I QUIT.......

[Turtle49]

Wow, I can't believe someone found this old post! Here is an update.

Well it will be three years in October since I left the workforce....Wow that went fast!

Last year my wife and I made the decision to put our youngest in a pre-kindergarten program instead of kindergarten. So that will extend his half-days out one more school year.
I can honestly say that our whole family has benefited from the reduced stress of having someone at home. It has allowed us to focus on the boys development and our family peace.

As far as the teardrop goes, we ran into some substantial financial setbacks. My stepsons father decided to falsely accuse us of child abuse in order to gain custody. He failed of course, but the financial damage of trying to defend ourselves was a teardrop killer.


Last year after the case was concluded we decided to take our remaining money and set up a wood shop. This will be my at-home business when Logan gets into school full time. I've been doing a variety of small projects, to get back in the groove of woodworking. I actually just finished a spinning wheel for my wife, check it out.
We also have just finished saving up for a small CNC Router. I'm probably going with a four foot EZ-Router. I am just finalizing the timing for ordering it so it doesn't affect our plans this summer.

We still want a teardrop, but its going to have to wait for the business to get going. Oh well I'm still young....well 39 is young right??????


We'll get there.
Thanks for all your words of encouragement, there very much appreciated!

Tim

[Steve_Cox]

Tim,

Nice flash back! Glad you've learned the secret that most of us can survive quite well without a corporate yoke of oppression around our necks! Been there, through the buy outs, down sizings, and ever increasing greed that knows no bounds. Self employeed about 5 years, away from the corporate world 10 years after being in harness for 28.

[Turtle49]

Tim,

Nice flash back! Glad you've learned the secret that most of us can survive quite well without a corporate yoke of oppression around our necks! Been there, through the buy outs, down sizings, and ever increasing greed that knows no bounds. Self employed about 5 years, away from the corporate world 10 years after being in harness for 28.

I definitely have learned that, and without any hesitation I can say we're happier for it.
But if I was to be completely honest, there are times that the extra paycheck would have helped. Hopefully I will be able to pull the business together and make things a little easier.

We'll just have to see how it goes.
Tim

[Ira]

a corporate yoke of oppression around our necks!

I HATE the corporate yolk of oppression.

[GregB]

Eggzactly what I was thinking! Especially around the neck, 'cause it gets all runny and messes up yer' clothes.

GB

[Ira]

This thread means a lot to me:

I really… really…reallywant to give my notice within a few weeks.

I'm underpaid for what I do and how much of it I do (really, I swear), and I'm just one miserable son of a bitch here.

Everyone's NICE to me, I have respect and POWER, they appreciate the job that I do (except that's not reflected in the paycheck), and I feel I'm just wasting my life away.

I'm 50, and my dad dropped dead of a heart attack at 56.

Is this what I have to look forward to?

Viva Che!!!!

[Turtle49]

Ira, I can sympathize with you. Once I decided to leave that last few months were agonizing. The anticipation of leaving was almost unbearable. I wish you luck on your quest to shun the yolk. That will be a great day for you.

If you want you can take a page from my book. My last day I went around and said goodbye to 8 years worth of colleagues. But first I went out and bought a couple of bags of Spangler brand "Dum Dum" Suckers. I handed them out to all those poor souls that had to stay.
Anybody get the hidden meaning?


Good luck!
Tim

[Miriam C.]

Happy to hear everything worked out. When we make the decision to stay at home we accept two things. One is the lack of extra money and two is the freedom we get used to.

I sure wish Mike could stay home. Clean house, ordered home and time we have never had together...

[Turtle49]

Happy to hear everything worked out. When we make the decision to stay at home we accept two things. One is the lack of extra money and two is the freedom we get used to.

Very true Miriam. And if I were to make the decision again.....I'd do the same. It has been well worth it.

[dmb90260]

I don't know anything about spinning but that is one fine looking piece of wood work. Maybe someone on the list will trade teardrop parts for a spinning wheel.

Anyone have any special wood project to order from Turtle49?

[Turtle49]

I don't know anything about spinning but that is one fine looking piece of wood work. Maybe someone on the list will trade teardrop parts for a spinning wheel.

Anyone have any special wood project to order from Turtle49?

Thanks......I thought it turned out pretty well, and the response from Lori's spinning friends has been very positive.

Especially considering, that with only a few exceptions, I made it from fur 2" x 4"s from Home Depot. We decided to do this first one cheap.
I'm planning on making another one out of hardwood for her. Probably Purpleheart.

[Kurt (Indiana)]

I have found children remember small and big details. Could be the pancakes every Sunday a.m., or the trips to the aquarium, or just that while traveling, you taught them to read a road map.

.

Arne, Getting older and enduring the childhood years is actally a rewarding experience once the kids finally grow up.

Those little things seem to stick in their minds. It did in mine as I remember back to the memorable events of my own childhood.

I don't know what affect my comments made had on my parents, but I do know how I felt when my kids commented on the "neat" things we did when they were little.

[Eunice]

I retired in 12-06. I gave notice in 9-06. My letter of retirement was on a satin pillow and there was a procession of my staff to my managers office. The ride home was in a 38' limo. Getting away from a job (or whatever) that has become "no fun" is a very uplifting feeling. I love being at home and out of the rat race. Life is good when the bad tension is gone. Enjoy your time with your son. If you are like most you will wonder how you ever had the time to spend 8 to 10 hours on a job!
Eunice

[Podunkfla]

Congratulations Turtle... I hope it works out well for you.
I "retired" at age 45 in 1994. Even then I had been self employed in a number of small businesses since 1973. So, I pretty well got out from under the "corporate yoke" a long time ago. In '94 I really did it... sold the business, the houses and move to a podunk little town of 6000. I still have no regrets. I will admit it was hard getting established in a small town for the first 5 years or so. It just takes a while to make friends and build a business, especially in a small town.

I have found the secret to success and happiness: Find something you love so much you would do it for free! Then find some people willing to pay you for it. Yeah, OK. That is over simplified I know. Still, if you find something you truly love to do, it isn't really like work... and you can devote enough time and energy to it to become really good at it. That may be the real key. If you spend the time and effort to become very good at what you do... the money will come. I will say you have chosen one of the harder crafts to make a good living at... woodworking. I know, because I did it too. I know a few woodworkers/artists that have been successful building and selling their own unique designs... but they are rare. Most of us end up building things to satisfy the customers desires and dreams. That isn't a bad way to go either, but it can become like work again. I did enough kitchens for a while I just plane got tired of doing them. I still do a few, but only the ones that want something unique and wonderful... and are able to pay for it. I much prefer building fine furniture... and if I was willing to move to a larger market I could prolly stay busy doing just that. In my small town there are limited number of people that can afford custom work. Fortunately, I also have a contractors license. I have been able to find enough old house restoration work to fill in the gaps nicely and keep me from getting stuck in a rut.

So... I'd say go for it! ...and find yourself a darn good bookkeeper/CPA to keep Uncle Sam happy.

Here's a few pix of some things I've done lately:
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v246/ ... 20Kitchen/
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v246/ ... s%20House/
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v246/ ... er%20Jobs/
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v246/ ... 20Kitchen/

[Turtle49]

I retired in 12-06. I gave notice in 9-06. My letter of retirement was on a satin pillow and there was a procession of my staff to my managers office. The ride home was in a 38' limo. Getting away from a job (or whatever) that has become "no fun" is a very uplifting feeling. I love being at home and out of the rat race. Life is good when the bad tension is gone. Enjoy your time with your son. If you are like most you will wonder how you ever had the time to spend 8 to 10 hours on a job!
Eunice

Wow.....makes my bag of suckers look meager!