Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.
This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.
We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.
|
|
|
age & commissions
|
You are logged in as Guest
|
|
Users viewing this topic: none
|
|
Login  | |
|
   
Richard Jernigan
Posts: 3430
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA
|
 RE: age & commissions (in reply to jshelton5040)
|
|
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: jshelton5040
Well I certainly understand that. We've been in the habit of pretty much taking summers off from guitar making so we could raise our garden, do grounds maintenance and otherwise just enjoy the beautiful weather. This year we're working in the shop every other day since we're so far behind and now our little paradise is very overgrown, the grapes need pruning, the garden is weedy, the tractor needs work, the blackberries, raspberries and Loganberries need picking. The place is not very presentable but I really don't care as long as I can have a glass of wine in the late afternoon and commiserate with my cat out on the porch. As they say, "getting old is not for sissy's" but I can wholeheartedly testify that it's better than the alternative.
Good for you two, John.
I had a great run at working. The mentor I mentioned in the previous post taught me how to work in industry while retaining both my integrity and a considerable degree of personal freedom. When the company environment began to make that more and more difficult, i went out on my own.
Eventually I came across a small employee owned company, with a very high caliber of people. Best job I ever had.
When the Cold War ended, I needed a new field of endeavor. I was lucky enough to know of a place where the levels of morale and work execution were high, the B.S. level was low, and the physical environment was very attractive to me. This continued for 16 good years, until circumstances led to a real decline in work environment. After a couple of years I quit, and have never looked back.
I feel like I was very fortunate in finding good places to work, or being able to make it on my own. As long as you are your own bosses, you are way better off than most people.
RNJ
|
|
|
|
REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Aug. 20 2017 1:17:12
 |
|
BarkellWH
Posts: 3458
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC
|
|
RE: age & commissions (in reply to Richard Jernigan)
|
|
|
quote:
When the Cold War ended, I needed a new field of endeavor.
I am one of those fortunate souls for whom work was never just "work"; rather, it was a calling. My entire professional career, from my early days in the Air Force, many years in the Foreign Service of the U.S. State Department, into retirement and consulting, I have always been involved in foreign affairs, diplomacy, and national security. At the age of 74, I continue these endeavors. The Cold War ended, but the challenges the U.S. faces in dipomacy and national security, though changed, are ever present.
While I still consult with the State Department and DoD contractors, I have plenty of time for other activities and thus see no need to cease what has been my life's primary mission. What is problematical is the current Administration's position regarding proposed drastic cuts in the State Department's budget. Congress will never approve the proposed 30 percent cut in the State Department's budget, but we are likely to see vastly reduced funding. If that should adversely affect my State Department consulting gig, Marta and I would simply travel more on our own dime.
Bill
_____________________________
And the end of the fight is a tombstone white,
With the name of the late deceased,
And the epitaph drear, "A fool lies here,
Who tried to hustle the East."
--Rudyard Kipling
|
|
|
|
REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Aug. 20 2017 14:33:22
|
|
estebanana
Posts: 9351
Joined: Oct. 16 2009
|
|
RE: age & commissions (in reply to jshelton5040)
|
|
|
At the age of 54 I'm in the midst of the next Cold War beginning in the East China Sea. I'm thinking over the idea of returning to vocational school to learn Sanitation Engineering so I have something to fall back on when I'm 90 and I can stop losing money making guitars.
There's just an incredible amount of money to lose and someone has to do that job. Of course I could just buy a big boat and waste my money on dockage and haul out fees, and blow the rest on keeping the engines, decks, cabins, pumps and all important parts in top condition and uncorroded. But I've never taken the easy way out, and gosh darn it, owning a boat is really the lazy mans way to lose a lot of money. Lose in leisure, sure buddy, but that's not my way.
I work hard to lose the money and I'm proud of that. Guitar making provides a guy with the golden opportunity to not only lose a hell of a lot of money through gradual brain and body grinding hard work, but it affords the maker real prestige in the community. You may lose a lot of money at the work bench but the two grams of prestige makes it all worth it.
Some people say when will you retire? I say well I'm losing so much money I really can't retire, but I might slow down around 80 or so and work 3/4 ths of the time. I think quitting altogether would be real hard and possibly profitable. And besides, QUIT! Hell, why would I want to leave show business??
Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px
 Attachment (1)
_____________________________
https://www.stephenfaulkguitars.com
|
|
|
|
REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Aug. 22 2017 5:03:02
|
|
NorCalluthier
Posts: 136
Joined: Apr. 16 2016
|
|
RE: age & commissions (in reply to jshelton5040)
|
|
|
Hello John,
I'm with you on stopping taking orders---when the time pressure went away, I became a much happier luthier.
I'm 77 and in excellent health thanks to being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes at age 60. I refused medication, and went on a very low-carbohydrate diet, over the strenuous objections of my doc---it's high fat. I lost 40 pounds, and was back to normal in 5 months, a month ahead of schedule.
In June I completed my 17th year on the diet, and have never been hungry! I get to eat all kinds of rich foods, and as much as I want. It turns out that the low-carb diet protects us against all the modern maladies that do us in when we get older. There is a bunch of good science to back all this up, and I'm happy to send a list of links on the subject to anyone that's interested.
While I don't have the stamina I had as a young man, I'm figuring on another 10-15 years building guitars.
Cheers,
Brian
|
|
|
|
REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Aug. 23 2017 0:29:19
|
|
NorCalluthier
Posts: 136
Joined: Apr. 16 2016
|
|
RE: age & commissions (in reply to jshelton5040)
|
|
|
Hello John,
The easiest way for me to forward my low-carb diet info is for you to email me directly with just low-carb in the title. Promoting the low-carb diet is my hobby, and I'm delighted to share what I've learned. When something saves your life by saving your health, you take an interest in it!
I eat lots of vegetables, and will forward a list of the low-carb, and not so low-carb ones, along with a list of links to what I've found to be the best sources of info.
I love science, when it's well done. As a teenager I came under the influence of some excellent scientists as a Stanford Physics major, and later working as a tech at the Stanford Microwave Lab.
My favorite author on diet is Gary Taubes who has a degree in Astro Physics from Stanford, as well as a journalism degree from Columbia.
My email: brian@lessonsinlutherie.com
And, as an avid gardener I can tell you that you don't need a tractor, unless you are farming to make a living---almost as chancey as making guitars for the purpose!
Solution #1---Ruth Stout's heavy mulch method. See her book:
"Gardening Without Work: For the Aging, the Busy, and the Indolent"
https://tinyurl.com/ybya2mq7 for her books on Amazon
Solution #2---John Jeavon's French intensive method. If you want more yield for more work. His books on Amazon:
https://tinyurl.com/ycg3lxo3
Cheers,
Brian
_____________________________
|
|
|
|
REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Aug. 23 2017 15:48:16
|
|
 New Messages |
 No New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
 Locked w/ New Messages |
 Locked w/o New Messages |
|
Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts
|
|
|
Forum Software powered by ASP Playground Advanced Edition 2.0.5
Copyright © 2000 - 2003 ASPPlayground.NET |
0.109375 secs.
|
Printable Version
. All we need can be found in nature (or confying in your body's natural functions) even natural remedies to severe ailments. Problem is few people are ready to believe it and, as always, example is the best way to demonstrate any point. Most unfortunately people are still in the belief that doctors know it all and will cure them, even old people. A shame... 