Author Topic: He changed careers at 55 (Read 2025 times)

Weekend_Sawyer · « **on:** October 27, 2003, 10:41:51 am »

Pete stopped by on Saturday, dumped a load of wood chips off and visited for a while. Pete is an Arborist, 62 years old. I had lost track of him around the mid 80’s. Back then we were working on a large data archive for NASA. A place to put some of that data that was being sent from various satellites. Pete’s masters degree was in math and he was a sciece type. He was working on the archive but it was not really his field. I did not know it then but he was becoming disenchanted with the whole show. Last spring I was delivering a load of mulch to the Lovely Miss Celest’s house. As some of you may remember I converted my pickup into a dump bed last year. I had the bed raised and this guy stopped by to ask how I did that to a pickup bed. It was Pete. Celest wound up unloading the truck by herself as Pete and I caught up. Always an outdoor type right around the time I lost track of him he was helping some friends trim their trees. They had some that were too much for him to handle so they called in a tree trimming service and he hung around to see how it was done, after that he was hooked. The job at NASA did not appeal to him anymore and this was challenging and new. As we looked over his truck and supplies I noticed he had a load of wood chips. When I asked what he did with them he said he took them to the dump at $25 a load. Not any more. I am taking all he can bring in and use it for my landscaping. I just don’t use them near the house because they aren’t treated. They even work well in one part of my driveway that wants to wash out.
In about 12 years I’ll be 55. Right now I am still enjoying my career but sometimes I long to be doing something completely different, don’t we all. Oh well mabe I’ll make the change at 55.

trey_w · « **Reply #1 on:** October 27, 2003, 11:12:05 am »

whew...there's hope for me yet!

Mark M · « **Reply #2 on:** October 27, 2003, 11:45:30 am »

I did that career change thingy too when I was in my early thirties. Went back to school and spent 6 years getting retrained then went back to work for the same company. Right now I am wishing I could climb trees cause I would like to do some arborist work. Maybe I wouldn't have to climb trees?

DanG - know you got me thinking

Mark

Texas Ranger · « **Reply #3 on:** October 27, 2003, 12:02:54 pm »

As the little guy said as he emerged from his baptisim in the move "Brother Where Art Thou" "Come on in fellas, the waters fine!"

Been in the same job for 35 years, walking the other fellas (and countries) woods all that time and longer. Never thought to change, never made much money to speak of, but have had one fine life in the woods. One of my more successful friends says I don't have a profession, but a life style. Think he is right.

DanG · « **Reply #4 on:** October 27, 2003, 03:21:32 pm »

I been thinkin' hard and long about a career change at the age of 57. I've just about had enough of this stuff I'm doing, and I get no respect for my 34 years of service to this company. My 401k is getting smaller instead of bigger, and the so-called "retirement benefits" are going away faster than I can keep up with'em. I want to start building something for myself while I still have a little of my health left.
It has become painfully obvious that nobody is gonna look out for ol' Dan, but ol' Dan himself. :-/
I have a sawmill, and a small farm, and I do a little welding, which I enjoy almost as much as sawmilling. I know I can make this money on my own, and I can continue to line the pockets of the CEO with any gravy that comes along. Thing is, this time the CEO will be me.

Fla._Deadheader · « **Reply #5 on:** October 27, 2003, 03:52:42 pm »

DanG, Ed and I were parts gatherin today, and took a detour. Ended up talkin to a feller that could make us a fortune

He is an Electrical Contractor. He has a side thing that there is NO WAY, he can supply the product demand. We been lookin at machinery this evening and found a very impressive website, where them folks is doing the same thing we been researchin. Involves PINE TREES

Know where we kin get any PINE TREES

About a 5 year supply of PINE TREES

After that you and ED can have the business

Percy · « **Reply #6 on:** October 27, 2003, 04:14:15 pm »

Good thread people.

Career changes later in life can be stressfull and most folks dont take the chance. I was kinda forced into it as the big logging companies here on the B.C. coast are shutting down. One thing about being forced into it, you have to make choices that you wouldnt have made otherwise if you stayed in the comfy job. I dont nearly have as much coin as I used to,(used to buy $180,000 log trucks every four years)now Im sweating over a 109 meters of WRC for $15,000. I sawmill fulltime now, its tough, but Im happy. Lost 20 lbs since I sold the peterbilt in may, have been able to play guitar in our local bar band "The Accelerators" prettywell whenever. Im home and happy now, just a tad broke.

Don Staples....no profession but a lifestyle....Excellent statement

Captain · « **Reply #7 on:** October 27, 2003, 05:43:06 pm »

Yep, got some of that career change going on here too....THE WIFE is a full time college student until spring of 04 in Equine Studies. Gave up the career in accounting in preference of a "stay home" vocation boarding, grooming, training (riders and horses). She's scared to death.

