Introduce yourself

**rand** · 11-24-2014, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by slamasha

Hi Rand, just so you know. We are located close by. Were lucky to take the class from Skip in 2004. Where are you planning to build?

You know we are not set on a particular location.We are looking now for different property options.Snohomish county for sure.

**slamasha** · 11-24-2014, 10:34 PM

Originally Posted by rand

You know we are not set on a particular location.We are looking now for different property options.Snohomish county for sure.

Snohomish county is the second after King (pricey, lots of regulations)... Good luck!

**loghousenut** · 11-25-2014, 12:00 AM

Originally Posted by rand

hello Im a new member from everett,wa.I have heard about skip and his classes and methods for years and am planning on taking the class this year so I can one day soon build a log home.To bad I wasnt able to have taken it from skip himself but I am still very excited.

Well ya missed Skip by a few years but you'll be able to shake hands with a bit of his DNA at class. You won't be disappointed. When I took the class I lived in Sultan, but for the last 20 or 30 years I have lived where we get 250 days of nice weather per year instead of 30.

**rand** · 11-25-2014, 03:42 AM

Thats always good he was able to pass it on.I am taking the class in 2015 just cant make the feb one unfortunately.

**StressMan79** · 11-25-2014, 08:23 AM

Lots of members around western Washington. I built 7hrs away, cuz I didn't have 200k for that area.

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**Mofoa** · 11-25-2014, 02:21 PM

Hello Everyone

My name is Ralph. Not entirely sure how I ended up on this site, but I guess it had to do with a video on youtube that caught my attention. Someone had built a log (kit) cabin nearly all by themselves.

Anyhow, after doing some additional online research, I found this site--or maybe it found me. It certainly struck a chord with me. Like most of you, I want out of the rat race.

I have been crunching numbers even before I found this site--or knew anything about the log home idea--to see how I can pay off our current mortgage--28 years to go. (Had enough of the last neighborhood of 12 years--direct neighbors homes/cars burglarized during daylight etc. Cars crashed into houses. You get the idea). As I was saying, I'd have to work at my current job (which pays good but sucks the life out of me) for another 15 years and put an additional $1K per month on top of existing mortgage payment.

I don't know if I can last another 15 years given 1) I really hate my job, and 2) who knows what the future holds in our economy to keep me at my job.

I am saving a good amount of money into 401K--and good news is our home's value has increased--in the event we decide to sell, we have a good chunk of money for some land.

I've read in other posts that California is not ideal for the purpose of building a log home the "Skip" way. That's a downer because I've lived in Northern California all my short 39 years of life and have all family here. Has anyone built a log home in Northern Ca. the Skip way?

I've already planted the seed in the wifes ear about log homes. We've never gone to Vegas, and I just so happened to mention spending V-Day in Vegas...should I have told her about the Training class once we got there--she didn't seem too excited to know what else we might be doing while there.

Though, something might be working, she wants to go to Lake Tahoe during the holidays (company shutdown) and mentioned I can look at log homes there.

Will continue to read up...

All the best,
Ralph

**loghousenut** · 11-25-2014, 02:33 PM

Ralph and Mrs. Ralph... There is hope. Where are you in Northern California and what do you do for a living?

I am just across the border and doing fine. The rat race is still all around me but I am letting the other rats win.

I don't know what you two have planned for the future, but I am building the house that I will die in and leave to my heirs. I don't owe a cent to anyone.

**StressMan79** · 11-25-2014, 02:33 PM

Welcome. N CA will be tough, until it's the state of Jefferson. Using second hand items will likely not be allowed. Consider S OR. LHN seems to like it.

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**Mofoa** · 11-25-2014, 05:58 PM

Hi Loghousenut and StressMan79,

Thank you for the welcome and responses. I'm located 5 hrs south of you, Loghousenut, in the Sacramento Valley. Fortunately for me, I work for an IT company which would allow me to re-locate since I already work remotely.

Future plans is tricky. Short term however, we're looking for our daughter who is in the 8th grade to finish up high school in our area. In the meantime, I am in the learning, planning and saving mode.

