In four more weeks, I'll be retiring from 35 yrs of carpentry work. It's kind of a turning point, like getting your first car, or getting married. I was hired with a local union in 1985, in the carpentry apprentiship program. I had to attend classes 2 nights per week, and work during the day. The early years were hard. I spent most of the apprentiship packing concrete forms on commercial jobs. I had many days when I wondered if I was really cut out for this work, as it was so physically demanding. In 1989, I took the test to make journeyman. I failed the test once, but 4mos later passed
with a perfect score. Journeymen carry more respect on the big jobs, but the work is still very hard. I started having some knee problems and a slight hip problem by 2000, so I left the union and hired in with a general contractor, supervising a crew on home remodeling, and older house rehab and the last three years I've worked for my daughter who buys some older homes and rents or re sells them. I plan on staying busy, helping a friend who has a small home repair business 2 or 3 days per week, mostly on small jobs. I'm hoping I have more time to spend with my family and grandkids. Maybe some more fishing time also. It's. been a long, tough road.Ive packed so much lumber, driven so many nails, and cut so many boards I think I could do it in my sleep. I have 4 yr old grandaughter who comes over to our house most every Saturday afternoon. Last time she was over, she was sitting at the kithcen table, working on her coloring book. She overheard my wife and I talking about all this retirement stuff, and said" granpa, you should be happy, you made it!" My granddaughter Trinity summed it up well. That's right Trin, somehow I made it.
