Quote from Allen Dick:

> Now that I am retired, I have very little free time . . .

You too, eh?  I was afraid I might be bored when I retired.  That
hasn't been a problem.

My retirement this year resulted in a move from the 53rd floor of a
high rise in Chicago to 5 acres in rural Minnesota.  As a mechanism
to keep me sane during the last year of work, I read a lot about
beekeeping, including books and Internet sources including Bee-L.  I
discovered when I got the actual bees this spring that many of them
have not read the same books.  I enjoy learning, and beekeeping is
rich in opportunities for that.

I planned to start with four colonies, two on my property and two
about 15 miles away at my in-laws' farm.  I won a package as a door
prize at the local association meeting, so "now we are five".  The
bees are teaching me a lot in this first season.  In spite of me,
they seem to be doing well.

The "local association" for me is the MHBA (http://
www.mnbeekeepers.com/) and includes attendees from the U of Minnesota
program including Marla Spivak and Gary Reuter.  The value of these
groups to new beekeepers cannot be emphasized enough.

Thanks to all who contribute to Bee-L.  Between it and beesource.com,
plus the printed rags, there's so much good information available.  I
hope I can take advantage of it.

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