I need to be less antisocial.

[Altreac]

Welcome back!

Fellow Scarberian here (grew up around Birchmount and Sheppard)!

Thanks

I went to Birchmount Collegiate and managed Birchmount Swimming pool for years, but that's a ways south.
Grew up at Warden and 401, so not far from you.

 

[steveclarkus]

Glad you are back. This is my only social media as well. I’m retired and a year ago we moved to a remote area of South Carolina jamb up against the Blue Ridge. There is a lot more nature than traffic at last. Life is better here - no friends and no obligations. Just my wife, two Schnauzers and me.

 

[Merle]

Ahoy Traveller! What a wonderful opportunity to have met someone you resonate with via the web. Add an introduction to their world in B.C. after an incredible journey across the Country. All at just the right time when you are relatively free and open to change! I too have had a similar experience shortly after leaving the military. My premise was "What would I want to do if money were no object?" Factually it was, but I knew I needed to approach the matter with faith in myself to be able to do whatever I needed to do to carry on and offer my uniqueness to people who would appreciate it. The result was never exactly what I thought it would be, but it became more than I could have imagined!

A part of me envies you. I'd had passing dreams about seeking a home, 1100miles on the road/3 1/2 hrs by air, south of you near Powell River. Now, at 62 that may not happen but the landscape, ocean environment, and small tight communities who live in such places still draw me.

I can imagine the folks working the local fisheries there may become your best smithy partners. I suspect finding and developing durable metals to work and corrosion inhibitors will be a large part of your extended education going forward. And baseball sounds wonderful! I'm looking forward to your posts from 'Northern Exposure!'

 

[Altreac]

Ahoy Traveller! What a wonderful opportunity to have met someone you resonate with via the web. Add an introduction to their world in B.C. after an incredible journey across the Country. All at just the right time when you are relatively free and open to change! I too have had a similar experience shortly after leaving the military. My premise was "What would I want to do if money were no object?" Factually it was, but I knew I needed to approach the matter with faith in myself to be able to do whatever I needed to do to carry on and offer my uniqueness to people who would appreciate it. The result was never exactly what I thought it would be, but it became more than I could have imagined!

A part of me envies you. I'd had passing dreams about seeking a home, 1100miles on the road/3 1/2 hrs by air, south of you near Powell River. Now, at 62 that may not happen but the landscape, ocean environment, and small tight communities who live in such places still draw me.

I can imagine the folks working the local fisheries there may become your best smithy partners. I suspect finding and developing durable metals to work and corrosion inhibitors will be a large part of your extended education going forward. And baseball sounds wonderful! I'm looking forward to your posts from 'Northern Exposure!'

I'm excited for sure. I've had to pick myself up a few times along the way, but I feel like I am somewhere, with someone in a much better situation than I was before. There are going to be challenges, but I like it here.

If you ever find yourself out this way, I'd be happy to assist. I'd be willing to help out anyone from here. I've been back up and down this highway quite a few times already and I'm learning a lot.

 

[NorthernSoul]

Hi & welcome. Enjoyed hearing about your corner of the world.

 

[rbscebu]

Welcome to B&B. I think that most here have some some sort of mental health problem, otherwise we wouldn't be traditional wet shaving .

 

[Music]

Good to have you back and to hear about your travels. I too joined B&B in a time of transition. Definitely a port in a storm. Things are better than ever now. But I’m still pretty antisocial as far as I’m person stuff goes, and need alone time. Those who love you will understand. Sounds beautiful where you are.

 

[Dave himself]

Glad your back i really hope you stick around here more. But just remember we're all just a click of a button away anytime you feel like a chat. B&B is the only kind of social media I use even when i dont feel like talking i can always just browse. I found since ive joined that this place is unlike any forum I belonged to its a brotherhood and like many of us have said we're glad your here brother.

 

[Titleist]

Welcome back to B&B. Like you, I too took a hiatus from all things internet and that includes B&B. Of course for me, losing access to my old email address and then forgetting my login credentials here at B&B didn't help that situation either.

Also like you, I find myself to be a bit of a recluse at times. My profession in my past life before retirement engendered the need for a "lone wolf" mentality. I also served in the Military for 10 years here in the U.S. and still find it difficult to relate to people in public and sometimes online.

What you shared takes a lot of courage and I admire you for that. Thank you for sharing your story with us.

