Lex, what do you do these days with your retired time?
We're supposed to live until 120++, so you've got lots of time.
Hi GS,
I work in my shop most every day and then I belong to several nonprofit organizations that keep me busy. I teach antique clock repair courses several times a year and also give demonstrations of jerky and pemmican making as well.
As an example I just gave a jerky demo last weekend. I supply all the material including 5 lbs of meat for each participant and everyone goes home with a $10 Jerky Maker filled with meat. There is no cost to the students - I supply everything.
On Wednesday the 23rd I leave for Ventura CA to teach a 5 day advanced antique clock repair course.
On Feb 1st I spend 3 days at the National Association of Watch and Clock Collector's greater Los Angeles Regional meeting.
On Feb 9th & 10th I give a 2 day Introduction to Horology course for the Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties chapter of the NAWCC.
On the 28th of Feb fly to Dallas Texas for several days to meet with the director of training for the NAWCC to discuss my participation in rewriting the course curriculum for the NAWCC Field Suitcase Workshop program.
On the 3rd of March I fly to Atlanta Georgia to meet with a friend and spend several days working on a business plan he has for a franchise opportunity. Will miss class this week (see below) but discussed this with my instructor before signing up of the classes.
The 7th of March I have my monthly luncheon and meeting with several managers and supervisors at the company I retired from. We discuss the changing business environment, employee problems, evaluate advancement opportunities, corporate initiatives, and other business issues related to working and surviving in a large corporate environment.
In mid March (exact date not yet settled), I'll be flying to Portland Oregon to take a weekend course on putting together Distance Learning courses centered around using a 3 camera system with one camera coupled to a microscope to provide closeup detail when performing and teaching technical procedures.
I'm enrolled in El Camino College taking advanced CNC machining courses in Lathe and Milling Machine operations 5 hours per day on Tuesdays and Thursdays from Feb 11th through June 10th.
I also make myself available for neighbors and friends to help with their projects. I live in an old neighborhood and many of my neighbors are in their 80's and 90's. I help with their computer problems, plumbing problems, phone, Internet and cable TV problems. In the last 3 years I've upgraded electrical service (installed new breaker and meter panels) for 4 neighbors and 2 relatives. I've also unstopped drains, installed water purification systems, re-plumbed a house with copper piping, replaced 2 water heaters, redid the lawn and sprinkler systems for 2 neighbors, and a host of other projects. Most of these people retired years ago and are on small fixed incomes. I do all work for free including supplying all material.
I open my shop to Boy Scouts and youth groups. In the past few years I've done 2 Eagle Scout projects and all sorts of youth group stuff. I helped a youth group from a local community church install a new telephone system for their church (I'm not a member of the church). I supplied all the material and taught the group how to program and maintain the system. We do fun stuff as well like making Pine Derby race cars (some not exactly legal) for an annual race held locally. Lots of fun and the kids love it.
Anyway, I keep busy enough to stay off the streets and out of the bars,
Lex