My shooting range is gone!

Ian

Notorious member
I actually have two lots in a failed 1960s development a few miles east of Los Fresnos, Tx. The county has been threatening foreclosure for decades because the taxes have been in arrears since the mid 1990s when my grandfather died. The place is salt flats with squatters living in wrecks of travel trailers and whatever trash they can scrounge up for shelter. The lots can't even be firmly located because the "roads" have grown over or gradually shifted as people have driven around ruts and mud holes for over half a century. No utilities whatsoever have ever been out in, hence the failure if the development. The area pretty close to Boca Chica.....but nit close enough. What they say about location is true, I wouldn't even pay the $500-something in back taxes to keep it and the county won't foreclose because the property isn't worth the cost of a certified letter and they know it.
 

Petrol & Powder

Well-Known Member
I actually have two lots in a failed 1960s development a few miles east of Los Fresnos, Tx. The county has been threatening foreclosure for decades because the taxes have been in arrears since the mid 1990s when my grandfather died. The place is salt flats with squatters living in wrecks of travel trailers and whatever trash they can scrounge up for shelter. The lots can't even be firmly located because the "roads" have grown over or gradually shifted as people have driven around ruts and mud holes for over half a century. No utilities whatsoever have ever been out in, hence the failure if the development. The area pretty close to Boca Chica.....but nit close enough. What they say about location is true, I wouldn't even pay the $500-something in back taxes to keep it and the county won't foreclose because the property isn't worth the cost of a certified letter and they know it.
Sounds like a perfect opportunity for a settlement between you and the local government.

You give up ownership to land you don't want and avoid liability for what happens on that land.
The local government saves the cost of a legal battle and can then evict the squatters that are surely causing problems in the community.

It's a win-win for everyone.
 
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CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
Marie and I have spent several months researching the numerous 5-acre and 10-acre plots around 29 Palms, Wonder Valley, and further out Amboy Road and over the Sheep Hole Mountains. Most don't have ANY improvements, and while it would cost the earth to get power out to most of them, It is completely legal to shoot out there and you won't be disturbing anyone except the local coyotes, kit foxes, and badgers. One in particular has piqued our interest, price is reasonable, just gotta clear some expired & unrenewed mineral claims dating from the Uranium Rush in the late 40s and 50s. It has test holes that have largely filled up over the years, but otherwise its all unspoiled snake ranch. 200 yard flat zone with a berm at one end. Well-nigh perfect. 12-1/2 acre parcel, all told--2 claims. Location is DESOLATE, 1.5 mile 4x4 jaunt on what's left of a post-war roadbed.
 

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
Sounds like paradise to me, Allen.
Absence of Angelenos counts for much in my world.

For 4 months of the year, fuggetaboutit. Way too hot. 4 months of the year, it is pretty darn cold. The two 2-month periods that bracket those extremes are VERY nice. 8 months of the year, then, it's all right.
 

Charles Graff

Moderator Emeritus
I received a message from a member here seeing my post as a betrayal (his words) of a friend. That is not an accusation I like to hear, so let me give you the details in case others think the same.

I received a text from a family member telling me he had heard about the sale from his barber and wanted to know if it was true. I told him I would check with the owner, which I did. The owner affirmed the sale to me and I told him it was already making the rounds of the barber shops and he said "It is not a secret".

It was after that I made my post. Two days later, a local TV stations reported on the sale and an interview with the manager, also a friend of mine, named Gilbert. Gilbert affirmed the sale to Space-X and said the range and gun store would remain open and two more would be opened as well.

I do not understand how my original post could be construed as a betrayal of a friend. I don't do such things and would not have put up the post if I were not confident that it was OK. As both a lawyer and a clergy person, I know how to keep confidences. I don't like having to explain myself, but neither do I wants folks thinking I betray confidences and friendships. However, it appears that some folks like to read between the lines and put a negative spin on positive things. I am to familiar with human nature to be suprised.
 

