doublegunshop.com - home Forums Thread Like Summary - Wildly off-topic, seeking Nirvana?

During my enforced convalescence here, I've recently focused on the long-term hunting and fishing options in Michigan's Upper-Peninsula. Two towns have drawn my attention, Marquette and Escanaba.

I've idly looked for years for a place that has both wingshooting and fly fishing for trout (alng with decent healthcare and cultural options) and sadly, none of the now-obvious destinations are attractive to me at this point. It strikes me the "U.P." might offer some options that I hadn't considered. Colorado is still working actively to drive me away (fishing and hunting options here are dwindling IMHO, and my politics are all-wrong for continued life here going forward). Anyway, it helps to look-forward to whatever the next adventure might be (and my bride is a cold-weather girl, so no Florida for us).

Depending on the outcome of this next election, all of this may be moot, but it is good to look forward to our "retirement" years. Right off the top of my list of concerns are the winters up there. Colorado has spoiled us with mild winters for 20-plus years now and I wouldn't expect such a break on the south shore of Lake Superior. The politics of Michigan are also mildly concerning, I'm hearing that the "U.P." is quite conservative but... doesn't Detroit really control things up there? We already have our place in Minnesota, which is fine as it is, but there are no trout there and I miss using my bamboo rods for such things.

We don’t father daughters in our family. You have to go back to the great great grandfather for the last girl. When our daughter-in-law’s routine delivery suddenly became everything but, a very emotional image was seared into my being. It’s of a nurse racing a bed down the hall with a lady OB-GYN up in the bed shouting orders and desperately fighting for a child’s life. In the next moment the whole maternity floor is in motion and other nurses and doctors are running. Because of God’s grace and the incredible and decisive skill of the medical staff at your hometown hospital, I have a sweet little blond headed granddaughter.

Glad you have the surgery out of the way. My experience with the post-surgery opioid based pain meds is the associated constipation can almost be as bad as the pain from the surgery. It's one of those cases where being a regular guy is awesome & way underrated!

Good luck with the recovery, springs a coming & something to look forward to.

More than you know, Stan. Our granddaughter is 6 and lives a few minutes away. I totally relate to the “blessing” part. I see her several days a week.

Plus, my aunt is 97 and still doing pretty well even though she’s in a nursing home. Is she ever grateful that she lived to see another girl. I’m also a very proud Dad because every year our son and wife take a weeks’ vacation to take that little gal (and her two brothers) to visit her out of state.

Our two boys kept up the family tradition and we have four grandsons but a little granddaughter is, well, as you said, “precious.”


Now, as for you, Lloyd, we haven’t really forgotten you or your quest for nirvana (and we assumed you were referring to the popular conception of nirvana and not the Buddhist one.) This little OT side conversation plus the voices of both wisdom and experience that have weighed in here are actually all together pointing you to the right state to choose. And you’ve probably already figured it out. It’s not a state - it’s a state of mind.

As you recuperate and contemplate, you may find that you’ve already arrived.

A good/sad documentary about this is “Rocky Mountain Heist”.



As a former Wyoming resident as well, there are a lot of places that look heavenly compared to Rock Springs. 😉

Wow, it looks like some serious disdain for Conservative values is rearing its' ugly head there!

Actually RUSSIA appears to have a lot more in common with Liberal Left Democrats. They persecute their political enemies, as Democrats have with Trump. Their News Media consists of propaganda. They love censorship. The results of their elections cannot be trusted. They control the masses with brain-washing and Socialism. And they don't want any average citizens to own guns. The major differences are that RUSSIA actually protects its' border, and RUSSIA doesn't willfully expose their children to sexual deviant men who dress in women's clothing.

So I don't think Lloyd will want anything to do with RUSSIA, or any woke DEMOCRAT hell hole either.

Lloyd,
For me the U.P. has offered some great hunting for me, The areas near Escanaba, Ralph, Channing have been very good. The U.P. is a totally different world! Best of luck in your search.
Karl

You don’t have to actually live in da UP eh…. that’s why we built the $100M bridge in 1957. It’s one of the few things we got right.

I live in Alpena. This whole side of the state is cedar swamp. The property values skyrocket west of I-75, so I live in the low rent district.

I can walk to a good hospital. They have a helicopter available for stuff they can’t handle. It’s part of the UM health system. Seriously good.

Many excellent shooting venues in northern Michigan. I belong to 6 clubs within 2 hours drive. 2 in town here.

Sure, we have stoogery in local government, and the taxes are forever increasing. Our state government is sliding toward communism, but by the time that takes full effect, we will both be long gone.

From here the UP is an easy day trip. I had a grouse crash into my garage window a couple years ago, so they are here too.

