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A testament to your equanimity, John. “Freedom” is heard often these days, usually with political seasonings. I was raised hearing older folks joke about being given enough rope to hang themselves. As living today entails greater complexity in planning our lives, being our brothers’ (and sisters’) keeper, your entire skill set is a gift to the process. Bravo.

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Thank you, Gary

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Sep 5Liked by John Lovie

Both interesting and informative. Nicely done John.

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Thanks Chuck!

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Because I live on a small peninsula with steep hillsides rising directly from the Dabob Bay and Hood Canal shoreline, wells and septics and increasing shoreline development - not to mention the threat of clearcut logging on the 240 acres above the shoreline lots - make me an amateur well and water geek. I can easily imagine the ongoing turmoil and trauma all of you went through trying to find solutions that serve people and the health of the sea, land, and future generations. I so admire what you accomplished. I was always told, when struggling with developers, that "the key issue is water," and you've illustrated that, um, well. Thanks for this, John. Keep us posted.

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Thank you, Kirie, and will do.

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Very interesting piece, thanks! We've talked about buying a place in eastern WA but I've got so many questions about water in particular. So many of the lots are either former agricultural land or abutting currently used fields. I wouldn't want to invest in a property without knowing what the water situation will be. Our current situation is enviable, a well in a forested area with (afaik) excellent water, so I'm loath to give that up.

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Thank you, Suzanne. Where in Eastern WA, if I may ask?

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We're kind of flexible, with family all over. Wenatchee is pretty spendy, Moses Lake so arid, and Tri-Cities hasn't much to recommend it other than a Costco. What areas do you like?

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I’m a confirmed west-sider! I like salt water. Interesting to visit Eastern WA, but I haven’t found anywhere I’d want to spend a winter, or a summer! We were just in Richland for a few days. Story coming in a couple of weeks.

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Looking forward to that story! If it were entirely up to me, I'd never leave the lush west side. First time I saw a photo of the sword ferns and moss, I knew it was my place. It's just that our sweet grandkids are in the torrid east, and we miss them.

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Yes, yes. I'm pining for fall, rain, and mist hanging in the trees. We have no grandkids, and our kids are a diaspora. England, Brooklyn, Durango, CO. We escape to somewhere sunny and warm for a few weeks each winter, more for my wife than for me.

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