My Career's over, or has it just begun?

[jkarp_53]

Much of my life I've been a professional house painter. Short version: Last October I was on a job and the boss didn't have a tall enough ladder to reach what I was supposed to, so I went up to that last step (we're not supposed to do that...) on a borrowed 6' and the thing kicked out from under me.

Landing hard (I must've 'cuz I blacked out) on my left shoulder, I dislocated, broke, tore the rotator cuff ligaments and damaged the nerve running through all of that...

After major surgery and physical therapy, and more than a year later I met with my Orthopedic guy this past Wednesday night, and the decision was made to put me on permanent disability. (State of California...)

During the last few weeks of waiting for the appointment I was worried about being released and didn't expect the permanent status - it seems now I don't have to worry about that.

After working, like 40 years without injury, the choices are either fully retire, or find something else to do after a few months more of time off to get through the Christmas season...

My knife collecting has helped to keep me from going nuts, and I've never so appreciated getting the wife up in the morning to send her off to work and starting my day with whatever I want to do.

I know a bunch of you have been here, what did you do when the time came to do something else with your life?

 

[edgreywolf]

maybe you can start making knives yourself?
that way you can increase you collection
E

 

[65535]

Stock removal knife making is a definite possibility. I'm going to community college right now so I'm kinda at the point where most of the time it's my own schedule. If you like working with your hands there are lots of "hobby" type production jobs like making furniture, sculptures, fountains. Those sorts of things. Good luck.

 

[Mongo]

Sorry to hear about your injury and subsequent disability. My time hasn't come yet, I just hope that I am well enough physically to enjoy my retirement. Retirement? hopefully in a nice house "Up North", on a lake that has an abundance of large walleye, yellow perch, blue-gill, bass etc. And, all the toys that are required: fishing boat, pontoon boat, snowmobiles, ATV's. And hopefully far enough from civilization that I can shoot lunch off my front and/or back porch. And, let's not forget being able to blow stuff up... that's VERY important.

 

[Ren the devils trailboss]

Im in the same boat..not due to injury but due to the economy. the Greenhouse industry up north died its last gasp with fuel prices. There are those who say its not dead...but trust me its dead. So after 18 years in professional sales....now what to do? Ive been applying for jobs every day in the third world of Michigan. The phone has rung once...God am I getting depressed.

 

[untamed]

My knife collecting has helped to keep me from going nuts, and I've never so appreciated getting the wife up in the morning to send her off to work and starting my day with whatever I want to do.

what did you do when the time came to do something else with your life?

Ain't that the million dollar question we'd all like to answer? It would sure make life a whole lot easier. . . Honestly however, only YOU can answer that.

From me to you though: continue greeting such change with grace and an appreciation for what you have now.

Best of luck!

 

[Sauconian]

What ever you do, don't just sit around. You'll not only get depressed, but if you've been active in your job you'll go to hell real fast.

I voluntarily retired from construction. I'm researching a 19th-20th century cutlery company that little accurate information has been available for, and I joined the local historical society. I'm now Vice President, Chairman of Facilities ( to care for a restored schoolhouse ), and Chairman of Acquisitions and Displays ( I furnished the schoolhouse with fleabay buys and many antiqueing trips ). www.lutzfranklin.com

A friend who helps with the schoolhouse, a retired corporate exec., got elected to the township council, drives a truck for Habitat for Humanity, and guides youth canoe trips on the Lehigh River.

Previous recreational hobbies like fishing and shooting lost much of their attraction when I could do it any time I pleased. The change in lifestyle has still added 35 lbs. around the middle in three years.

Good luck to you. Not having to get up with an alarm clock does have it's advantages.

Fran

 

[IVANKERLEY]

so you're already nuts
My grandad was a house painter, the stories he had were hysterical and scary at the same time. (i hate heights)
All joking aside you need a hobby that wouldnt burn through the cash, knives arent that hobby Making your own might not be a bad idea, give ya something to obsess over, keep ya busy etc.
I think anything your interested in or passionate about might be worth pursuing since ya gonna have free time...
hope it all works out for ya
ivan

 

[pppiggg]

Keep yourself busy and a hobby that will not burn a hell lot of cash is a must. There are still many things to do after retirement... God bless America

 

[jkarp_53]

Thanks for your comments. I know there are a lot of folks more in need than myself. The luck was with me to get up and walk away from what happened, I think of that constantly. My wife counts our blessings as do I.

Now it's becoming the contact and making new friends process. It was a very rude awakening early on in this when I realized all of the people I spent so many hours working with on a daily basis just weren't interested afterwards. Seems our true friends are the one who DO show up after the other ones dont...and I have a few.

And yes, the toughest part since feeling well enough has absolutely been the 'What DO I do today?'

On the rest of us: My prayers go to you that have lost jobs and homes. I can hope at least your families are safe and helping you get through it.

