Tom Owen:  

PHS was that a long time ago or yesterday. Something to consider while sipping some semi locally distilled spirits. After a shot at SBVC I went to work for the Federal Govt. They provided me with room & board, clothes, and travel. While in their employ I was provided free transportation to foreign lands and met some very interesting indigenous folks. I was provided with free helicopter rides, nightly light shows, camping in the great out doors in a tropical climate, and miles and miles of hiking trails. Returning to the States in July of 69 after 19 months abroad. was a real eye opener. In camp we had two tapes. The Kinks Greatest Hits and Cheap Thrills. My older brother took me to a concert to see two groups I had never heard of. Jethro Tull and Led Zepplin. You could have Knocked me over with a feather. There was an uneasyness being surrounded by a whole lot of people I didn't know. Soon the lights went down and the San Diego Sports Arena erupted.. What I witnessed over the next few hours was totally beyond imagination just 10 days before.. In addition to what was happening on stage, there was this moving, gyrating, jumping up and down mass of tie dyed. Faded jeans or bell bottoms with hurache sandals completed what I came to recognize as urban camo. No one really saw you if you looked like everyone else. For the next three and a half years I tried my hand at a few things. Tending bar in the beach community of Ocean Beach was a unique opportunity for someone who had been out of touch for three years. I took it upon myself to catch up. Playing catch up can be a just a little rough on a persons physical being. ( fun though). From there I went to work in a camera room. This was after going to school at the Eastman Kodak Center in Rochester New York. It was not a profession that I could get to excited about so after about two years I got divorced, sold everything, paid off all outstanding debts packed up what was left in an old pickup truck and moved to Oregon .with my last $300 dollars. Let the adventure begin. An adventure indeed. The classes offered while in the employ of Uncle Sam such as marksmanship and how to live in what might be referred to as rather Spartan conditions, did come in handy. I learned about the forest and what wild edibles are available to the hunter gatherer. Don't eat yellow snow or white berries. Over time with what I had learned and the friendship of bright partners I started a forest management company. While our crew planted over 1 million trees our company Timber Tomorrow, also did timber and forest management planning. and selective logging to improve the health and vigor of the forest. To do the logging part we used draft horses to minimize environmental damage. For nearly twenty years I would pack up my horses, a chainsaw, fishing rod and a Winchester 30-30, go into the high country to work a shelter wood or watershed project. We would go into the woods in April and not come back till Oct or Nov. whenever we got snowed out. We lived on bass, trout, wild nuts, berr...Expand for more