Petrol & Powder

Well-Known Member
Marie and I have spent several months researching the numerous 5-acre and 10-acre plots around 29 Palms, Wonder Valley, and further out Amboy Road and over the Sheep Hole Mountains. Most don't have ANY improvements, and while it would cost the earth to get power out to most of them, It is completely legal to shoot out there and you won't be disturbing anyone except the local coyotes, kit foxes, and badgers. One in particular has piqued our interest, price is reasonable, just gotta clear some expired & unrenewed mineral claims dating from the Uranium Rush in the late 40s and 50s. It has test holes that have largely filled up over the years, but otherwise its all unspoiled snake ranch. 200 yard flat zone with a berm at one end. Well-nigh perfect. 12-1/2 acre parcel, all told--2 claims. Location is DESOLATE, 1.5 mile 4x4 jaunt on what's left of a post-war roadbed.
If it is still in California, it isn't far enough away.
 

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
Charles--The biggest problem with online communications is that just about anyone can post just about anything they want without worrying about repercussions for their stated views. In times past, such insensitive remarks would have earned sanctions somewhere between Eyes By Picasso to getting shoved down a desert mineshaft post mortem, which remain abundant in the area under discussion.

The above post is a case in point. He likely has no idea how arrogant, insensitive, and condescending it sounds to a man that lives much of his life in a wheelchair, is in 5th stage kidney failure, and has auto-immune issues that prevent him from taking any COVID vaccination--they are likely to trigger auto-immune responses that have been in remission since 2015, and I will die--and not pleasantly. I have rolled the bones for 18 months in the belief that death is far more certain from the vax than from the Wuhan War Toy.

To sum up--people that do certain things usually have good, sound reasons for doing the things they do. I am on Medicare, but since I only had 5.5 years of quarters in Social Security I have to pay half-rate from Medicare ($407/mo) and an additional $880 for the Medicare supplemental coverage. If I move out-of-state, the premiums more than double--$2,800/month. So there are tangible incentives for staying in this state.

To conclude, if I never hear another sappy, insensitive post about what a pesthole this carjacker's theme park is, I'll be a happy guy. The people that post things like that likely chided East Berliners stuck behind the Wall during the Cold War. We do the best we can with the tools and resources we have, and I doubt that the majority of members here could hack living in Kalifornistan in any case.
 
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Mowgli Terry

Active Member
Our range was out in the boondocks originally. We got an infestation of high priced cracker box housing moving our way. One of the developers built this mess up to the club property line. To me, it's an infestation.

I doubt if this is no more than rumor. The real-estate agents would only show the newly built homes on Sunday evening after dark. I can be on the 22 range and see the back of these houses. We are taking less than 200 yards. I expect if will be a matter of time before club will be forced to move on.
 

Petrol & Powder

Well-Known Member
Al, please forgive me. When you refer to your home state as Kalifornistan and a car jackers paradise, it would seem that you at least recognize the negative aspects of your current location.

Not knowing your medical and financial situation – it would seem logical that once a decision to move was made, that move would be designed to improve your situation as much as possible.

It appears that it is OK for you to call it Kalifornistan but it’s not OK for others to denigrate your home state.
 

Rick H

Well-Known Member
P&P I routinely called my brother an a$$hole growing up. Woe unto most anyone else in school who did the same. A lot had to do with whether they were laughing with him or at him.

When a man describes his desired dreamland, the place he loves and longs for, and you respond as you did.....you were most certainly not laughing with him.
 
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Charles Graff

Moderator Emeritus
Charles--The biggest problem with online communications is that just about anyone can post just about anything they want without worrying about repercussions for their stated views. In times past, such insensitive remarks would have earned sanctions somewhere between Eyes By Picasso to getting shoved down a desert mineshaft post mortem, which remain abundant in the area under discussion.

The above post is a case in point. He likely has no idea how arrogant, insensitive, and condescending it sounds to a man that lives much of his life in a wheelchair, is in 5th stage kidney failure, and has auto-immune issues that prevent him from taking any COVID vaccination--they are likely to trigger auto-immune responses that have been in remission since 2015, and I will die--and not pleasantly. I have rolled the bones for 18 months in the belief that death is far more certain from the vax than from the Wuhan War Toy.

To sum up--people that do certain things usually have good, sound reasons for doing the things they do. I am on Medicare, but since I only had 5.5 years of quarters in Social Security I have to pay half-rate from Medicare ($407/mo) and an additional $880 for the Medicare supplemental coverage. If I move out-of-state, the premiums more than double--$2,800/month. So there are tangible incentives for staying in this state.

