Getting talked down to because of wood heat?

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I've run into this lately, not sure what the deal is?

Ya. I have had people act like I was nuts or just plain foolish because I heat with wood. They might say something like you know they have natural gas for that now. So then I tell them they do not have natural gas that comes out my road yet. And then I tell them that my whole heating bill to heat my 4200 sq.ft house for last winter was about 500 dollars or so. And that was because I bought some wood instead of cutting it all. Then I ask them what they paid to heat their house for the winter. Of course, then they will respond with something like, I'm not going to do all that work to save that little bit of money. Then I asked them how much they paid for their gym membership. It gets quiet, , and then the subject changes.
 
Maybe a misunderstanding or jealousy of whats its like to wear shorts and no shirt in the dead of winter and being comfortable.
 
Why do you have so much wood? Why are you still cutting in the rain/snow,in July heat or January cold? It will rot before you burn it all,you know that dont you? Do you sell it? " Believe me I've heard it all. :rolleyes:

Me: "How much per month does that gym membership cost you? I challenge you to:
1) Arm wrestling contest
2) 50 yard foot race
3) 15 foot climb up nearest tree

They usually shut up or change the subject then.;em
 
I was anti-wood burning until heating oil got to 4$ a gallon, now I love it. My brother said "you have all that wood just going to waste, get a wood stove." So I did.
 
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All I ever get are comments of envy. Not just on the savings by heating with wood, but most everyone have experienced being in a home heated with wood at one time or another and enjoyed the warm comforting heat of a wood stove or fireplace. When the find out that that's all we use to heat the house they are even more impressed.
 
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All I ever get are comments of envy. Not just on the savings by heating with wood, but most everyone have experienced being in a home heated with wood at one time or another and enjoyed the warm comforting heat of a wood stove or fireplace. When the find out that that's all we use to heat the house they are even more impressed.

Yes, I get that as well. Especially when I tell them I heat the house, the garage, and all our hot water with wood. They say, "Really, your water too?" Yes, our hot water too. ;lol
 
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wood burning is a fair bit of work. if you cut your own, its alot more work.

i'm not afraid of hard work - i'd bet no one on this forum is. in fact, it keeps my body strong and my mind free of clutter. i'm 54 years old and i can work men 20 years younger than me to a steaming heap. i solve all my internal issues when i'm in the woods. plus i'm heating my home, keeping my family warm, saving tons of money, reducing my reliance on fossil fuels....but the best reward of all? is the peace and contentment of sitting in front of the fire on a wicked-cold winter night with my beautiful wife and allowing the flames to teach me about gratitude and patience and integrity...the way my ancestors stared into a fire for millions of years. sure beats staring down the boob tube or at some stock portfolio.

but hey, its a free country (for now) and fortunately we can do whatever floats our boat.
 
I'm not sure I get talked down to, but it definitely catches attention when it comes up on conversation. And it's not just wood burning.

Not a lot of people from my generation (age 31) have the same "hobbies" I do: wood burning, gardening, etc...at least not yet.
 
Just ask to see their gas bills.....then show them yours. Haha...People today are lazy and too reliant on the push of a button or the click of a switch. The good thing for us is...the less folks who do burn just means more wood for us to burn...
Right on DZ NO shortage of lazies out there. THe fatter they get, the slower they move.
 
People see it as being archaic and primitive. Anything seen as this is looked down upon, kinda like people look down on "rednecks" when most of these people are some of the most kind people in the world.


fv
 
The good thing for us is...the less folks who do burn just means more wood for us to burn...

Exactly. I'm in no hurry to convert all my friends and family to wood burning. They know me as "that guy", scrounging and wood referrals come to me.
 
One of my friends is a surgeon and a fellow wood burner, its amazing to see a guy in his income bracket out in the woods cutting trees. HE also has gas heat in his house but prefers to provide his own heat source. Very self sufficient fellow.
 
Wood burning stoves are not just for "poor folks" Check out the thread here on heart "who are you and what do you do" Most of us are very accomplished people with higher than average incomes. And ambition.
 
Wood burning stoves are not just for "poor folks" Check out the thread here on heart "who are you and what do you do" Most of us are very accomplished people with higher than average incomes. And ambition.

Exactly. I don't burn because I can't afford it...I do it because I don't LIKE TO afford it...among other reasons.
 
I wish
I'm even impressed with that one,,,,,I wish I could heat our water with wood.
I wish i could generate my own electric with wood. THen id buy a GM volt and do my driving on wood as well.
 
Those people aren't Alaskans. Tell them to move back to Seattle. or Anchorage.
 
I had a telemarketer from, guessing by his accent, India call on behalf of the local utility company National Grid and wanted to confirm that I heat with natural gas. When I reply "No I heat with wood" the telemarketer replied " oh my, well god bless sir". I kinda got the feeling from his tone of voice he felt sorry for me..... I couldn't stop laughing as I told my wife what happened....if that telemarketer only new eh ;)!
 
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One of my friends is a surgeon and a fellow wood burner, its amazing to see a guy in his income bracket out in the woods cutting trees. HE also has gas heat in his house but prefers to provide his own heat source. Very self sufficient fellow.

I'm not sure it's that prudent for a fellow who makes lots of money with his hands to put that in jeopardy. Not being in that position, it's hard for me to pass judgement.
Aren't there clauses, though, in athlete's contracts barring certain off-season activities?
 
I'm not sure it's that prudent for a fellow who makes lots of money with his hands to put that in jeopardy. Not being in that position, it's hard for me to pass judgement.
Aren't there clauses, though, in athlete's contracts barring certain off-season activities?
I told him the same at times,some people are just stubborn and self sufficient at the same time. Some people are just not wired to set around or play golf,they need to get their hands dirty.
 
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