Okay, Here we go again. The fire is FINALLY going, I've been messing with it for the last couple of hours, again, wet wood SUCKS for anyone who didn't get that in my previous posts. Here's the cool thing about it, though..I FINALLY got the fire going and that heat feels amazing! I guess in the end that kind of answers all the questions I get from people. You know, the WHY would you ever want to live out in the middle of the woods? Why do I heat exclusively with wood, HOW can I live without cable? (I love that one!) In the end the simple answer is: Because life is real out here. So often people lose track of reality living in the instant gratification, everything is easy world. Let's face it, when was the last time you HAD to build a fire to keep warm or there would be severe consequences? When was the last time taking your kids to the bus stop could result in a life or death situation? It doesn't happen in the 'real' world. People have gotten safe and secure and that's great- to a certain extent. The problem I see with that is that when safety and security are essentially assured, the human animal begins making up conflicts. Things that should seem entirely ridiculous actually become important. I mean, really- Step back for a moment and look objectively at ANY reality TV show on the air. Is there even a tiny little bit of content on there that makes a real difference in your life? Do you really CARE who America's next top model is? Does getting more responsibility and having to work more hours really enrich your life in any way? Probably not. I'm not saying that any of those things are bad or wrong, I'm just saying that you look at life a whole lot differently once they are gone for a while. Don't get me wrong, I'm not proposing that everyone in the world disconnect their power, hunt wild game to exist and sit around a fire in their living room grunting at each other. Hell, I already said before I have power and I have running water and I REALLY don't want to have to live without them. I know now for sure that I could, I just don't want to. I go to the grocery store just like everyone else. I enjoy conveniences. All I'm saying is that a taste of what is REAL in life is a good thing every once in a while. It brings a bit of perspective to have a moose walk through your yard or to have the pipes in your house freeze because you were a moron who forgot to keep wood in the stove. It's an amazing thing to walk 100 yards into your back yard and have all of the veneer of civilization stripped away. to strap on a gun, not so you can feel 'cool' but because you might need it to save your life sometime. I'd highly suggest to anyone to try it, just for a little while. Turn off your furnace and start a fire in your fireplace for a couple of hours on a cold night. Kill the power to your house and live for an evening with nothing but oil lamps.  Go catch a fish, clean it and eat it. If you're feeling REALLY brave do it without using a pole. What the hell, just sit back for a few minutes and make a mental list of all the things in your life that are really conveniences that you have come to think of as necessities. Step away from civilization for a while. get back in touch with real. THAT is why I live in a cabin in the woods in Alaska.