Just stuff

[Bill Jolliff]

I agree wholeheartedly with everything said above about "your stuff", especially your old stuff that has become part of you and not likely to be easily replaced with something else.

I'd like to share my story of my L. L. Bean Maine Guide boots pictured below. I got them 48 years ago this month. They are on their 4th set of lowers replaced by Bean in Maine. The last time the cost was about $40.00 because they had to add some leather to stitch the new rubber bottoms to. They said they probably could not replace the lowers any more. That's OK, I'm 81 and not too likely to wear the bottoms out again but I'll try.

And as an alternative, they offered me a new set of boots at no charge instead of replacing the lowers. Nope, I wanted my old ones.

Those lacings I use are parachute cord. Works good.

A good friend of mine who I did a lot of hunting and fishing with died last month. As a tribute to him and the many times we hunted grouse together, I wore those boots to his memorial service.

Ah, yes, our treasured stuff.

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[Bill Murphy]

The lack of comments about my post has made me change my decision to make my "stuff" available to PGCA posters. I don't think there is enough interest here to make this a good venue to get rid of my excess. Just kidding of course. Watch the obituaries.

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by Bill Murphy

The lack of comments about my post has made me change my decision to make my "stuff" available to PGCA posters. I don't think there is enough interest here to make this a good venue to get rid of my excess.

I don't know about that. As long as your alive and kicking hopefully you still need it.

Besides, avarice is like snowball on top of the hills, once it gets going it will become an avalanche.

[mobirdhunter]

Originally Posted by Bill Murphy

The lack of comments about my post has made me change my decision to make my "stuff" available to PGCA posters. I don't think there is enough interest here to make this a good venue to get rid of my excess.

Hey, Bill,

I just saw this thread and your original post was the most poignant of them all, and reminded me of a my similar plight. I guess I like "stuff" too much, but old (time honored?), cherished possessions have important places in our lives. My wife and I have no children, and we have no close relatives that would understand that a fine old shotgun, or a Filson vest with "patina" was more than something to be sold to make money. I personally don't know any young person who knows what a Parker is or what it's "worth" to me in memories. My mother gave me most of my dad's guns before she died. They are nothing special in the sense of rarity or monetary value, but they are priceless to me. So, like you, I'm not sure what I'll do with my possessions. I have told my wife which guns I'd really like to not be sold off to strangers after I die (assuming I go before she), and I'm hoping that I'll find some young person to whom I might leave them with the understand that they'll pass down to those who might best appreciate them. I remember George Bird Evans writing about his friend, Dr. Norris (who left him his "little Purdey"), and a case to illustrate the value of personal possessions where the man in question set fire to everything because he could not stand the idea of his things being in "profane hands."

Having rambled through all this, I am also reminded that with few exceptions, all of my guns belonged to strangers long before I got them. They are mine now, but maybe they will find hands that will hold them as I have and cherish them as I do.

Getting old is not for the faint of heart. There's no manual or road map. I hope you figure out some way to be at peace with your possessions. Let us know if you do, and may you ponder all of this for many years to come.

[Southpaw]

Mark those look cool and functional and appear to have served you well, and hopefully will continue to be used as intended one way or another. That is dang scary story no matter what the serpent. I don't know what would have been worse you or your wife or the knowledgeable bushman being bitten. You never know when/where lightening will strike so it best to be geared properly for a reason. Just wondering though what type leather is that on the uppers. My boots are same reddish brown bullhide as lower part of your boot. I did know they used different leathers and combinations at one time.

Dean I get your point about the candy ass pretenders that need to tie kerosene rags around their ankles to keep the ants away while wearing their fashionable outdoor gear. But hey that is where the money is and maybe they are dreamers trying to wear in the clothing. I still have a Bean field coat from the 70's that unfortunately out grew. Wanted to replace it with another one a bit larger a long time ago. The new ones are just junk compared to the original. However Bean sells that coat like crazy to the pretenders.

[Big D]

Bill -To salve your wounds, send me anything which will fit me at 6'4, 235.

Also interested in any Chesapeake decoys, and Remington guns

[TxHuntermn]

Bill, I completely noticed your plight! My problem is that I have the same dilemma, although, should I outlast you, I would be happy to be the next “hoarder in line”!

[Dean Romig]

Bill, we were all trying not to appear as gluttonous buzzards circling the soon to be feeding frenzy with raucous shrieking and bickering among us.... In a word, we were trying to be gentlemen. That having been said, please allow me to be first on the pig pile of interested parties. Please give my email address and cell number to the Lovely Linda.





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[chris dawe]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

Bill, we were all trying not to appear as gluttonous buzzards circling the soon to be feeding frenzy with raucous shrieking and bickering among us.... In a word, we were trying to be gentlemen. That having been said, please allow me to be first on the pig pile of interested parties. Please give my email address and cell number to the Lovely Linda.





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What Dean said Bill,hopefully you still have some miles left yet !

[TxHuntermn]

Same leather, the uppers are original and almost 40 years old! They are just faded and worn. The bottoms were replaced about 15 years ago, when gokey said there wasn’t anything to sew the soles to anymore!