Best Regards,
Ralph

**Blondie** · 11-25-2014, 06:26 PM

Ralph,

Welcome to the Log Home Builders' Forum. We are delighted that you have found us. There is a lot for you here. The reason we have difficulty with California is their truly crazy build rules. You can do it but it won't be any fun. We recommend that you seek out a more companionable area to build in. While you work on that one you can take the class and join the dark side of the forum and learn what the world is really all about. Lolol

Blondie

**edkemper** · 11-25-2014, 08:20 PM

Ralph,

First, welcome.

Born in SoCal in 1951. I live in the Sacramento valley from 1983 till February 2012. Had an office across the street from the Capitol.

Now we live and have retired to the righthand side of Southern Oregon. At your age, the left side is probably better. Don't come to my side if you need to work outside your home. Highest unemployment in the state. But consider Oregon. Not far from CA (I'm 30 miles from the CA border) and glad I went over that line. We actually have 4 seasons here. The sickest thing you'd notice in Oregon . . . everyone smiles and are all nice. Even at the DMV and city hall. Plus land and building fees are cheaper and the building departments are much easier and friendlier to work with.

On my side, almost all streets at 35mph except downtown (8 minutes away), it's 20mph. Really, and they drive that speed. Coming from Sacto, you'll find that hard to believe.

If you go up 5, stop and visit Log Home Nut. If you take a more rural trip north (Highway 97 north), stop by, we'll buy you a cup of coffee and share the area.

But take the class. You'll never regret it no matter what you end up doing.

**rockinlog** · 11-25-2014, 08:48 PM

welcome ralph! your gonna love the site and the people enjoy!

**loghousenut** · 11-25-2014, 08:54 PM

Hey Ralph, Look around you. If you want the daughter to grow up like that, maybe that is where you belong. If you want her to grow up like something else, maybe it is time for a change.

I wish I could live where I want to and work by phone line... I probably wouldn't live in this Hellhole called southern Oregon.

OK, maybe I'd stay here but I'd earn California wages if I had the chance.

**Mofoa** · 11-26-2014, 06:57 AM

Hello Blondie, edkemper and rockinlog,

Thanks for the welcome. I will take your advice and consider other states.

Loghousenut--I hear you what you're saying. Although, my daughter is doing very good at school,as a teachers aid, and teachers enjoy her participation in class from the random emails we have read from them. We've moved closer to her school to give her a better education. Truth is, I drive her to school two cities over each day for this better education for her. It's our routine, so it normal to us now. She's surrounded by a good group of people. Just like our oldest had done before her.

Will keep reading, and thanks again for all the warm welcomes

All the best,
Ralph

**Mosseyme** · 11-26-2014, 08:46 AM

On what LHN is saying. A friend of ours a long time ago living in Orlando, often talked about moving out of the city to a more rural area. The kids were all for it. They kept talking and not doing, then oldest daughter hit 13. Going to a very good private school. When they talked about moving out of the city she had a fit. Not going to leave her friends! Daddy the pediatrician quickly put his practice up for sale and packed up the family and moved to the mountains of N Ga! He was never sorry. When the kid started locking into the city life he felt if he did not get her out now the dream would be gone. Daughter grew up keeping her feet on the ground now a Dr. and moved her own family back to a rural setting and set up practice.
From personal experience. If you want to have the grandkids anywhere close it might be good to be in the area you hope to settle in while the kids might still learn to think of it as home.
I am not trying to say you can't raise kids well in a city, but there are a lot of challenges that might be easier out of the city.
Welcome to the family.

**Mofoa** · 11-26-2014, 12:47 PM

Hello Mosseyme - Thanks for the response. Points all well taken

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Perhaps my first step is to take the class. Working on it!

Best regards,
Ralph

**edkemper** · 11-26-2014, 06:48 PM

I'd also like to add the comfort and hope we now enjoy living in a place where the number of murders in a year are about equal to the number of murders in a month, or a week or a weekend in places where I used to live.

To see people strolling together down the streets day and night. To see children walking down the streets, often enough, alone and safe. To have cops living in every neighborhood. Where neighbors still help neighbors, just because we know them.

