what does everybody do for a living?

Worked for small local tree service from age 18-21.Commercial construction full time since 1984.Carpenters Union til 1990,Laborer's Union since then.Anything from 2-3 story buildings to bridges & 40 story office towers,both remodeling & new construction.Scaffolding,concrete forms,you name it.Part time in the woods since I was 17,harvesting wood for heat + the occasional paid job doing tree removals for others in spare time.Cabinet/furniture making,woodturning,other stuff for my own use,gifts & the occasional sale for a client.Hope to retire in 7-8 years then I can finally slow down....

 

Campinspecter has said about retirement "How did I ever have time for work?"

 

Sweet! I spent 18 years at the local dealership fixing Buicks. Awesome cars.

 

That's cool, I spent 17 years as a repairman, on line and off line

 

I have said that too

 

I said that for a while. Now I am so busy I am trying to figure out how to retire from retirement without digging a hole!

 

My Dad retired from the USPS VMF here in Denver. He worked 25 years with the post office and 21 years in the field prior. Sadly he passed away 3 years ago. I miss being able to talk to him about fixing cars and trucks.

 

I am a people manager for a large aerospace company. Been at it for 23 years now just when you think you have seen it all someone always finds a way to top that. During the summer I have my own little side business performing wildfire mitigation.

 

Thank you for your service.
I'll tell you now, go find your spot in the woods while you can. But don't go too far from the ocean. That would be about anywhere north of Boothbay in Maine. You will never be able to be away from the salt air for long. When I get anxious, I'll drive to a few spots I know and park the car, just sit and watch the tide go in and out. Some Lobster boats always not far away. Even when there is a fog, the ocean sooths the senses. When I am home, I like to listen to the wind in the pines.

 

I did that for a while working for SV Moffet, who sold and serviced commercial turf euipment. I can remember tearing down those big Jac fairway mowers, grinding the bed knives and sharpening the reels, new reel bearings and gears if needed.. Fill with grease and then gingerly tighten that reel until it cut a sheet of paper all the way across...

 

I have a brother and two sisters that spent most of their lives at the United States Postal Service, They are all now retired but, My younger sister still works there..
Obviously against the rules but my brother brought over one of the bigger trucks to pull out a huge oak branch From the driveway after it was taken down From the ice storm, Got the job done no worse for wear and he didn't get caught

 

That sounds great to me, but I love the cold

 

+1, love the cold too. I'd rather be cool and layer to be warm vs being hot and being down to skin and being miserable.
Take the offer Dave!

 

I would love to live in a cabin in the woods far away from people.

 

Me too. I wouldn't even leave, just be a hermit on my land.

 

Dave, if you settle in within a few miles of the ocean, the temp. is much different from further inland. The ocean, as you well know, has tremendous control on the temperature. It is always cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. The snow often melts between storms. Perry is in Washington county. The economy is especially poor there. So if you are living on retirement, you can get a decent house for a lot less than what it would be in the Kittery to Boothbay areas. Look up around Castine or BarHarbor. Fairly good access to Bangor from there. That may keep the wife happy for shopping needs. Anyway, you would be welcomed in Maine and I am sure would fit in well, even if you are "from away". (need to be here for a few generations to not be considered "from away".) My father's folks settled here when the land belonged to the King of England.