who would live here #2

[1fujifilm]

Are you old enough to have a road named after you?

Lake of the Torches Resort Casino
510 Old Abe Road, Lac du Flambeau, WI 54538

Bear

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Scuttle on up and join me.
I don't slow down enough to take pics, gas only for the 850.
If I make it, Harvest can vouch.
Ok, maybe I'll take a few pics.

Bear

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Good, at least I can make it to Crandon then west to Monico, WI and then north to E.R.
Trying to skip the trails east of 3 lakes.

Bear

I made it to Eagle River from Green Bay today.
206 miles.
4.4 hours
14 miles of missed signs and directions near Crandon.
19 850 Renegade 17.7 MPG on the way north, going home tomorrow.

Perfect trails but can see how deep it is and areas where the groomer got stuck and reversed and went forward.
Met a groomer 10 miles south of Laona on the grade that stopped to chainsaw a fell tree, I asked to help and he said ride around me and have a nice ride.

Bear

 

[ICT Sledder]

So I'm generally in the middle group. Okay.

Believe what you need to so that you feel better and keep your world turning.

The next time you're on trail 17 heading north right before the Boston Loc. stop look left. That's me. I'm darn near in the poor house.

Same thing at Sandy. Look for the real log cabin on the point.


I just dont make my daily bread off of tourist and weekend warriors so they really dont matter to me. I'm not saying that all of them aren't good people but it still just doesn't matter.

The poster that said he was being facetious has that right with the luxury of taking any angle he wants in hindsight.

I was being facetious all along too too I guess. Right?

My point is just that if people with their crap generally together economically, like sledders (or ORVers, or skiers, or mountain bikers, or whatever), choose to relocate to the UP that can only be a good thing for the area. No one wants it to become a hip magnet like a smaller Denver or San Fran, but some new blood up there could be a very good thing. Not culturally speaking, but economically. The area is slowly becoming a ghost town.

Sitting around playing Call of Duty all day, in a house five years away from being condemned and demo-ed, driving a car held together by zip ties, isn’t a way forward. Not saying that’s you, but there’s a lot of people up there that it describes.

 

[eagle1]

I made it to Eagle River from Green Bay today.
206 miles.
4.4 hours
14 miles of missed signs and directions near Crandon.
19 850 Renegade 17.7 MPG on the way north, going home tomorrow.

Perfect trails but can see how deep it is and areas where the groomer got stuck and reversed and went forward.
Met a groomer 10 miles south of Laona on the grade that stopped to chainsaw a fell tree, I asked to help and he said ride around me and have a nice ride.

Bear

Nice!!! You riding Sunday at all?? Maybe looking for someone to hook up with.

 

[snobuilder]

I made it to Eagle River from Green Bay today.
206 miles.
4.4 hours
14 miles of missed signs and directions near Crandon.
19 850 Renegade 17.7 MPG on the way north, going home tomorrow.

Perfect trails but can see how deep it is and areas where the groomer got stuck and reversed and went forward.
Met a groomer 10 miles south of Laona on the grade that stopped to chainsaw a fell tree, I asked to help and he said ride around me and have a nice ride.

Bear

Nice,...The NST is a freeway for sure.

 

[jd]

My point is just that if people with their crap generally together economically, like sledders (or ORVers, or skiers, or mountain bikers, or whatever), choose to relocate to the UP that can only be a good thing for the area. No one wants it to become a hip magnet like a smaller Denver or San Fran, but some new blood up there could be a very good thing. Not culturally speaking, but economically. The area is slowly becoming a ghost town.

Because of course everyone knows that more $ = more happiness and that the phrase "money is the root of all evil" is fictitious. Keep moving folks, nothing to see here!

-John

 

[Sandylake]

My point is just that if people with their crap generally together economically, like sledders (or ORVers, or skiers, or mountain bikers, or whatever), choose to relocate to the UP that can only be a good thing for the area. No one wants it to become a hip magnet like a smaller Denver or San Fran, but some new blood up there could be a very good thing. Not culturally speaking, but economically. The area is slowly becoming a ghost town.

Sitting around playing Call of Duty all day, in a house five years away from being condemned and demo-ed, driving a car held together by zip ties, isn’t a way forward. Not saying that’s you, but there’s a lot of people up there that it describes.

