Comments on: An Off-the-Grid Thanksgiving http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2008/11/28/an-off-the-grid-thanksgiving/ Web site and blog for Maria Langer, freelance writer, commercial helicopter pilot, and serious amateur photographer. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:33:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Maria Langer http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2008/11/28/an-off-the-grid-thanksgiving/#comment-2152 Maria Langer Fri, 05 Dec 2008 13:31:33 +0000 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2008/11/28/an-off-the-grid-thanksgiving/#comment-2152 John, what's amazing to me is how people can take an almost pristine area of the high desert and destroy it with ugly mobile homes, shipping container "storage sheds," and Quonset huts. I thought it would be nice to have a lot with a view. What we have now is a great view of other people's cheap crap buildings while exposing our own possessions to the prying eyes of thieves. I think I know your lot. I hope you have better luck back there where it's a bit more private and secluded. Best of luck on your build. John, what’s amazing to me is how people can take an almost pristine area of the high desert and destroy it with ugly mobile homes, shipping container “storage sheds,” and Quonset huts. I thought it would be nice to have a lot with a view. What we have now is a great view of other people’s cheap crap buildings while exposing our own possessions to the prying eyes of thieves.

I think I know your lot. I hope you have better luck back there where it’s a bit more private and secluded. Best of luck on your build.

]]> By: John Capurro http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2008/11/28/an-off-the-grid-thanksgiving/#comment-2151 John Capurro Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:24:26 +0000 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2008/11/28/an-off-the-grid-thanksgiving/#comment-2151 Sorry to hear about the theft. I am your neighbor on the mesa with the other fenced parcel to your left. I constantly look for you, but our timing is always off. We are planning on building soon. Certainly hope this is not a trend. I will keep an eye out. Again, sorry. Sorry to hear about the theft. I am your neighbor on the mesa with the other fenced parcel to your left. I constantly look for you, but our timing is always off. We are planning on building soon. Certainly hope this is not a trend. I will keep an eye out. Again, sorry.

]]> By: Maria Langer http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2008/11/28/an-off-the-grid-thanksgiving/#comment-2150 Maria Langer Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:34:03 +0000 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2008/11/28/an-off-the-grid-thanksgiving/#comment-2150 It was in Hempstead, on Hempstead Turnpike, just west of Hofstra University, where I went to school. I have no idea if it's still there -- I haven't been back since I fled the area in 1984. My downtown Hempstead neighborhood was so bad, none of my friends would visit me at home. They were all worried about their cars getting vandalized while parked in the apartment building's lot. And although there were occasional shootings down the street from where I lived, no one ever bothered me when I walked through the area to or from the LIRR train station. The flaming Christmas tree in the elevator, however, was a bit over the top, even for me. It was in Hempstead, on Hempstead Turnpike, just west of Hofstra University, where I went to school. I have no idea if it’s still there — I haven’t been back since I fled the area in 1984.

My downtown Hempstead neighborhood was so bad, none of my friends would visit me at home. They were all worried about their cars getting vandalized while parked in the apartment building’s lot. And although there were occasional shootings down the street from where I lived, no one ever bothered me when I walked through the area to or from the LIRR train station. The flaming Christmas tree in the elevator, however, was a bit over the top, even for me.

]]> By: Barbara Gavin http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2008/11/28/an-off-the-grid-thanksgiving/#comment-2149 Barbara Gavin Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:45:32 +0000 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2008/11/28/an-off-the-grid-thanksgiving/#comment-2149 1. Great post; always fun to read your personal writing. 2. Kind of a drag that even off-the-grid, you need to be so security conscious. 3. I was brought up in Rockville Centre and I think I know the Jack in the Box you remember. 1. Great post; always fun to read your personal writing.

2. Kind of a drag that even off-the-grid, you need to be so security conscious.

3. I was brought up in Rockville Centre and I think I know the Jack in the Box you remember.

]]> By: Maria Langer http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2008/11/28/an-off-the-grid-thanksgiving/#comment-2148 Maria Langer Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:12:47 +0000 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2008/11/28/an-off-the-grid-thanksgiving/#comment-2148 One was another homeowner on the mesa; the other was probably a hunter. Technically, he was trespassing, as the entrance signs for the "ranch" clearly say "No Trespassing, No Hunting," but there's currently no way to enforce it. (We're working on that.) The police don't seem to think it was a hunter. We're starting to think that it might have been someone who worked for the propane company; he'd have the combination to the gate so he could get in with a ladder. He'd also know, from reading our gas gauge, how seldom we were up there. Until this weekend, we spent only one night there in the past 6 months. But things are different now; we'll go more frequently, our friends on the other side of the mesa will drive by periodically, and we've installed security cameras that take photos when they sense motion. One was another homeowner on the mesa; the other was probably a hunter. Technically, he was trespassing, as the entrance signs for the “ranch” clearly say “No Trespassing, No Hunting,” but there’s currently no way to enforce it. (We’re working on that.) The police don’t seem to think it was a hunter. We’re starting to think that it might have been someone who worked for the propane company; he’d have the combination to the gate so he could get in with a ladder. He’d also know, from reading our gas gauge, how seldom we were up there. Until this weekend, we spent only one night there in the past 6 months. But things are different now; we’ll go more frequently, our friends on the other side of the mesa will drive by periodically, and we’ve installed security cameras that take photos when they sense motion.