Come visit the area before you decide. I’m reasonably happy, been a transplant from Oakland County for 18 years. This is better than a big city and still has everything within striking distance.

I fully understand where you're coming from & can relate in many ways. Being as we're in the same age group & live in the same state, I've thought about making a move myself. Every conversation I have with myself comes full circle to the age-old question -- Is the grass truly greener on the other side of the fence?

There are a few basic facts which come into play when considering a major move.

1. No matter where you go--you'll always be considered an outsider pilgrim/immigrant. Here in Colorado, we know all about this in spades as you well know. If you don't have friends or close family where you move, life can be lonely & miserable. You can only fish & hunt so much & the other 99.9% of your time will be spent living your daily life.

2. This is the big one!! You're married and keeping your wife happy is what makes your life comfortable. I'm sure you've had conversations with her about moving, but have you actually listened to her? Before you contemplate making a move to someplace you think will make you happy, you better have a bunch of long serious talks with her about it & truly listen to her, she might go along on the surface, but deep down she might be hating the idea of moving to the boonies in a colder environment compared to where you've lived the last twenty years. Bottom line is: Happy Wife-Happy life!

3. If you're moving because of politics. Forget It!! Politics are everywhere & can change on a dime. There's no hiding from the results of any given election and always remember the populace centers in the big cities have the votes & control the election outcomes.

4. You control your own happiness--it might be wise to make the best of where you're at now and just travel to the places you think of as nirvana. Before you make an expensive anxiety filled move, rent a place where you're contemplating moving to for a few months & see if it really is the nirvana you dreamed of! You might be surprised at the results of that test drive.

Not necessarily accurate unless you are one unpleasant SOB.

The very fact that you fish and hunt means that you will be welcomed with open arms at 99% of the 'Sportsmen's' clubs you will visit. Clubs are always looking for new members and it's easy to make new and lasting friends.

What better way to get to know a new area? I did just that here when I moved.

I've found this to be near universal... I was only unwelcome at one skeet club downstate due to my casual attire and lack of an imported car.

Oh, I don't know. I was up on our new property meeting with contractors to begin from scratch again, building house, barn, shop, and pastures.

It's a journey. I'm looking forward to it.

Dogon:

It would be very hard to be a native Coloradan and watch this state change. I was working for the USGS in Wyoming in 1982 when I came to Colorado for the very first tme and it looked like heaven to me then (I was living in Rock Springs in those days).

We may never fully leave now, but I'll be recreating elsewhere as much as possible from here on out. It is indeed a damn shame.

Russia? They pretend to be friends of nice doubles and other classics, hiding in plain sight. Gotta love their tolerance of diversity.

Elections have consequences.

Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery, Lloyd. The pain meds seem to work a little better if you knock them back with something about 100 proof…

Best,
Ted

Lloyd,
Best wishes for a speedy recovery. Been there and done that! Be sure to stay ahead of the pain with the meds, ask me how I know! The withdraw effects will be better if you reduce the pain pills by breaking them in half, and reducing the amount per day when the pain starts to subside.
It helps also to look forward to next years season at your hunting heaven.
Karl

Well...I survived yet another hospital adventure and am now back home, drinking coffee. I guess there is no such thing as "minor surgery" these days as I was stripped down to nothing (in a surprisingly cold operating theater), wired for sound, equipted with a port (for shots and IV) and drugged to the "n-th" degree. Not sure if they shoved titanium or stainless into me but the "block" they injected behind my knee that was supposed to make this a more painless process didn't last very long and it's sure starting to feel unpleasant. Took my first big pain pill just now so " go drugs go"!

Yeah, the South Platte in Denver is a sorry mess. The homeless encampments blanket it in trash and tents. A sad and desperate place anymore.

Glad to hear the surgery went well, Lloyd. When the pain lessens to the point that you can get by with over the counter pain meds give "combo NSAIDS" a try. My GP advised me years ago that one ibuprofen and one acetaminophen, or a naproxen sodium will work far better than two of any one of those. You can basically choose which two-way combo you want, according to your needs.

Praying for you to have a swift and sure recovery.

You said a mouthful there, it's especially true during the winter. I don't want or mean to offend anyone from Wyoming, but an old adage comes to mind. " The best thing coming out of Rock Springs is I-80"!

Great story, thanks for sharing Randy.

That is my story too, Randy, except for the scare at birth. My aunt was the last girl child born into my family line in 97 years. We had to marry them into the Hillis family until our granddaughter was born in July of 2018. She is now 5 years old and the most precious thing in our lives. Best part is that she only lives 8 miles away. What a blessing!