 

[ylekot]

Welcome back! I find myself becoming way more antisocial as I get older. I am glad to hear your life is getting on track to be enjoyable into the future. I am certainly jealous of the salmon!

 

[Altreac]

Welcome to B&B. I think that most here have some some sort of mental health problem, otherwise we wouldn't be traditional wet shaving .

Mental health really is a big thing.
The Acquisition Syndromes that run rampant here, jeez...rofl. (I hear ya, we don't talk about mental health enough and there's still much stigma, but I think I'd rather share than not at this point. I've got a bit of experience at this point).


The weather here has been keeping us inside way more than normal. Plus I'm just healing from a broken toe.

Gotta get back out to the beaches and stuff.


I very much appreciate all of you folks. This really is an awesome community.

 

[Mark Brandon Read]

Welcome back and thanks for your service.
Blacksmithing! Good for you, it's a craft that stretches back to our ancestors fire and iron like hunting speaks to something deep in our psyche. It'll be good for your spirit too! Get an Etsy store and we can all buy something. Anyway good luck and welcome back.

 

[Doc4]

I want to coach baseball here. I got the boys into it and there's limited resources here... But there are diamonds.

Miss working with kids and this place needs it.

You obviously have the drive to help ... and if (as I suspect) you also have the talent to work with kids, you will be a great and appreciated asset to the community.

I wonder about baseball and the local weather, what with rain being the standard operating procedure for Mother Nature out there. But all you need is a glove, and coach has a bat and ball, and you are good to go (unlike some sports that need everyone to have a lot of expensive equipment *cough*hockey*cough*) so that may make things easier.

Definitely, the smaller communities in northern B.C. really need, and really benefit from, people like yourself willing to make a contribution to helping kids do something other than sit in front of the tv or computer.

 

[Altreac]

You obviously have the drive to help ... and if (as I suspect) you also have the talent to work with kids, you will be a great and appreciated asset to the community.

I wonder about baseball and the local weather, what with rain being the standard operating procedure for Mother Nature out there. But all you need is a glove, and coach has a bat and ball, and you are good to go (unlike some sports that need everyone to have a lot of expensive equipment *cough*hockey*cough*) so that may make things easier.

Definitely, the smaller communities in northern B.C. really need, and really benefit from, people like yourself willing to make a contribution to helping kids do something other than sit in front of the tv or computer.

You're not wrong about the rain here...as I sit in a torrential downpour...it is a temperate rainforest. It can rain up to 300 days per year.
But there are adult baseball leagues here that get to play for a time a year. So there is some hope.

I appreciate the kind words.

The cost of baseball definitely doesn't hurt! You can get away with 9 gloves, 1 bat, a few balls and ideally 5 batting helmets and 13-14 kids. 9 in the field and 4-5 rotating at bat.

 

[Tanuki]

Welcome back. I hope all things go well for you and yours, both on Haida Gwaii and here on B&B. I admire the blacksmithing, even if wood is more where I can work and express myself.

I somehow imagine that Haida Gwaii could use a blacksmith. I personally would like to hear more about your work. My nephew took a brief foray down that path. I don't know if he still has an anvil or not. No forge since kids arrived, I'm sure.

Another guy I knew was a Friend of Timberline Lodge and smithed for their restoration and new construction needs. I don't know if he had helpers, but that is where the third hand should come from.

Years back, I had the privilege of getting my sea kayak up to Haida Gwaii (still QCI on the maps then), paddled as far as Ninstints, mainly solo, so I guess I'm a little anti-social at times myself.

 

[thegeneral]

You can donate blood or platelets that will get you some human interaction.

 

[Space_Cadet]

Welcome back, feel yourself at home.

 

[oc_in_fw]

If you are going to fall in with a bunch of guys online, I can't think of a better place than here. We have a bunch of great people (the bad ones get shown the door in short order). I am dipping my toes back in after a hiatus due to some health stuff, too.

 

[Billski]

I don’t have many friends. But I am a Catholic and play cards with some Protestant folks. And B and B is a friendly place .

 

[FarmerTan]

Welcome to B&B. I think that most here have some some sort of mental health problem, otherwise we wouldn't be traditional wet shaving .

You talk like you know me my friend!


I'm a retired psych nurse. I had several clients that I believe were better at coping than I am now.

You show me somebody that sez that they ain't got any mental health issues and I'll show you Jesus the Christ or the biggest liar in the world!