| Author | Message | ||
     Crusty |
09/22/2014 Today is my Birthday. I plan to celebrate it by first, going out to Westfield and taking a couple of EBRs out on Demo Rides. Then, I’ll take back roads past the Quabbin Reservoir to get back. When I get home I have a 12 ounce grass fed beef Rib Eye Steak, a 1 pound (Huge!) Yukon Gold potato and a jar of Heinz beef gravy waiting for me. After Dinner, I’m going to have a slice of Alden Merrell Chambord Torte and a cup or two of Kenya coffee. However, since it is my Birthday, I’ve been a bit retrospective the past couple of days. What I’d like to do is find a job that I enjoy doing that pays reasonable well that I could stay at for a couple of years. I don’t want a job that pays well, but is miserable to work at. Bill G stayed at such a job with the goal of having enough to retire comfortably, and he died before he could achieve his goal. I’ve been looking, but I haven’t had quite the success I’d hoped for. I’m supposed to have an Interview with a company this week that pays well (The interview was originally scheduled for last Friday, but they postponed it); however, I’ve heard from a few people that it’s not a good place to work. Of course, if I take the job, and it does suck to work there, I can always quit. The Old Tramp in me is really rearing its head. Yesterday, I spent a good part of the day thinking about how I could go to Australia. Maybe live there for six months (November to May) then come back here for six months. There are a couple of details I’d have to get sorted out, like Health Insurance (does Medicare work if you’re in a foreign country?) and, can I withdraw money from my checking account here when I’m in Australia? That’s kinda important. I could store my few possessions for reasonably short money. If I sell the Guzzi, I could pay off what I owe the bank and buy a cheaper bike. I saw a couple of 20 year old Kawasaki Concours’ for sale for short money. I was thinking that I know quite a few people across the country that I could hit up for a bed for a night. I could ride to California, then go from there. I’d have to find cheap motorcycle storage out there. Somebody suggested I try to book passage on a freighter. It would take a couple of weeks, probably, but it would be cheaper than flying. Maybe I should investigate that. Also, I’d have to have a serious talk with Ron & Melia about paying Rent, and how much would be fair for both them and me. They don’t have money to burn, and I couldn’t stay for free without feeling guilty. I’ve been planning to go back over when I start collecting Social Security, but that won’t be for a couple of years. I haven’t seen them in way too long. They’re my best friends, and I really miss them. Most of this is just Sky Blue Thoughts, but I still feel the pull of the road and the itch to travel. Especially since I’m becoming an old fart. There are so many things I haven’t seen. I can’t sleep under bridges like I did in the ‘70s, but I bet I could figure ways to travel really cheaply. Then again, I remember waking up one Monday morning in 1980 with a bad hangover and deciding I wasn’t going to work that day. When I woke up a few hours later, I decided that I wasn’t going back to that job, and I went down to the Travel Agent and booked a flight to Nairobi and I was on my way Wednesday night. The guy who did that kind of stuff is still inside. Maybe I should listen to him. | ||
| Chauly |
Happy Birthday, Crusty! (I understand what you're talking of completely...) | ||
| Hughlysses |
Happy Birthday, Crusty! You might enjoy reading the book "Shop Class as Soul Craft". The author seems to get needlessly esoteric in parts of the book, but overall I like the way he thinks. A big part of his message is that modern society has convinced us all that we should find a career that pays well without regard to how much we enjoy that job and then use that money to do things we want to do when we're not at work. It would be better for us all if we do what you suggest; find a job that we really like and figure out how to live on whatever it pays. Good luck with your quest. | ||
| Damnut |
Happy B-day John. Sorry I won't be able to make today's event. I'm hoping to make the Razee event though. Cheers, Jim | ||
| 86129squids |
I like the way you think, O Crusted One... Happy Bday!!! You share the date with my honey's son, who's turning the big 40 today. We bought him a new gas grill, complete with a rotisserie attachment and a cover. Hugh- seems I've heard about that book, might have to research it. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Hugh- seems I've heard about that book, might have to research it. It's got a motorcycle on the front cover, which should catch your attention. Gist of the book is the author went to college and got a PhD in philosophy. He then got a job with some "think tank" making 6 figures a year. He soon realized he hated what he was doing and decided to quit and open up an indy motorcycle repair shop. He's much happier now. He put into writing a lot of stuff I'd sort of been thinking for a long time. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Happy B-Day!! I'll be sending you a PM | ||
| Oldog |
Happy Birth day! | ||
| Strokizator |
Happy birthday! It just so happens that it's my daughter's b-day too (guess what I got for Christmas 9 months earlier). If you find yourself in central CA you've got a place to stay for a few days and free meals to boot. I think that if you've only got a few years to retirement then work where you make the most $$; it's not like you're looking for a career. | ||
| Court |
>>>>I plan to celebrate it by first, going out to Westfield and taking a couple of EBRs out on Demo Rides. That's a fact and . . . thanks to the EBR Elves . . photo-evidence exists . . . HAPPY BIRTHDAY from all of the folks in the world of Buell.  | ||
| Brumbear |
Happy Birthday young man I hear the outback is gettin warm this time O year | ||
| Kenm123t |
Happy Birthday and We are crashing a dinner with that menu ! | ||
| Phelan |
Happy birthday Crusty!!! | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Happy B-Day John! |