I guess living in Southern Oregon for such a short time has already tainted me. Smile

**bklynscottloehr** · 11-27-2014, 09:40 PM

Hi Steve- I went to the class in Vegas in August of 2012, (I think) and have been foaming at the mouth to build ever since! My wife and I finally made the move to the mountains of western north carolina back in July of this year to find land and start building asap. Things never happen quite as fast as planned, but we're optimistic it won't be too long. Thanks for an incredible class. It can be a bit intimidating jumping into talk on this forum with all these seasoned builders, but I'm confident that once I start my own project I'll be able to compete. But sometimes I have to wonder, when they spend so much time chatting online how do they have time to do any building??!

**loghousenut** · 11-27-2014, 10:32 PM

I spend a bit of time online chatting and I seem to be moving along just fine with my... Sorry, I don't have time for this... Back to building.

Good luck on your place in a timely manner.

**panderson03** · 11-28-2014, 05:57 AM

Originally Posted by bklynscottloehr

.... But sometimes I have to wonder, when they spend so much time chatting online how do they have time to do any building??!

building is such an intense experience; both physically and mentally exhausting (for us, anyway) that jumping on line and doing some chatting is a welcome diversion.

for us, building is very time-intensive. sometimes while we make slow progress each day, its hard for us to see that the project IS moving forward.
its nice to weigh in on this forum where some folks are just in the beginning phases. it helps us realize how far we've come.

its also helpful for us to hear from folks who started their build and have come out the other side, happily living the dream. it gives us hope.

I think we still have 3 years of building left til we can say we're done and can sit back and just enjoy!

gald your dream is still alive and welll, bklynscottloehr

great that you've found land where you want to live!

**mountainguide** · 11-28-2014, 06:24 AM

Hello All
My name is Tim and I am attending the Feb 2015 class. So glad I found this. Had a cabin once upon a time built butt and pass style (didn't know it at the time) and always wondered how they built that. Now I am going to find out. This has been a life long (47 years) quest to be able to build a log home/cabin. I just recently closed on a beautiful 5 acre parcel on a river in Eastern WA. The most beautiful place in the world. Fly fishing right out my front door and snow cap mountains all around me. A dream coming true. I was a guide/packer for a number of years, living off horseback sleeping in wall tents and sometimes no tent. To have this skill of building a solid log structure is priceless. This is truly my retirement home. I live in Arizona at the moment but from WA area as of 3 years ago. I miss the mountains too much and I don't really like what's happening and evolving in the metropolitan areas in society. Nothing bad or crazy, just not for me. Anyways, nice meeting you all!!

**wannabuild** · 11-28-2014, 07:16 AM

Hi Tim, sounds like a nice piece of property you bought your self...Congrats
The Wife and myself are just now working on a 5 acre parcel.
See you in Feb.
Eric

**panderson03** · 11-28-2014, 07:31 AM

glad you found us, Moutainguide

we're building our retirement place too! welcome home

**rockinlog** · 11-28-2014, 08:44 AM

Originally Posted by mountainguide

Hello All
My name is Tim and I am attending the Feb 2015 class. So glad I found this. Had a cabin once upon a time built butt and pass style (didn't know it at the time) and always wondered how they built that. Now I am going to find out. This has been a life long (47 years) quest to be able to build a log home/cabin. I just recently closed on a beautiful 5 acre parcel on a river in Eastern WA. The most beautiful place in the world. Fly fishing right out my front door and snow cap mountains all around me. A dream coming true. I was a guide/packer for a number of years, living off horseback sleeping in wall tents and sometimes no tent. To have this skill of building a solid log structure is priceless. This is truly my retirement home. I live in Arizona at the moment but from WA area as of 3 years ago. I miss the mountains too much and I don't really like what's happening and evolving in the metropolitan areas in society. Nothing bad or crazy, just not for me. Anyways, nice meeting you all!!

hey tim! i plan on going to the feb class too and have been looking at land in eastern wash. for awhile im curious may i ask where approximately is this paradise and are there other parcels available lol it is beautiful in that part of washington isn't it!