For a while I had a jolly good time making my nest and surviving primitive style in the junk yard of West Asheville.

Before I agreed to sit on the property, a person by the name of Branch who was the property manager said there would be some work available with decent pay.

I stopped by to check in and offered my hands where needed. Branch didn’t seem to need much help, preferring to practice preaching. Branch needed the practice but I didn’t enjoy the one sided nature of his practice. I prefer an exchange of conversation and find little joy in being preached to.

Weeks passed, then a month. I started questioning Branch’s ability to deliver any paid work. I thought maybe I could help him with marketing and purchased the domain “Branch.diy” to help him advertise his services (primarily moving and junk cleanup, which there was plenty during this period after hurricane Helene. He kept insisting he needed more time and displayed zero interest in promoting himself.

He did make a busy job of spending his inheritance, buying trailers and dollies and straps, all the things needed to do a moving or junk cleanup, just never actually trying to do any work.

When he did ask for help, it was always later on in the day (he was a night owl) after I was worn out, and it was never a paid gig, only helping him collect junk to keep for himself on the 8 acre junk yard we shared (hot tubs, partial buildings, etc).

One day he did offer me a paid job, but at a rate only half of what he originally mentioned. I declined intending to hold out for a better deal and not sell myself short. As it came to pass he gave the job up without cheap labor to lean on.

One say I grudgingly agreed to help him move his tiny house. He promised the job would be quick and easy. We started late in the day. By the time we finished it was well after dark and 35 degrees and raining. I knew I’d have a miserable night with wet clothes and having to start a fire to dry off and get warm. Branch’s refusal to apologize for the shoddy working conditions and lack of consideration for my body temperature escalated and I was prepared to leave.

Before I left I contacted the owner of the property to share my side of the story and be sure I didn’t leave without notice.