I'm just looking forward to some income from her soon, this working my regular and after hours jobs 7 days a week is getting tough. Besides, it cuts into the sawmilling time

Captain

Brian_Bailey · « **Reply #8 on:** October 27, 2003, 05:44:27 pm »

I made a career change 2yrs ago when I was offered an early out after 29 yrs. of doing the same ole thang. Jumped on it and haven't regretted it. Sometimes change is good

.

Ed_K · « **Reply #9 on:** October 27, 2003, 06:01:21 pm »

I jumped off the boat when I was 46

. I don't regret it at t'all.
I'm happier, lost weight, and half of the 401 disapeared. But I don't have a bunch of managers telling me how to get the job done. My hours are longer, but I most times don't realize it.
Doing tsi's, cordwood and sawing a few logs is a real satisfing way to get along. Rita say's I'm semi retired. Or is it retarted

. Don has the right statement

.
Ed

DanG · « **Reply #10 on:** October 27, 2003, 08:00:17 pm »

This thread is a gem, especially for me at this time. I made a decision today, to retire as soon as the paperwork can be done. I've been unhappy there for a while now, and I can see so many opportunities that I can't take advantage of while working full time.
It all came to a head today, about noon, when the boss took me out for a piece of "humble pie." It is pretty obvious that he expects a little smooch in the nether regions whenever he is around, and he AIN'T gonna get that from me, so I get second-guessed and nitpicked about every little thing. I ended up informing him that he is a f%&^*$g moron, and I will be out of his hair very shortly.

Discussed it with Linda tonite, and I will start the paper down it's winding trail tomorrow.

Should have about 2 to 3 months more to work.

Now, Harold, we need to talk about this latest venture you have in mind. I got pine trees....several of them...and they should last another 5 years if the beetles don't get them and nobody cuts them down.

Send me some details before I get too wrapped up in my own ideas. I'm getting booked up real fast.

Percy · « **Reply #11 on:** October 27, 2003, 08:41:38 pm »

Quote

This thread is a gem, especially for me at this time. I made a decision today, to retire as soon as the paperwork can be done. I've been unhappy there for a while now, and I can see so many opportunities that I can't take advantage of while working full time.
It all came to a head today, about noon, when the boss took me out for a piece of "humble pie." It is pretty obvious that he expects a little smooch in the nether regions whenever he is around, and he AIN'T gonna get that from me, so I get second-guessed and nitpicked about every little thing. I ended up informing him that he is a f%&^*$g moron, and I will be out of his hair very shortly. Discussed it with Linda tonite, and I will start the paper down it's winding trail tomorrow. Should have about 2 to 3 months more to work.

Now, Harold, we need to talk about this latest venture you have in mind. I got pine trees....several of them...and they should last another 5 years if the beetles don't get them and nobody cuts them down. Send me some details before I get too wrapped up in my own ideas. I'm getting booked up real fast.

Hey DanG
Congrats on a bold decision. I dont know your boss so I cant comment on that aspect of things but Ill take your word for it.

Exciting times a-comming and that money thing aint all its cracked up to be...

DanG · « **Reply #12 on:** October 27, 2003, 08:52:02 pm »

Thanks, Percy.

He ain't really that bad of a guy, just got this little power thing going on.

I know I'm gonna be poor, but I know how to do it. I been practicing for years.

My late Aunt Evelyn used to say, "There's only one good thing about being poor. It's cheap!"

McGruff · « **Reply #13 on:** October 28, 2003, 03:30:02 am »

This is beautiful.

My wife and I have this discussion all the time. I have too much time invested to quit.

Just over seven years to go and I'll have 32 years in. Then I'm gone. Work sure seems to get in the way of alot of things I would rather be doin'. (plantin' pine trees, pounding nails, huntin' & fishin') Hopefully I can talk my wife into retirement at the same time I retire. She's my number one hired hand!!

Now, if I can only get these pine trees to grow.........

woodmills1 · « **Reply #14 on:** October 28, 2003, 05:19:02 am »

1973 engineer BSCE
1975 photographer
1977 machinist
1980 teacher MED
1986 part time firewood cutter
1995 partime sawyer
2003 full time sawyer/you name it

change is good

Bro. Noble · « **Reply #15 on:** October 28, 2003, 06:40:00 am »

James,

Looks like you fell off of the 'Socio-economic' ladder too

In the late 60's I was an extension specialist with the Univ. of Mo. Got fed up after 7 years and went to farming/cutting posts/working at a fertilizer plant. Had to do a little teaching of veterans ag classes and highschool Voc. Ag. to put bread on the table. Decided I'd get kicked around less milking cows than teaching school so went to milking and later sawing. Now I milk and saw and log and milk

I don't often look back, but just thinking about my present situation compared to my extension co-workers of 30 years ago. Most of them are dead so I ain't complaning :-/ I've enjoyed my life and the struggles that go with it. My wife and I have raised a family that we are proud of.