]]> By: Bob Lawrence http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2008/11/28/an-off-the-grid-thanksgiving/#comment-2147 Bob Lawrence Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:19:31 +0000 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2008/11/28/an-off-the-grid-thanksgiving/#comment-2147 Hmmm, I wonder if one or both trucks you saw were the thiefs coming back to take the rest of your stuff? You had said that the road wasn't used much. Just a thought. Hmmm, I wonder if one or both trucks you saw were the thiefs coming back to take the rest of your stuff?

You had said that the road wasn’t used much.

Just a thought.

]]> By: Maria Langer http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2008/11/28/an-off-the-grid-thanksgiving/#comment-2146 Maria Langer Sun, 30 Nov 2008 15:05:04 +0000 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2008/11/28/an-off-the-grid-thanksgiving/#comment-2146 It can be idyllic. We saw only 4 trucks drive by -- actually, the same 2 trucks twice -- the whole time we were up here. I've been relatively private about the solar panels for a variety of reasons. We replaced the stolen panel yesterday. The shed's power system is fine. I hope it doesn't happen again. We've installed a handful of security cameras that sense motion and snap photos. If the thief comes back, our next police report will include photos of him. Even if nothing is missing, we'll start prosecuting trespassers. It can be idyllic. We saw only 4 trucks drive by — actually, the same 2 trucks twice — the whole time we were up here.

I’ve been relatively private about the solar panels for a variety of reasons. We replaced the stolen panel yesterday. The shed’s power system is fine. I hope it doesn’t happen again. We’ve installed a handful of security cameras that sense motion and snap photos. If the thief comes back, our next police report will include photos of him. Even if nothing is missing, we’ll start prosecuting trespassers.

]]> By: Bob Lawrence http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2008/11/28/an-off-the-grid-thanksgiving/#comment-2145 Bob Lawrence Sat, 29 Nov 2008 22:58:54 +0000 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2008/11/28/an-off-the-grid-thanksgiving/#comment-2145 Sounds like a great place to leave the world behind. To bad my wife doesn't feel that good about being out away from people. She's ok with me, but doesn't like not having people around to help her if needed. Self-reliance...it's a good thing. Sounds like a great place to leave the world behind.

To bad my wife doesn’t feel that good about being out away from people. She’s ok with me, but doesn’t like not having people around to help her if needed.

Self-reliance…it’s a good thing.

]]> By: Miraz Jordan http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2008/11/28/an-off-the-grid-thanksgiving/#comment-2144 Miraz Jordan Sat, 29 Nov 2008 04:17:46 +0000 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2008/11/28/an-off-the-grid-thanksgiving/#comment-2144 It sounds idyllic. You know, you never did let us know the outcome of the stolen solar panels. Did you get any leads in the search? How has their loss affected your current stay? BTW: I'm so glad you mentioned Jack the dog - I was just thinking about him the other day. It's been a while since you mentioned him. <em>Miraz Jordan's last blog post: <a href="http://knowit.co.nz/2008/11/the-skinny-on-images-in-web-pages-and-email" rel="nofollow">The skinny on images in web pages and email</a></em> It sounds idyllic.

You know, you never did let us know the outcome of the stolen solar panels. Did you get any leads in the search? How has their loss affected your current stay?

BTW: I’m so glad you mentioned Jack the dog – I was just thinking about him the other day. It’s been a while since you mentioned him.

Miraz Jordan’s last blog post: The skinny on images in web pages and email

]]> By: Keith Gill http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2008/11/28/an-off-the-grid-thanksgiving/#comment-2143 Keith Gill Sat, 29 Nov 2008 00:27:29 +0000 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2008/11/28/an-off-the-grid-thanksgiving/#comment-2143 Good writing that left me longing for solitary places , dark nights and natures night sounds. <em>Keith Gill's last blog post: <a href="http://heligypsy.wordpress.com/2008/11/29/i-blog-for-me/" rel="nofollow">I Blog for me</a></em> Good writing that left me longing for solitary places , dark nights and natures night sounds.

Keith Gill’s last blog post: I Blog for me

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