After spending close to 10 hours this past weekend cutting, hauling, splitting, and stacking firewood, I got to thinking if I was insane or not. It's hard work. My back aches.

You've probably seen it before, where someone has totaled the costs of cutting wood vs. burning gas or oil to heat a home. Truck and bed liner to haul, chain saw and accessories, plus gas and oil (for both the saw and truck), new or sharpened chains, splitter (although I split by hand), wood shed, wood stove, chimney liner and annual "sweep", etc., etc. My electric bill is doubled from the furnace fan going 24/7 in the winter.

I never added it all up--for good reasons--but I bet it comes out over $500, probably closer to $1000 per year. Maybe not.

But I figure it would cost me over $3000 to heat my house with fossil fuels or coal generated electricity. It's one tenth that cost now (mostly due to my 2 weeks in Florida).

So let's say I save $2000 a year by burning wood. In the over 30 years (34) I've been doing it, I'm well over 60 grand in the black! I look at it this way: I put 3 kids through college with the savings. Now, it's for me--for whatever.

Besides, I actually enjoy cutting wood. It's a "manly" activity. The woods is a nice get-away. The physical part is good exercise (one reason I split by hand). It's a good retirement "hobby". Sure, I could afford to quit. But, like a nicotine habit, it's hard to give it up. And I love the smell of firewood burning. I just hope I don't burn the house down!

Now, where's the ibuprofin?