To conclude, if I never hear another sappy, insensitive post about what a pesthole this carjacker's theme park is, I'll be a happy guy. The people that post things like that likely chided East Berliners stuck behind the Wall during the Cold War. We do the best we can with the tools and resources we have, and I doubt that the majority of members here could hack living in Kalifornistan in any case.

What you say is very true. People sit at their computers, read limited information, and set about to express themselves in a negative insensitive and hurtful way. They give no thought to the situation of the person they target. I have been known to do that and take ownership. that I am in part. talking about myself.

When we do such things and are called out for doing so, or realize we have done it, people of character take ownership and apologize. It is very hard to do so and that is why it takes character and cojones to do so.

To be certain, humans have a way of justifying to themselves the harmful and hurtful things they do. They do and say hurtful things. forgetting the most basic and foundational rules of human relationships "Do unto others and you would have them do unto you".

I will admit to being very hurt and angry about receiving a PM entitled "Betray a friend very often?", followed by a chiding for making my post on the sale of the shooting range. The anger is on me! That is something I will need to process and discard. However, with God's help. I will do so. I am to close to the end, to carry that burden very far.
 
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Charles Graff

Moderator Emeritus
A word about HOME. Every one of us has a place we call home. It is the vessel that contains both positive and negative memories, but for all of that, it is still home. We will defend it, with the same vigor, as against those who point out the faults in OUR dog.

I came to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas in 1944 and my wife in 1947. We are an ethnic minority (5%) and Spanish is the common language. Many stores we can't do business in English. From time to time, we do experience racism, but mostly not. There are times we gripe and talking about moving north of the Checkpoint back to Texas, but that is only gripe talk.

When we were in grade school, every morning in every class, after the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag, we sang this song:

For we love our Valley home,
way down upon the Rio Grand.
Home of yours and home of mine,
home of the palm trees and the bright sunshine.
For we live in paradise,
where roses bloom at every hand.
For we love our Valley home,
way down upon the Rio Grand.

The Beloved Redhead and I still sing it, still believe it and still live it. Do have have bastante problems? Sure do, but it is after all home.
 
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462

California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
Thank you, Allen!!

Thank you, Rick!!

Thank you Charles!!

I don't have the way with words as you do, but . . .

My wife and I are natives to California's Central Coast. Save the years I was in grade school (parents moved to Washington State) and four years in the Air Force, I've lived here my entire life. We've visited areas of Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Idaho, Utah, and Arizona that seem very inviting, but none are more so than the Central Coast.

California is not perfect -- no place on Earth is -- but my wife and I call the Central Coast home. We have cemetery plots (thank you Dorothy) a short stone throws from the ocean.

And, yes, as I have written in the past, my soul continues to reside in Western Montana.
 

popper

Well-Known Member
Contract farmers are griping about the 4k/acre decent farm land now. Hills don't add any value. Trees reduce it to 2K/acre. Otherwise it is about location.
 

462

California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
462.....I get all warm and fuzzy inside, when I am in the Black Hills.
Being born in the wrong century, another adventure I missed was riding with Custer during his Black Hills expedition.

The drive from Cheyenne to Keystone was a visual treat. Mt. Rushmore was more inspirational than I imagined, and the night lighting was the highlight. The Pactola Reservoir seemed a serene jewel. Deadwood was Deadwood. Rapid City looked inviting.
 

Joshua

Taco Aficionado/Salish Sea Pirate/Part-Time Dragon
I too have roots out here in the West. Six generations in California. The boy makes seven generations on the West Coast.

One of the things I enjoy about this forum is the shared experience of our many members from out West.

I grew up backpacking in the Sierras, water skiing on the Delta, and shooting my 22 rifle next to Uvas creek & the Pajaro River. I grew up pronouncing “Rodeo” the Spanish way because that’s how everyone said it. It was a good place to grow up. Much of my family is still happy there.

We don’t get to choose where our first home was.

It don’t feel nice to see your dog get kicked.

Boomtowns happen. It is the nature of the West. We have been Gold Rushing it out here for a long time. I remember being a boy and collecting cherry and apricot fire wood after they cut down the orchards to build houses. We stayed warm for a long time. The population of our town doubled in just a decade, a regular Silicon Valley bedroom community Boomtown.
 
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