Time for partial retirement.

Bill Martino

Bill Martino

Joined
Mar 5, 1999
Messages
34,096
Next month I turn 70 years of age and it's time for me to back off a little and take some time for myself and that's what I have planned.

I've been struggling with HI for more than 15 years now and putting in 60 hour weeks or more since we got "computerized" 7 or 8 years ago. It's time to slack off a little. I have my Dad left back in Springfield, my brother, Fred, who is not in the best of health back in Girard, and 4 lifelong friends 3 of whom are older than me all in Pittsburg. I want to spend some time with these guys while we still have it left to spend so that's the plan.

If it were not for the kamis, sarkis and their dependents (Ram tells me the number of people who depend on us for food and shelter is about 200 strong) I'd toss in the towel but because of this 200 and the many loyal HI customers I will never give up completely. As I've predicted, I'll die at this screen so don't think you're getting rid of me completely. I'm looking at 25 to 35 percent retirement. The kamis and sarkis can live with that and so can I for awhile. I'll last longer this way.

I'd like to see HI continue when I'm gone and this is another reason for the partial retirement. Yangdu will stay and keep HI running while I'm away. When I'm here she won't extend herself to computer duties. When I'm away she must. She is fearful that HI will fold once I've departed for good. I think she will build confidence the more she runs things during my absences. She hates that part of the world because of weather mainly so is quite content to stay in Reno while I hop back and forth. It's okay. She doesn't read the forum so I'm safe to talk about her.

Pala is thinking along the same lines as me and is trying to get things organized so they will keep on going when he is not around. He is trying to get together a strong backup system to keep BirGorkha going. He'll be coming here in October, I think, and is planning a longer stay than usual. He will help Yangdu with shipping and receiving while he's here and handle BirGorkha via phone and email. Good thinking on his part.

So, that's the story. As usual, I'll be checking in while I'm back home so it won't be like I'm in limbo and I may offer a couple of long distance deals, too, so stay tuned.

Next trip is scheduled for Sept. 17 thru 30. One of my old pals has a birthday 3 days from mine so we are planning a drinks and dinner celebration. I'll give him a bottle of Scotch and he'll give me a 6 pack of Heineken -- that's how it usually works.
 
Best of luck to you Uncle Bill, I know you deserve a holiday!!! Enjoy your vacation.
 
Things change.

Change sucks.:(


We'll miss you while you're visiting, but we're tickled that you can do it. You deserve the time to spend with family and friends. Enjoy it. Please let Yandu know that if she needs help, we're just a keyboard and a mouse click away.

Steve
 
Well, I'm glad you'll be taking more time for yourself, UB. I'm also glad you aren't leaving entirely! I got into HI really late in the game here, and would hate for it to dissappear. :)
 
Peace of mind is a good thing. I hope you enjoy the time set aside for yourself. A wise man in the 19th century, when asked what he learned from quitting Harvard for 2 years and signing on a sailing ship learned, he replied, "One hand for the ship, one hand for yourself." When in the riggings during a storm, you had to remember this. It's all about having balance in your life. Giving too much to work and ignoring one's family is not good, nor the other way around.


And yes, Warren, I haven't collected all the khuks I need (or want) yet. But I plan to win the lottery here any day now and when I do, I'll take one of each...heck, I'll buy you one of each also.
 
UB, glad to hear the news for you, sad for the addicts in this cantina, including myself. But with the amount of loyalty here you could probably find some help among the masses, don't know how it would work, but....

And don't fully disappear before I get that kukri for my gal, she might just kill me with my own BAS.

May the best of your yesterdays be the worst of your tomorrows.
 
Glad to hear that you aren't planning on allowing yourself to have a nervous breakdown.
 
I had two reactions: the first, "of course this is correct, and more than over-due." The second: "Damn."

Years ago I got a card from some friends. It read:

We need to have people who mean something to us. Someone to whom we turn, knowing that being with them, is coming home.

You are like that Bill.

Thank you for everything.
 
Sounds like you're making some good choices, sir.

Enjoy while you can.

Please let us know if we can help Yangdu or Pala in any way. Other than continuing to buy stuff, which goes without saying.
 
Uncle Bill-- glad to see you are taking some time for yourself, and also glad to hear that your retirement is only "partial". Of course, HI would never be the same without you, but I certainly hope that it continues, as there is definitely a high demand for the world-class blades you sell. Please let the Cantina folk know if there is anything we can do to help during your absence or with the future of HI. I think you have a pretty large support network here.
--Josh
 
Your reasons are unassailable and it is well deserved. We love you Uncle Bill and wish you the best. Thanks for everything you've already done and whatever you will do in the future.
 
Thanks for all you do Uncle Bill. Take your time and enjoy yourself! We will all be here when you get back and look forward to hearing all your stories. I'm sorry I didn't make the last convention and I hope there will be another. Getting to see you once in the last 12 years was not enough! I hope to see you again in the near future. Till then enjoy yourself!
 
For a lot of people, cutting back 60 hrs/week by 25-35% doesn't sound like partial retirement.

More like eliminating overtime.

Sounds like a plan to me.
 
Keep up the good work, wherever you go and whatever you do :) You'll find a good balance soon. Stop and smell the roses.
 
It sounds like you have a good plan set up for the future. As much as we may miss you when you are not around the forum, we all want you to be happy and healthy.:) If you or Yangdu ever needed a helping group, you have one here.:D Good luck, Take Care and have fun. I look forward to hearing tales of your exploits!;)
 
Originally posted by btice
And yes, Warren, I haven't collected all the khuks I need (or want) yet. But I play to win the lottery here any day now and when I do, I'll take one of each...heck, I'll buy you one of each also.
Click to expand...

Shoot, Ben, that's MY plan... Guess I'll have to come up with a twist for it, just to keep things interesting. :)
 
Can't really add to what's been said except to say, I'm with you 100% Uncle Bill. I've seen how often you're available on the forums and via e-mail, it makes me wonder where you find the time to ship all of the khukuris we order! We will all certainly miss your guiding presence while you're away, but no one deserves a break more than you. That said, don't ever go away completely, we'd all go crazy! Best of luck and good beer in all of your travels, and as others have said if there is anything we in the Cantina can do to help, don't hesitate to ask. HI is more than a business, you're my friends. Take care.
 
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