[speeder]

Thanks, all. There is another factor that I neglected to mention, this tree, (or two trees), are on someone else's property. Here is SoCal, neighbors can turn into extortionists in a hurry if you want to trim one of their trees to improve your view.

In this case, it's just pure luck that the guy is chill and only asked that the tree not be butchered. A bunch of trees that were blocking the neighbors view were just hacked at some point, it's the ugliest thing you've ever seen in the woods. This tree has no bearing on his view in any direction, it's uphill from his house and he probably can't see it. Each property here has a bunch of land going uphill and none going downhill.

I will ask our tree guy if he has the right insurance but hopefully he does. He has felled a few trees already on the property.