There are a lot of bums everywhere that sit around doing a lot of nothing all day and have zero motivation. It's not just here. In urban areas the avoiding those places of decay is much easier because you can just avoid driving through those areas or taking your business elsewhere. You cant do that here. You have to see it if your going to go anywhere.


And I dont know when the last time you've been to San Francisco but it's a mess and hardly a hipster place. It's a dump.
Yes you can mostly avoid those lowly skis row places but dont look around too closely because there is a epidemic of homeless people there. Human feces and discarded hypodermics litter popular areas that aren't places you'd expect to see those kind of things. I know this because I visit my brother-in-law who lives in the hills of Oakland. Speaking of such they are packing their bags. Sick of everything California.

And I guess I dont mind being nutshelled because I have, as a minimum, categorized you.


Alas, we are probably both wrong.

Clearly you're not the guy I saw at the restaurant last year that was crying to the waitress about totaling his buddies new sled he borrowed. That was not the way I wanted to begin my day watching you throw up....so hungover.
And you're not the guys that passed me on 41 north of Baraga ...so ticked because I wasn't going 70. And you're certainly not those guys a month ago that were jackknifed on Sandy Lake Road so you could load the sleds on the Sled-deck with the trailer on. Given what a dog and pony show that was a half of an hour waiting for you wasn't bad and almost worth the free admission.
Likewise, I'm not the guy that lives in a singlewide. The U.P. I know isn't like that at all. I see this area as a place you can't succeed in if you are trailertrash. Likewise anywhere else. You do have to find your niche but you cant be successful if you're some loser...just like anywhere else. And again, we cant hide it here because to get anywhere without the mess of human decay in your face.


Admittedly, there is one thing I get a HUGE kick out of doing especially when I'm out at Sandy Lake. I'm always out there doing some type of manual labor, sawing cordwood or whatever. And I'm dressed in some serious rags while doing it. I just love going to Krupps to get some supplies and a pasty. The looks I get from the tourists is hilarious. The best one and I mean THE BEST ONE was a mom telling her daughter something along the lines of, "see that? That is what happens when you dont get an education...." I couldn't hear everything but mommy was going on and on about it and I got the *the horror* look as I walked out.


And since it's hard to judge a person's demeanor on whether they are being tongue in cheek or whatever. I mostly chuckled writing this.

 

[byr 13]

Think Summer!

now that's funny !!

 

[Hoosier]

There are a lot of bums everywhere that sit around doing a lot of nothing all day and have zero motivation. It's not just here. In urban areas the avoiding those places of decay is much easier because you can just avoid driving through those areas or taking your business elsewhere. You cant do that here. You have to see it if your going to go anywhere.


And I dont know when the last time you've been to San Francisco but it's a mess and hardly a hipster place. It's a dump.
Yes you can mostly avoid those lowly skis row places but dont look around too closely because there is a epidemic of homeless people there. Human feces and discarded hypodermics litter popular areas that aren't places you'd expect to see those kind of things. I know this because I visit my brother-in-law who lives in the hills of Oakland. Speaking of such they are packing their bags. Sick of everything California.

And I guess I dont mind being nutshelled because I have, as a minimum, categorized you.


Alas, we are probably both wrong.

Clearly you're not the guy I saw at the restaurant last year that was crying to the waitress about totaling his buddies new sled he borrowed. That was not the way I wanted to begin my day watching you throw up....so hungover.
And you're not the guys that passed me on 41 north of Baraga ...so ticked because I wasn't going 70. And you're certainly not those guys a month ago that were jackknifed on Sandy Lake Road so you could load the sleds on the Sled-deck with the trailer on. Given what a dog and pony show that was a half of an hour waiting for you wasn't bad and almost worth the free admission.
Likewise, I'm not the guy that lives in a singlewide. The U.P. I know isn't like that at all. I see this area as a place you can't succeed in if you are trailertrash. Likewise anywhere else. You do have to find your niche but you cant be successful if you're some loser...just like anywhere else. And again, we cant hide it here because to get anywhere without the mess of human decay in your face.