A guy needs to work at something he enjoys, with people he likes to be around. Too many people measure wealth in money.

logman · « **Reply #16 on:** October 28, 2003, 01:52:26 pm »

It must be something in the water. I too am considering
quitting my state position and starting a wood related
business. I just turned 46, hate my job, although you would
never find an easier job. I have so many ideas to make it
on my own that I don't see how I could fail. I have a sawmill
and a love for timber framing and log construction. I figure
if one aspect isn't paying out I'll focus on another. I see so
much wood going to waste around here. They are putting
a development across the street from me and I have been
riding by these brush piles of logs for a couple of months now.
I stopped Saturday to check out what was in there. It used to
be an old orchard and most of the logs are cherry and I
think apple. There is big stuff in those piles and I don't think
they are planning on doing much with them because I would
think they would have done it before they bulldozed them into
piles. I am going over there tomorrow to find out, but I'm not
sure I have the time to do anything about it if they tell me
to come and get them. It's agonizing.

Larry · « **Reply #17 on:** October 28, 2003, 04:10:24 pm »

I retired from the telephone company as Manager-Outside Engineering at the ripe old age of 50 - 1/2/99. It was great pay, benefits, and good people to work with. Unfortunately with budget constraints I was forced to design outside plant facilities cheap and dirty. Sorta like a guy would have to do with $1,000 income but $2,000 worth of bills each month. Sure wasn't proud of the work I was doing so I just hung it up. I've had a bunch of small jobs that I have enjoyed in the last five years but none of them were really big money makers. I would like to turn Pro in the sawmill business next year or so but only time will tell.

My wife Kathy also retired from the telephone company about 1995 with the aid of a huge buyout. She always wanted to have an antique shop so we opened one up. Lot of fun but not really a moneymaker so we closed after 4 years. Took a job as an office manager after that with liberal time off. She enjoyed that but quit couple of months ago as she wants to try something else.

One of the great benefits is that we have been able to spend a lot more quality time with our parents who are in there waning days.

Been a few bumps along the way. As DanG said we have watched our 401k's shrink a lot. Health insurance and taxes keep going up while the income doesn't. Would we do it again -- Yes and Yes. Ask me in 10 years or so and I might have a different story.

oldsaw · « **Reply #18 on:** October 28, 2003, 08:43:27 pm »

I've been in the same business, with different jobs for all but two of the past 17 years. I'm basically happy for the first time in many years, and am earning some money...finally, nearly as fast as the wife spends it. When the economy strengthens, which it will (always does), I'll be doing pretty well. The travel can be a real bummer, but, I finally got smart enough to look up FF members when I have a few minutes to spare. The upside, is that I can't get downsized. The job is guaranteed as long as the company survives. That's the good news, the income isn't guaranteed.

I'm pretty lucky. I've had plenty of jobs I've hated. Funny thing, it usually wasn't the job, but the peanutheads I had to work with, or work under. Still, I don't work with my hands on a daily basis, and growing up on a farm, I miss that. Hence the wood stuff. Going to try to get out on Saturday and tip a few trees, stack some logs, and break a good sweat. It's a mental health thing for me.

All you guys taking the leap deserve, and have earned my admiration. I've had jobs I wanted to do that with...funny thing, neither of those companies still exist today...but the whole self reliance thing has a lot going for it. That's what a commission job is all about too. Good luck, and, no, 55 isn't too late, unless you die the next week. Life is short, do what makes you happy AND puts bread on the table.

Mark

Weekend_Sawyer · « **Reply #19 on:** October 29, 2003, 04:41:36 am »

Great replys!
I have had 4 different careers within the space agency. I hung tapes in a large data archive, I operated various computer facilities, I became a technician and learned to repair systems and now as a systems engineer I get to work on every part of a computer facility from power to the size of disks we need. The great part is getting to travel around the country and some parts of the world installing these systems.
Most guys my age in the buisness are in management but I will not go that route, as I tell anyone who will listen, I basicaly turn screws for a living, course I get to specify the screws.
I havent burned out on it yet but that day is comeing. When it does (as was mentioned before) I'm sure my change will have something to do with wood.

One thing I have noticed and Pete said it too, you have to be prepared to live a little simpler, you will not make as much but you sleep good when you work hard.

Weekend Sawyer

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Author Topic: He changed careers at 55 (Read 2025 times)