Pond Boss Forums INTRO New Forum Member Introduction Howdy, y'all. Future WV pond owner here.

My situation is different from most of yours (for now), in that I have no pond, no land, and no immediate prospect of either. But I've always loved fish and aquatic environments, I'm fascinated with how wonderfully complex they are, and thrilled to have Pond Boss as such a tremendous resource to learn more about them.

I've had so much fun the past few months as a subscriber, back issue purchaser (Bill Cody deserves a Nobel Prize for his SMB magnum opus), book purchaser and lurker on these forums and archives. Now that I know enough to at least ask intelligent questions, I thought I would introduce myself and join the conversation from time to time.

I currently live in the close-in VA suburbs of DC. My wife and I are at point where retirement, while a ways off, is no longer out of sight over the horizon. Our plan is to cash out in 8-10 years and move to the little town of Shepherdstown, WV, right across the Potomac where WV, MD and VA come together. And we'd like to get some land within a 90-minute drive in WV for a pond and cabin.

After our first pass at the options, becoming Catmandoo's neighbor in Hampshire County, WV is looking pretty appealing. It's accessible from both Shepherdstown and DC, and land prices, while steep compared to lots of places, aren't too crazy. After having the vague notion that I'd like some land and a pond my whole life, thanks to Pond Boss I now know exactly what to aim for: at least a modest version of a wildlife refuge along the lines of Brettski's LNP (with cross-country ski trails for the wife) and a pond with a HSB/SMB/YP fishery and a forage base of RES/CJ-style diversified native minnow/crawfish/grass shrimp as drawn from many threads, especially Brettski's and Theo's fish selection discussions and Bill Cody's, CJ's, esshup's and ewest's (and many others') countless informative posts.

Green sunfish? I think not. Can I pull it off? I suppose it all depends.

If being a part of this community is this much fun, I hope having an actual pond won't be more bliss than I can stand. I look forward to continuing to learn from you and some day joining you as pond owner.