Admittedly, there is one thing I get a HUGE kick out of doing especially when I'm out at Sandy Lake. I'm always out there doing some type of manual labor, sawing cordwood or whatever. And I'm dressed in some serious rags while doing it. I just love going to Krupps to get some supplies and a pasty. The looks I get from the tourists is hilarious. The best one and I mean THE BEST ONE was a mom telling her daughter something along the lines of, "see that? That is what happens when you dont get an education...." I couldn't hear everything but mommy was going on and on about it and I got the *the horror* look as I walked out.


And since it's hard to judge a person's demeanor on whether they are being tongue in cheek or whatever. I mostly chuckled writing this.

Enjoy reading about life up der. Thanks for sharing!

 

[ICT Sledder]

Because of course everyone knows that more $ = more happiness and that the phrase "money is the root of all evil" is fictitious. Keep moving folks, nothing to see here!

-John

Really ironic you’d have a problem with my post since people like you relocating up there are EXACTLY who I’m talking about. Money doesn’t solve ills, but at least when people are productive, busy earning income and then spending it, the wheels of society, and everything else that a solid tax base powers, can turn.

Show my post to your local economic development board, or your chamber of commerce, and let me know if they agree or disagree. If I recall, some group like that recently got a grant to advertise and try to attract people to move to the Keweenaw.

Money seems to have built you a pretty nice standard of living up there, John. In Keweenaw context, you’re one of the wealthy.

 

[Cirrus_Driver]

I wasn't going to.....but it's like the "train wreck" you just have to stop, look and gossip about. People sure get sensitive when criticized about living in a less than desirable, low affluent area.
I lived in various locs around Milw in the 70's and 80's. It suited my lifestyle between job commute and social. Did I care if anyone criticized the fact I lived in a "sheet-hole" neighborhood? Heck no....get real.
I drove through Marenesco a couple years back on a UP day trip....and I was literally shocked! It looked like the epitome of poverty, and virtually 10-20 years from a ghost town.

 

[ICT Sledder]

I’m not talking about flooding the place with 1%ers building subdivisions of mansions. I’m just saying that a reasonable influx of middle class folks - say household incomes $70K-$120K - would do wonders. If they each moved into a vacant or dilapidated mine company house, dumped a wad of change into each one, then imagine what say Calumet and Laurium would look like.

I have no idea why that is so provocative. It is an economically depressed area; if somehow it becomes less economically depressed that is a good thing. A rising tide lifts all ships. There are plenty of people who work remotely, independently, and are self-employed (to state the obvious considering the nexus of this site), and that’s who the “move to Keweenaw” campaign is aimed at.

This is maybe the most common sense position I’ve ever had to defend on a forum.

 

[jd]

Really ironic you’d have a problem with my post since people like you relocating up there are EXACTLY who I’m talking about. Money doesn’t solve ills, but at least when people are productive, busy earning income and then spending it, the wheels of society, and everything else that a solid tax base powers, can turn.

Show my post to your local economic development board, or your chamber of commerce, and let me know if they agree or disagree. If I recall, some group like that recently got a grant to advertise and try to attract people to move to the Keweenaw.

Money seems to have built you a pretty nice standard of living up there, John. In Keweenaw context, you’re one of the wealthy.

I'm sorry I struck a nerve. I did not mean to imply I had a problem with your post. I was just stating that for many living up here, money is not the most important thing. That cannot be said for the more heavily populated areas in the country.

Not sure what the comment about the "local economic board" of chamber of commerce is suppose to mean. It is their JOB to try and grow the economy.

As for my standard of living...I will be the first to admit that I am extremely fortunate. However, I do work two jobs (three of you count the radio work/consultation to the school district on weather impacts for closing). I volunteer for 3 organizations. I drive a 16 year old truck, have an 8 year old sled and built my entire house with my own two hands. So I like to think hard work might have had a play in the situation I am in as well.

I also would give up my house, truck, sled and any other monetary things if it meant I got to continue to live up here with my family and community, rather than have to return to where I came from.

I'll spell out my point very clear to you, as you seem to care (either about the folks that live up here or about believing your way of thinking is the only right way)...

People that do not live in the area (and seem to "have their crap together") are many times very quick to pass judgement on the folks that do live here. That is what ticks me off. The person you see apparently not giving a rat's butt about what they wear, the vehicle they drive, the house they live in would give the shirt off their back in a heartbeat to another. No questions asked. No judgement. Those kinds of folks are WAY more appealing to me than someone that does not live in a house 5 years away from being condemned and driving a car held together by zip ties.

