Is it really that bad/good, huh???

[andybuildz]

Originally Posted by NewAgeRedneck

Andy

On a visit to your webpage I couldn't help but notice the glowing Tipi on the edge of the lake, and also below your CD name you say that you renovate Tipis. There's a company located here in Colorado called The Colorado Yurt Company. They specialize in Yurts and Tipis. Might be worth checking out if this appeals to you in any way. While you're still back east, this Yurt building workshop near State College PA might be of interest to you as well. It's coming up in April. Meals are Vegan, but you could probably adhere to your Macrobiotic regimen.

I don't really renovate tipis...I've just always owned one. I was just trying to be cute when I said I renovate tipis...I do however renovate houses.
I've never cared for yurts. I don't particulary find them as attractive. I guess practicaly speaking you get more room in a yurt but then again you get more room in a wood house..lol. I just love the look of the Indian tipi!!! The way it reaches to the sky.
But I appreciate the links you posted non the less.Thank you

[andybuildz]

Originally Posted by Rumblebelly

I recently moved to the Saratoga Springs NY area from Colorado, about 10 months ago. It's not an exact comparison to LI but relatively close. I lived in Fort Collins for 10 years so I'll give an attempt of a balanced view.

I can safely say that the summers are definitely more humid here but I think the temps are a little lower up here than down in LI. It rarely got much higher than the high-80's where I'm at. Colorado can get pretty hot. I'd have to say that the comfort levels between up here and Colorado might be a wash. I personally prefer a little humidity and I enjoy the thunderstorms out here. Less itchy scratchy.

The winters are fairly similar to Colorado but every once in a while you'll get that 60 degree weather in Colorado. Then sometimes you'll get a freak blizzard the next day. The weather out west can be quite unpredictable.

There is more sun there too which causes problems in the summer. It does get brown, fire bans start popping up (meaning campfires too), people scrambling to keep their lawns from dying. However when I visited last August, the landscape seemed a little greener than the previous years. I heard the drought broke and they got more snow this past winter. Maybe the locals can comment on that.

It's a fairly arid climate and the forests along the front range are much different than what you are used to. They are still dry and there are less watery environs to play in. The air is dry and some people develope sinus problems (like my wife who grew up in the Adirondacks). It's still pretty though, but in a different way. The terrain is incredibly rugged and rocky. The mountains are fantastic.

You mentioned strip malls. You will find plenty on the front range as well. Most of the area is relatively new, little tiny frontier downtowns supporting huge suburbs. Oh yeah, someone mentioned the wind...I hated it when the wind kicked up. Especially this time of year it starts to get really bad. It's welcoming in the summer though when it gets hot.

However, I know several people from back east that love Colorado. Also, I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss it out west. It's a nice state and the front range doesn't have that slummy, ghetto look a lot of eastern metro areas have.

There are less really old houses out west. That might affect your biz depending on what you are willing to do. That 1940's house you turned into a Dutch Colonial is damn cool. I think Colorado could use more builders like you. The garbage some guys build is ugly and cheap. The housing market is still decent in Colorado which might help you out. Tipis might be making a comback, I know some people that keep them on their land up in the mountains for hunting/camping purposes. I think your biz would allow to live in the hills if you wanted.

BTW, I know a guy up here that is starting a "green" lumber company. He is harvesting and milling trees cut down in urban areas and turning them into quality building materials and furniture. Let me know if you'd like to speak with him.

Best of luck.

Thanks for an Easterners point of view. Sounds similar to what most people are saying......so it must be true..lol.
Far as harvesting my own wood...around here in NY it ain't gonna happen for me for several reasons. One being I'm not going to get a mill untill I move into a more rural area and also"grading" of lumber is a major issue in most areas so its not really worth making dimensional lumber other than for sheds and decks etc etc. The "timbers" I would intend the mill to be used for would be for a timber frame structure which doesn't need the same grading as 2x4's and the such.
I appreciate the offer though. I've been frequenting a lot of TF and mill forums to enlighten myself along with many books I've been scouring.
Mucho thanks...for the kind words as well
andy