Sad to hear that story, Ernie. As the old saying goes, you can choose your friends but not your family. 

My great-grandfather bought 86 acres in Ulster Country, NY around 1905. He built a stone cabin on it. They lived in Brooklyn and his children went upstate every summer. Same with his grandchildren. When my grandfather died, my father's cousin bought it. Lived there for 60 years. Some family members are buried on the land, and she tended to their graves. She died a few years ago at 97. She didn't want it sold to anyone outside the family so willed it to all of my great-grandfather's descendants. There are 47 of us, what a pain to figure out what to do with it. My first cousins are up there, so they have more of an attachment to the land. More distant cousins are in California & Texas, and they don't care, prefer we sell it.  It's not a farm, just trees and deer.

NYC safety and cleanliness was probably at a low point in the 1970s and early 80s. We had 3 good mayors from '77 to '13 and things got much better. It's declined since then. Still NYC is safer than most large US cities. And as you say, it depends on the neighborhood.

There was a miniseries on ESPN 15 years ago 'The Bronx is Burning'. The main story was the Yankees '77 season, but it was about the '77 mayoral race, the 'Son of Sam' serial killer, a power blackout and lootings that followed. It's a pretty good perspective of what NYC was like back then. If it's on TV or streaming, I recommend it to everyone. Though maybe being from here made more of an impression on me.

Best in the new week everyone,

Paul  

Morning Paul and everyone.  Started raining before I got up so no walk for the pups, supposed to rain

lots today.  inch or two, guess we do have a deficit.  Looks like a real hot week coming, 90 or above.  Your

cousin was smart to my way of thinking, our farm is gone the second generation, less than 10 years after

my dad died.  Someone convinced dad to change his will and that the two that lived on the property would

care for it the best.  Turns out those two were the ones that never separated themselves from parents and

ventured out on their own, which is necessary.  Now the prettiest part of the farm is gone to people good

at talking my brother and his wife up and shooting them a few deer.  A huge profit, around 200k for their

effort.  To me, they got a priceless piece of property, if I had more than 3 days I might have convinced brother

not to let it go.  To me, all that's necessary is for some of your relatives to live there and pay the tax on it.

I can't walk on dad's farm without getting permission from the enemy, don't think they would let me.  They

never had garage sales at their farm down the road but do all the time at dad's.  Also, told brother and his

wife they were going to raise beef cattle there but instead it's used to grow corn for ethanol for gasoline so

thousand gallons of weed killer is sprayed on it every year.  I was there once when they were spraying and they

had wife and kids around the tank where they went back to refill the sprayer, couldn't believe it.

I couldn't bid higher than the outer party, payments would already be $950 a month and would've had to start

taking money from our savings to make that. 

I guess the mayor is like the governor to the people in the city.  I don't think much of mayors because I don't live

in town.  Sounds like they don't stay in office long.  I grew up on dad's farm so feel some attachment to it still.  Did

have to separate ourselves from the farm for decades because of relatives that were not good elements to have

around a family, so that didn't help.

I barely remember that blackout.  We had a smaller one somewhere around 2000, caused by the power authorities

or something like that.  I had started working for a utility company so heard about it for a while. was widespread.

Getting small tasks done here last few days.  Had bought an air filter cartridge for the Subaru last year and changed

it yesterday.  See some ground lug terminals under the filter had corroded so sprayed them and coated them.  Baja

doesn't get that many miles since we retired so stuff like that doesn't go bad as quick. 

No real plans for today either.  Have some projects waiting and some unfinished ones so could get busy on one.

Enjoy the day.

Ernie

Subaru Baja bought 15 years ago when some of us stopped smoking. 

I just want to know how to post a message to this senior group?  I am brand new.  I see a reply button but no button for a new message.  Can you help me, please.  Thank you.  Anthony

Hey Anthony, 

Welcome to the forum. 

I'm happy to help. If you want to post a new message that isn't a reply, just click the Reply button, when the window opens to type your message look at the top of the message box, you'll see it reads To and has a space with the person's name already provided that you're replying too, simply change that name to ALL and your message will no longer post as a reply but as a new message. If I can help with anything else please let me know. 

Have you already quit or have you set a quit date? We're happy to have you joining us on the forum and I look forward to hearing from you again soon. 

Have a great day.  

Anthony:

I want to welcome you to the forum. This place will be your best effort to really get serious about smoking. We have all been where you are today. Quitting smoking is probably one of the most difficult things that I have dealt with my entire life. And I am forever grateful that I found this place when I did.

You have made an important decision to take this first step. Congratulations! It is well worth the effort; you will find genuine and caring people here. We all started in the same place as you. Tired of being a slave to nicotine, life is so much better without worrying about your next cigarette, your health, your pocketbook and most importantly your self-worth.

You are worthy of this change; I only hope you stay with this forum. Post often, don't feel embarrassed if you falter. I have been on this venue for over 4 years, and I can't tell you how many times I failed only to pick myself up and keep going. Everyone has been there for me when I was ready to give it up. It's a wonderful place! Take advantage of everything it has to offer.

Feel free to contact me. I love to support our newbies. It empowers me to help because it keeps me on the right track with my struggle to stay smoke free. It will be one of the most important things you can do for yourself. It has been for me. 

I won't say good luck because it takes much more than luck to pull this off. 

Good day (and many more)

Andrew 

Good morning Anthony, reply just the way you did.

Have a great day.

Ernie

Good morning to everyone:  Your senior forum discussion group is just what I was hoping for:  a community of former smokers who have fought the good fight and are prevailing.  I cannot thank all of you enough.  July 17th is my Quit Date.

Reading the literature on this Website has been hugely helpful for me .  It increased my motivation to take the step to determine a Quit Date and then to actually refrain my putting a cigarette in my mouth.  Knowing that you senior members have been through the trials and tribulations of quitting smoking and still remaining smoke free is very heartening to me.

I have quit many times over the past fifty years that I have been a smoker.  I wish I would have quite permanently but , nonetheless, I am grateful that periodically I have given my lungs a respite.  Sometimes I have quite for several years at a time, but mostly three to six months at a time.  It’s all good.  

Now I am at the age where I definitely feel the deleterious effects of smoking so I need your support to help me make this Quit my FINAL QUIT.  That being said, I continue to marvel at many of you who have posted that even after you have relapsed,  this community helps you get back into the saddle, so to speak.  

My main takeaway right now is the ONE DAY AT A TIME.  That is my motto and mantra for the time being.  Just one hour, one day at a time.  

Thanks to all of you.  And , Andrew and Denim, thank you for your encouraging and welcoming messages to me.  It makes all the difference in the world.  Anthony

Wednesday 6pm

You're welcome!

My mantra today is "I just don't smoke anymore".

Simple but it works for me.

Good day (one at a time),

Andrew

I like that mantra:  I just don’t smoke anymore.  I will use that over the next few days.  My brain needs to hear that!!

Welcome Tony. The literature on the site is good, but if you can't find something, just ask.

Paul