Hello from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia

Hello everyone,

I'm a jaded, old, poop getting ready to retire from a long career of instructing students in chemistry, biology, and ecology. I live with two turtles, a cat, and my neighbors dogs who come over to surf my sofa when their rightful owners are not home. I have been saving money for many years to build a small home in the woods. I have the plan drawn up, the land is bought, the access road is built, septic is in, well is operational, and electric lines are in and ready but I have not broken ground for the house.

I thought I would benefit from others here more knowledgeable than myself about construction. I figure that I can ask questions here but because of an unpleasant experience on a different forum, I'll probably just lurk for a while and check things out.

Cheers,
GT