Boy oh boy! This thread is fun to read. I see lots of experience talking here. I do agree that there's a trade off with time when digging your pond doing the bit by bit on weekend and what not but that's just how it has to be for me, it's not by choice unfortunately.

My priorities with spending large amounts of money is on a place to live in out there before a pond so we may be able to enjoy the pond while we are there. And anyone knows the cost of digging out a septic is 5 grand at least and excavating an area to build on, well it all adds up. I was a heavy equipment mechanic when I was in the airforce but now I work on the computer networks (step up or down?) so I am aware of the maintenance that goes with equipment but most of it will be done by me. So the backhoe in this case should pay for itself and in the meantime I want to start to dig a pond out and clear the drainage ditches.

I figure that one day (when I can afford it) I'll hire out to do some pond digs on the property but for now I have to tinker on it myself. But like I mentioned I have a neighbor who is a retired excavator with a dozer, a drag line and a backhoe in his possesion and he can literally drive that right over!

As far as activities that my daughter may be involve with, that will be priority number one. She has me wrapped around her finger already! I remember the first time I heard that I was having a baby girl looking at the ultrasound. My heart (I hate to say this) literally sank. I didn't know what I was going to do with a girl. I always had male dogs and hung out with my nephews more than my neices and just assumed I'd have a boy so I can take him hunting and camping...

Even at the baby shower opening up the gifts and holding up the "fufu" pink dresses I was like, "God, help me!". But from the moment she was born she owned me. I wouldn't have traded her for a boy at the moment for all the money in the world or a 50 acre pond! I love to dress her, I love to feed her, I love to sing to her and I love to make her laugh! She gave me a new meaning to life and I want her to have EVERYTHING that I never did or could have. I now want another baby for her to grow up with and I don't care if it will be a girl or boy. Don't mean to be sappy but that's how I feel.

Really, you don't know the feeling until you have a baby of your own and I'm sure I'm not telling you guys anything you didn't know already. So back to the main point...

Hence this property will be created and worked on so my children can enjoy it and their children too. \:D