neilh

Sorry to hear Bill. However after 6 years of bumming around doing contract web site design I just landed a full time job as a project manager for a microsoft business systems reseller at 60y.o , so you still have a year to work on it!

Good luck
Neil

Jim bailey - 928 International

Keith did you not notice that it is no longer POSSIBLE to actually SELL a house in California ! The house beside mine is being offered at a "short sale" for $35,000 less than what they OWE on the house...

the flyin' scotsman

Bill..............great attitude, good for you.

I've been semi-retired for a number of years now, picking up the odd contract/consulting role when timing is right. Its amazing what you find to do when not at the daily grind, the 928 being but one.

If you ever feel like an international trip send me a PM, always welcome.

BTW, I asked Roger the same thing yesterday.

Charley B

Holy ****!!! Well, that was my first reaction. Then I realized it was just a nudge in the right direction. I'll leave it to you to decide the direction. I'm sure within a few weeks you'll be saying, "How in the hell did I ever find time to work?". Don't forget to let me know when you are putting the sc back on. I'm thinking I might need the practice for the '88.
P.S. Don't lose my dipstick when you start cleaning out the garage.

928ntslow

Jim, I jumped ship before it went down with the band still playing "Autumn". However, I am not surprised. I knew it was bad, but not THAT bad. When I left, there was a two month waiting list JUST for U-haul...the big moving companies were so backed up they couldn't schedule with any kind of reasonable time slot over the course of a year. It's not unlike refugee's fleeing a 3rd world country! Next thing you know, there will be border patrol in Oregon, Nevada and Arizona keeping the Californians from illegally entering the US...I mean the other lower 47!

Bill...we'll leave a light on for ya!

Nicole

It sounds like "It feels so good when the pain ends"... I know you've been wanting to quit sooner, and theydid not let you. Maybe you needed that kick in the behind...

I'm sure there are opportunities out there for you when you are ready for them.

Gary Knox

Bill,

SO glad to hear you are happy with the downsizing. I too took an early retirement when I completed the sale of the business I was managing (at 62) in '99. I can't say that I've had a bad day since I left, except the one when my wife was diagnosed with a serious illness (which Prednisone is controlling - but that has it's own issues). Anyway, if you decide to take your road trip east, you are ALWAYS welcome at our house in southeast PA. A couple of us do a good bit of tinkering, and Earl Gillstrom does a LOT of maintaining/improving for fellow 928 owners.
Best wishes, and I'm so glad the company change works for you. Obviously, 10 years earlier, and it may not have worked well for either of us!!!

Cheers, and enjoy your newfound life.

Gary Knox
West Chester, PA

SharkSkin

Bill, after our conversation last weekend on this subject, I'm happy for you. If, after you've caught up on home stuff, you see anything that tickles your fancy on the NetApp website, let me know and I'll get you an interview. Meanwhile, HAVE FUN!

Bill Ball

Thanks for all the positive feedback. We're in good shape financially, although the house is not completely paid off, I have 2 kids in college, and my wife only works part-time with no benefits. I actually intended to retire 7 years ago and at the time I thought it was feasible financially. But the stock market hasn't been doing what it did at that time, at least for me, and I'm probably going to need to get some supplemental income at some point. I'm not worried and I wholeheartedly think this is a good thing.

It was a strange sensation to be let go that summarily. It's never happened to me before. I've always considered myself good enough at what I do to be indispensible, so my first reaction was surprise at how little they suddenly seemed to appreciate that. It was a clear sign of how desperate things really are. I'm sure they could not afford to hire me as a janitor.

Keith, despite Jim's correct description of the local housing market, since we've owned the house for almost 20 years, we are going to make a ridiculous profit even if we price it to sell tomorrow. Anything we could buy up near you and Louie would be paid off with lots of money in the bank. You made the move. It's working out well for you and I'm sure it would for us. After seeing the beautiful area up there, it's been on my mind, but it's probably a ways off.

Well, I need to get out to the garage!

SharkSkin

Yahoo! I love hearing this. All the ******** that came in to Ca. and pumped the prices beyond reason can kiss my *** now! I've been waiting for a correction. The farther it drops, the better for me!

(Not that I'm especially into enjoying other's pain, but as a 5th-gen Californian that can't even afford a decent house in my home town I'm happy to see prices dropping).

Garth S

Little did I know in those years when living just up the road (I-35) in southern Oklahoma ....

heinrich

Bill I am sorry to hear this Brother. ... Let me buy you several beers next time we meet.
Heinrich

Jim bailey - 928 International

The neighbors bought the house about 11 years ago for $150,000 they managed to refinance it until they OWED $725,000 not bad for illegal immigrants with menial jobs ...they have been living large and the subprime lenders packaged and sold that crap to investors through the big brokerage firms....after all it is backed by real estate !!!

heinrich

Well-stated Dave, I agree. Whenever I travel there, my eyes pop out of their sockets.

the flyin' scotsman

Not to divert the thread but those CA bucks buy some impressive spreads up here.

You may require a new wardrobe though.