn wood. neighbor does i let him know and he cut and bucked into logs i used tractor to pull logs out of woods and once cut to length rolled chunks into bucket and loaded into trailer. prob 10-12 ricks of wood. im 63 hes 40 when something heavy duty comes up he owes me. in a broader sense participate in community activities. the more people you know and the better you blend in the better. lots here are sort of stand offish they have seen people move in and try to change estabilished customs, fail and leave or make averyone angry. you have to overcome the the dumbasses.

cathleenc · #8 02/22/13, 08:58 AM

I think respect for the other person's knowledge and skills and experience goes a LONG way towards creating an open door for help, mentoring, and friendship!

fantasymaker · #9 02/22/13, 09:18 AM

Lots of people dont want their hard won knowledge to die with them and have no one to pass it on to.

Celtichorse · #10 02/22/13, 10:15 AM

We felt very lucky when we moved from WY to NV. Knew nobody and had been told that the locals are unfriendly, rude etc. etc. We ended up with great neighbors and never had any problems. They came over to introduce themselves when we were putting up our horse shelters and fencing. Having similar interests seems to be a good ice breaker and if you don't go barging into a new place assuming you can change the world and listen to what the 'natives' say, you have a much better chance at making friends. It's good to hear that there are still nice people out there and it's great that you found a nice place where you fit it. Some is luck -no doubt - and some is being in the right place at the right time.