Am I saying that everyone that lives up here has no interest in being better off financially? Of course not! However, it is not their #1 priority and that is what I wish the visitors to this area would understand. Folks up here cannot understand why anyone in their right mind would fight through bumper to bumper traffic to get to work, or buy a hamburger. Why they pay more in taxes than we pay in mortgage payments. Why they are so concerned about trying to keep up with the neighbors.

I've lived it both ways and have seen/understand why both happen. Different stroke for different folks. Live and let live. We need to just worry about ourselves and how we treat others.

Sermon over.

-John

PS. My apologies for the rude comment about why I think you seem to care. The lake freezing over always makes me a little edgy for a few days! It was not a nice think for me to say!

 

[winterwarlock]

Sounds like heaven to me!

 

[Sandylake]

Really ironic you’d have a problem with my post since people like you relocating up there are EXACTLY who I’m talking about. Money doesn’t solve ills, but at least when people are productive, busy earning income and then spending it, the wheels of society, and everything else that a solid tax base powers, can turn.

Show my post to your local economic development board, or your chamber of commerce, and let me know if they agree or disagree. If I recall, some group like that recently got a grant to advertise and try to attract people to move to the Keweenaw.

Money seems to have built you a pretty nice standard of living up there, John. In Keweenaw context, you’re one of the wealthy.

But you're really commenting on a select amount of what you see and come into contact with here. I dont hang out with people that work at gas stations or who are waitstaff at restaurants....however my bestie is a chef. And I'm not saying that as trying to come off as a snob, I just dont for whatever reason/not my crowd. But aren't those the people that you mainly come in contact with?

And money is somewhat relative. So another one of my friends is a big shot in the Electical and Computer Engineering program at our local youth brainwashing facility. He lives in a very nice home. He too has been around the world and is not only on cerebral plane that I can hardly imagine (I've never seen a person that can play piano like that, unreal) he makes a very comfortable living. However he has told me that I live in the coolest home he's ever seen and would love to own it.
I ain't rich either but I'm not poor.

So is another friend of mine rich? He lives in Libertyville, I'll. Nice home. Very upscale. He's one of the lead engineers for Chicago area power. Seems like he's always pinching pennies. And is he happy? He would love to live up here but will never as long as hes married.

How about my friend in Puerto Rico? He lives in Palmas Del Mar. He is rich. Ridiculous. But everyone in that community is rich. Is he happy. Heck no. Hes got a wife that is mean as a snake and he skitters around her.
One time when I was there he wanted me to meet his two neighbors. Two brothers from NYC that just sold their financial business, ages 31 and 33, not combined worth- 50 million and retired. They sit around and smoke pot all day and do a lot of nothing. They were talking about maybe going on a safari for something to do and complaining about how dumb they felt when Bloomberg came down and did a broadcast on them were they were made to ride horses down the beach. They felt so stupid.
Again not happy. Stoned immaculate, but not happy...


Me? Not rich. I work my job 5 to 6 days a stretch. Not big money but enough that I can afford to do things even tho i never want to travel more than 100 miles from my base ever again. Lost my faith in a vast part of the rest of the world slowly but surely and even though it sounds like I've restricted myself I am more than happy about how my life is and the choices I've made.

Would I have made more money if I chose to live elsewhere? You bet. But it all comes at a cost.
I use to make a annual pilgrimage to S.F. to visit family. Then we'd drive to L.A., visit some more family and friends before continuing on to Parker Arizona to do some dove hunting. This would always be on the eve of Labor Day.
......you cant imagine how jam packed highway 10 is with people heading to Havasu and you cant imagine how that many $100,000 dollar boats can even exist in L.A.. What a nightmare.


I kind of dig how we are never going to be this huge area of population. The snow, the mosquitos and the geographic location will always limit our population.
But when you see me sitting on my deck or poking at my bonfire take a seat next to me and see how richly happy I am.

 

[snobuilder]

PS. My apologies for the rude comment about why I think you seem to care. The lake freezing over always makes me a little edgy for a few days! It was not a nice think for me to say!