Cheers,
Joe

 

[chuck buck]

if your right handed check out disc golf! good free game to keep you sane a couple hours a day. ive been doing that when i need a break from filling out applications all day.

i dont know if its up your alley but at least over here on the east coast CDL jobs are in high demand. atleast half of the richmond help wanted ads are for CDL drivers. i worked in warehousing/shipping/receiving and most drivers said to take a community college course instead of signing on with the big companys who will pay your tution. apparently they dick you around alot during the 2 year contract. my grandpa did it all his life and im looking into it. from what i understand you can get a CDL within a month of training.

good luck sir and keep your head up its way depressing job hunting.-CB

 

[Tim-Gabz]

Currently I am waiting for several good payments on a couple of jobs (that I have done) being paid through a bank (some reason all my clients love) that have got lost with the rumour the bank is in trouble. Proof of TT does not mean food on the table. My wife’s company is closing for nothing more than atrocious regional office management. So what was looking great in September is really coming undone.

Interests and hobbies create opportunities. Several times my interest in aircraft has helped. I am a building economist with finance background. Helped a friend put together an airline proposal, received free training and actually got the funding approved. With the down turn in Zim looming we said bugger this for a game of soldiers and walked away from the $ and grateful banking agencies. The training got me into airport research and feasibilities and a paycheque with an international group of Architects.

A client asked me yesterday if I would like to participate in a new airport, and I barely calmly accepted. So hopefully my hobby remains my cheque income for cash flow.

I am on a sports committee for my kids activities. I have landed two small paying projects that are incredibly interesting for 2009 in a horribly depressed (like me) regional economy.

Now how can I make $ from knives????????

 

[Bob W]

Hey Jkarp, sorry to hear about your injuries. My advice, stay as physically active as possible, preferably outdoors. The fresh air and exercise will keep you healthy, and really help fight potential depression.

Do you have a dog? They're great company and a constant reason to be outdoors.

I'm currently off work for four months. We had a really slow Jan-April, no work in May, worked every single day June-Aug, and now dead until January. Fortunately (?) I has so many hobbies and responsibilities outside of work that the down times really fly. Dog, two-year-old boy, convertible, motorcycle, historic home restoration, hiking and backpacking, mountain biking, reading, lawn and garden work...

My point is, take advantage of the situation you've found yourself in. There are lots of guys who would kill for some time off to themselves. :thumbup:

 

[gazz98]

For every door that closes, two doors open...

Take some time to reassess what YOU want to do. Whether it's back to school (local community college maybe?) or a new career altogether.

Like others have said, don't sit around the house all day. You don't want to sit on couch pondering your future for 8 hours a day, you'll go crazy. Maybe volunteer at the Red Cross, USO, etc. One good way to meet people and business contacts is by volunteering with local "not for profit" organizations.

Best of luck to you.

 

[orca8589]

Sorry to hear about the injury, and all the stuff that goes along with that kind of thing.

I'll echo what the other folks here have said; volunteer, and find & do stuff you like to do. I became a stay-at-home dad 2-1/2 years ago, and I've enjoyed it, but it's definitely taught me not to sit around all day.

thx - cpr

 

[bobofish]

Maybe this is out of left field, but maybe you could think about studying up for a contractor's license.

By the time this economic crisis is over, a lot of fair weather contractors and even big time players will be out of the business forever. In the meantime, you could study up big time on new and evolving green/eco/sustainable front so that you could position yourself as a contractor specializing in green painting, solar etc. installations, etc.

If the new administration is serious about funding green industries, you might well be able to get a grant, low interest loan, etc. from the Feds or CA to start up the company.

A lot of the green building supplies companies offer free or very low cost seminars to teach people to use and push their products properly. Since you're in the Bay Area, it would be very easy to find a store that has those classes and check them out to see if you're interested. Frankly I think you could probably make a halfway interesting career by simply learning all the options and compiling a blackbook of the best installers to become a kind of buyer's agent for people looking to green their homes. Lots of people want to do these things these days, but don't have a clue where to look and put it off. You would charge a modest fee for getting them from idea to planning to installation to maintenance.

Or, I met a guy recently (German immigrant 50ish former surfer type) who makes $4-5k a month recycling bottles and cans from residential areas. He makes so much money because he is clean, honest looking and friendly and so families trust them to pick up their bottles any time he wants. He works when he wants to and goofs off when he doesn't. He doesn't surf or ski anymore after he broke his back in the early 90's. So, he uses a handtruck to haul his bottles to and from his van.

Or just win the lottery and start a harem. They'll keep you busy and grinning. Just remember that when women live together, their menstrual cycles align. In other words, you would have three awesome weeks a month, and then one week of pure hell.

 

[mhawg]

I faced the same situation after a head-on collision in November 1990, which if you remember was a similar economic time but not as bad. I had just gotten married then laid off then crunched. I, luckily, had the chance to go to school for a while but it was 8 years before I was able to get back in the field to do land surveying. I struggled physically and eventually lucked into a position in CAD drafting which is what I would be doing today if I still had a job. You learned many things beside house painting while you were out there and studying up for a contractor's license could make good sense.

 

[jkarp_53]

Or just win the lottery and start a harem. They'll keep you busy and grinning. Just remember that when women live together, their menstrual cycles align. In other words, you would have three awesome weeks a month, and then one week of pure hell.

I love the last part 'cept for the week in-between! That's OK though, three out of four ain't bad.