Epilogue

                                                  It's February 2012 and the Setter's and I have now been on this leg of our journey together for a little over nine year's. The Love Creek English Setter's Mick,Beau ,and Molly stole my heart and changed my life. The experiences we've had together have been incredible. In many way's everything I missed with other dog's in my life I've made up for with them. Most importantly I think I've learned the value of trusting my intuition these past 9 year's. There are just moments that come along in life and you get those feelings that tell you which way to go and when it's not quite clear enough you remember what makes you feel alive and go there.
                                                   The Setter's have taught me much more than I ever will teach them. The process of maturity and how to read individual dog's has been an important experience. Reading your dog and understanding them individually makes a tremendous difference in their development as one size does not fit all. I'm the trainer and always will be so I own all the results and am accountable for the success of our relationship at home and in the field. Keeping it positive and fun is the strategy to happy tails! While running multiple dog's has been a great experience I've been just amazed to watch them as individuals when hunting with them one on one and have learned to work this individual time into our runs. They all love riding shotgun knowing it's just the two of us. Hunting as a team without bells and whistle's is a beautiful thing and with the addition of Garmin Tracking collars has really changed our experience in the field. It's possible to allow the Setter's to hunt unrestricted and not have to worry about losing them on point in heavy cover. Just an amazing innovation when hunting in big country.
                                                   The friends old and new again have enriched our lives and yes there are good people everywhere! I'm glad we've gotten to share these times we've had along the road with all of them. They're priceless. Now is always the right time to reconnect and share today. Especially rewarding has been being able to learn from each other along the way. So much knowledge can't be found anywhere else except passed from one person to another so to get it you've got to spend the time with people.
                                                     Every round I shot on the skeet range or sporting clays course was a great investment as well as having shotguns that fit me well. Over these year's the quality of my experience in the field has improved dramatically due to improved shooting. I would recommend the folks at Ruger for their excellent product and service as well as the crew at Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing both great American Gun companies!
                                                     The great hospitality we were shown along our travels was a real lesson. The kindness and friendship we experienced along the way has had an everlasting impression on me. After working in a business exposed to people at their best and worst everyday on some level it has been a real inspiration to be around the good people we've met and who welcomed us into their home's. There are really good people everywhere! It was truly an inspiration!
                                                     Everything in life revolves around a process or cycle. When the game changes you've got to adjust. This doesn't mean you have to lose anything it just means you have to achieve it using a new strategy. I found I could tip my life upside down then look at it a different way and come out ahead! I'm now enjoying the things I love more than ever but it took the guts to change. The courage to say you know what? There's another way! Then trying it!
                                                      The economics of retirement are a much written and talked about subject and rightly so. But I will say this that faced with the certainty of more uncertainty as the only thing we can really rely on, that living below your means as far as possible is the only and best advice I can give. Living within your means would be the worst. That just gets you even without a plan if things change and change they will. This is a personal and different situation for everyone but I've simply tried to stay the course  keeping what's important to me in my life and done the best I could along the way. Keep it simple are words I live by.
                                                       Living in "Bird Country" is my dream and I know it's not for everybody but we'll be here for a while I expect. The Setter's will turn 10 next year. I had them out the other day running them in Doc's hay field west of town. I just walked along as they stretched their legs casting about. It wasn't long before Mick was honoring a point by Molly along a fence line. I just watched them for a minute before walking in to flush a Rooster just so happy to be here with them. Beau had cast 300 yards to the north  and was working back to the west when he struck a pose. The other pup's headed over with me and froze up as they got closer. They all re-positioned a few times as we worked this moving bird up ahead in the short pasture grass. Finally Mick froze with his head slightly to the right and down.I thought a covey of Hun's maybe. Then I walked up and flushed a hen from in front of his nose! He was glad to have found the bird I could tell. We then turned back to the south under a sunny sky and headed back to town a few miles away." Bird Country" now both a dream and a reality. I definitely think we'll be here for a while....
                                                         That Ladies and Gentleman is the end of book 1. I don't profess to be an expert on any of the subjects written about here but just an average guy who figured out how to live his dream. I hope you enjoyed reading along.