Sounds like someone didn't get their dock out of the lake this fall....LOL

 

[Sandylake]

And John, I gotta come clean about something. Twentysomething years ago I had dinner with you out in Tapiola. Sorry about my now and recently exwife person.
You clearly are a good dude.
If you're ever out at Sandy stop by and byob.

 

[ICT Sledder]

Nm

 

[jakester]

I've been coming up to the U.P. since 1980. Meet many wonderful people . I got to be friends with the Krupps over the years. Sandy, like a few other people that come to this site ,became my U.P. MOM. I miss her . So due my kids. Sandy always had nice things to say about John. I believe That Johns true wealth is his health and family. After having a scare at the start of the new year with a small mole that turned out to be a melanoma, and having a serious surgery at Northwestern a month ago ,thinking that could never happen to me, you realize how important that good health is. I am blessed many people prayed for me. The not knowing results after the surgery for over a week was nerve racking. Tomorrow I get the stitches out of my back and I am hoping to get a few days in up in one my most favorite places,THE U.P.. John not to correct you because you are a special kind of person, but I believe the correct quote is "The LOVE of money is the root of all evil. Someday I would love to find a place to call my own up there. This is a great site, thanks John!

 

[slimcake]

Gosh darned it anyway this is all your fault Polaris Dan!!!!! Shame on you for starting a snow hating thread!! LOL!! I think we all need to take a step back here and thank the lord that we can come on a website and talk about all these first world problems!! I sure am happy with my piece of the pie down here in smallsville SE MN. One stoplight to many in my county. Sled pointed at the back door ready to rip again tonight!! Life is Great!!

 

[ICT Sledder]

I'm sorry I struck a nerve. I did not mean to imply I had a problem with your post. I was just stating that for many living up here, money is not the most important thing. That cannot be said for the more heavily populated areas in the country.

Not sure what the comment about the "local economic board" of chamber of commerce is suppose to mean. It is their JOB to try and grow the economy.

As for my standard of living...I will be the first to admit that I am extremely fortunate. However, I do work two jobs (three of you count the radio work/consultation to the school district on weather impacts for closing). I volunteer for 3 organizations. I drive a 16 year old truck, have an 8 year old sled and built my entire house with my own two hands. So I like to think hard work might have had a play in the situation I am in as well.

I also would give up my house, truck, sled and any other monetary things if it meant I got to continue to live up here with my family and community, rather than have to return to where I came from.

I'll spell out my point very clear to you, as you seem to care (either about the folks that live up here or about believing your way of thinking is the only right way)...

People that do not live in the area (and seem to "have their crap together") are many times very quick to pass judgement on the folks that do live here. That is what ticks me off. The person you see apparently not giving a rat's butt about what they wear, the vehicle they drive, the house they live in would give the shirt off their back in a heartbeat to another. No questions asked. No judgement. Those kinds of folks are WAY more appealing to me than someone that does not live in a house 5 years away from being condemned and driving a car held together by zip ties.

Am I saying that everyone that lives up here has no interest in being better off financially? Of course not! However, it is not their #1 priority and that is what I wish the visitors to this area would understand. Folks up here cannot understand why anyone in their right mind would fight through bumper to bumper traffic to get to work, or buy a hamburger. Why they pay more in taxes than we pay in mortgage payments. Why they are so concerned about trying to keep up with the neighbors.

I've lived it both ways and have seen/understand why both happen. Different stroke for different folks. Live and let live. We need to just worry about ourselves and how we treat others.

Sermon over.

-John

PS. My apologies for the rude comment about why I think you seem to care. The lake freezing over always makes me a little edgy for a few days! It was not a nice think for me to say!

I’m not criticizing you; I want to do exactly what you’ve done (only in my own field of work). I’m sure lots of folks on here can say the same. I’m sure it has been a lot of work, don’t doubt that for a second.

I’m saying you and folks like you are a model for people relocating up there. How to do it right, contribute and improve the community in the process. We’re on the same team.

Where we differ I suppose is the perspective of the poverty. Lots of people in this country of limited means who still take pride in themselves and what limited belongings they have. Keeping paint on their home and the yard mowed is not that expensive.

I’m not advocating for the rat race crowd to move to the UP.