I've been holding off posting on this thread for a few reasons.
Like Joe said, losing Rob Hogan the way we did when all he was trying to do was make his farm ready for our knap-in was tough to take. I really hate that he wasn't able to see the knap-in on his own property. Rob came to our first knap-in in Burlington and had such a great time that he agreed to allow us to do it on his land a few seconds after we asked. To lose such a good guy & friend is a difficult thing to get over. The world is not a beter place without him.
Though this is hardly the place to discuss my personal life, my wife & I are going through a rough time in our relationship. If things keep going the way they are, I might become single again and may have more free time to devote to things like a knap-in in the future. My work volume has also declined alarmingly, which doesn't give me as much free time or spare money to play with.
Arranging the knap-in takes more time & money than I ever imagined it would. I have lost money on each one of these events. I also have some catching up to do on my deer hunting. Last Fall was the first year I was able to get back into the woods during archery season thanks to a crossbow permit. As much as I love bowhunting, that part of my life had been on hold since the wreck I was in on 4-21-07. I have been working at 3 different places in exchange for hunting rights because I can't afford to pay to lease them. Getting to hunt sweet pieces of private land is worth the time & effort it takes to earn that right.
I approached Dick Bernier last year to see if he wanted to participate or visit the knap-in, but he was dealing with family matters out of state and couldn't make it. I know that the first two knap-ins in Burlington cost him a lot of money too.
I hope you understand my position. I haven't been spending nearly as much knapping or posting here lately, but my life has some seriously pressing needs right now.
Jim