It Is What It Is

[Sarris]

Just wanted to tell everyone that I sold both bikes (Harley StreetGlide & the GeeZer) this week due to the poor economy. I need the cash.

So, for now I'm bikeless. I'll check in every now and then, but for now, I'm caging.

It is what it is...................

My best to everyone.

Sarris

[mole2]

I'm sorry to hear that Sarris. Keep checking in, you have a lot to contribute. Besides, you keep the younguns in line. lol


:)

[alanmcorcoran]

Sorry to see you go. At least you sold the bikes quickly.

[blaine]

So sorry to hear that you needed to sell your rides.Hopefully your situation recovers quickly.Stick around your input & wit are appreached.
:2tup: :)

[JWR]

Shit, you are about the most sane one here.

[Water Warrior 2]

OMG, that is rough. Sorry to hear of your financial straights. Hopefully the New Year will turn things around. Do stick around though, we need all the veteran riders we can get.

[Fish Baseball]

Mate, sad to hear your now stuck in a cage.....things will improve, just keep your spirits up and sit back.

[alanmcorcoran]

How much did you get for the Geezer if you don't mind my asking?

[alantf]

I sold both bikes this week

:poorbaby:

[Sarris]

I got $1800 for the GZ and sold it 24 hours after it was listed.

Thanks everyone. I'll never stop riding, this is just a forced hiatus.

[alanmcorcoran]

Thanks for the info Sarris. What is your profession/trade? Last year was a crap year for my line of work but this year was actually an improvement...

[Easy Rider]

Shit, you are about the most sane one here.

OK, well now THAT'S a scary thought !! :shocked: :biggrin:

Bad news and good news; too bad that you needed to do that but good that you had some assets to liquidate and were able to do it in a timely fashion.

Hopefully you'll be able to pick up another decent ride for cheap when the time comes.

[Sarris]

I'm an unregistered architect (30 years) who has specialized in custom and builder production homes. I was designing and drawing about 45 homes a month with a staff of 4 in 2006. I was never wanting for work. Then someone shut off the switch. I paid the help until my office lease ran out in late 2007, hoping the biz would come back. Boy was that a mistake.

I let everyone go and moved the operation into my home, but I haven't done much since and I've been living out of pocket pretty much since. I'm not out of money yet, but the bike proceeds will help extend my ability to live for quite a while longer.

I have had no success in my job hunt. I'm looking for any work I can find, but no one wants an overqualified fat bald 53 year old guy, so I'm just hunkered down in the survival mode now.

Like I said, it is what it is. I just need to get through this and find some kind of work. I think architecture in Florida isn't coming back, at least for quite some time.

[alanmcorcoran]

Sarris,

Probably won't be of any use, but, since you have a lot of time on your hands anyway...

...my little brother Kenny works for a builder in North Carolina. I forget exactly the nature of it, but they use some sort of new age concrete or something. It's called Fielder Building Company of the Carolinas. Not sure if you are into "networking" or not but here is his Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php? ... 845&v=info (http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=548484845&v=info)

I think the Fielder Company has a website and his contact info is on there too. Feel free to tell him I told you to give him a call.

He probably isn't looking for an architect, but he likes to talk about his work and the buildings they do and maybe he knows someone that knows someone, etc.

I also suggest you try "Linked-In." It's a sort of Facebook for business (and employment.)

(I'm 52, with just the bald "spot" and, although I dropped the spare tire this year, I don't think anybody would want to hire me either. Not sure I really blame them.)

Good luck. Try to get out and stay connected. I find sitting around thinking about my problems always makes shit worse.

[dhgeyer]

I'm truly sorry to hear about your situation. Way too much of it going on. Please keep active here. You may not have a bike right now, but you have loads of experience and knowledge. And a pretty cool sense of humor.

[ncff07]

Good luck to you Sarris I hope things turn around pretty quick it would make me sick to sell my GZ and I've only owned it since April this year. On the other hand I heard Florida has been getting some pretty cold weather so they may have been just parked this winter anyway so maybe when spring rolls around youll be able to get another bike. :2tup:

[Viirin]

Man i can't believe how rough it's gotten so quickly - hope you bounce back sarris

[trykemike]

Hi bud. I always appreciated your input.

In Dec 5 / 08 I along with 25 others ranging from engineerrs to accountants was Terminated.

I spent a year applying for work . ( I have 28 yrs as a computer systems operator on ibm tandem hp systems and extensive experience in network connectivity. ) After 200 applications and only 1 interview I accepted the reality that a 59 year old IT tech was not in high demand. The wife said keep the motor cycle and trikes. How ?

Well now I drive a school bus part-time to keep the toys rolling.

Good Luck !!!!!

[bonehead]

Sarris, I was going to tell you about driveing a school bus but Trike beat me to it . It does help pay the bills, and you have holidays off. Being a school bus mech. I have figured that when I retire That I too will drive a bus just for the extra cash. If you have a CDL, you can get hired on real quick. Schools are ALWAYS looking for drivers.
Anyway, sorry to hear about selling the bikes. Ya gotta do what ya gotta do.
Good luck with everything and please stay on here. WE NEED YA.

Cheers,
Hadley

[alantf]

Wow ....... and I thought that I was the only one who left the trade (electrician) to drive a bus. After being made redundant twice in two years, at age 34, I too went driving buses part time for a year. there were no electrician's jobs going, due to a recession. After a year, I realised that there were still no jobs going, so I took a full time job with the local bus company. I stuck it for nearly ten years, then when they were looking to shed jobs, I took voluntary redundancy, thinking I could go back to my old trade. No such luck. After a year of being unemployed again, I took a course to update my certificate (electrical regulations), then got a job with a company installing intruder & fire alarms, closed circuit television & door entry systems. At age 43 I had to start studying electronics, which I had not needed before. I never really got on with the boss (a bean counter) so after nearly ten years & one argument too many - at age 53 - I took the greatest of pleasure in telling him to stick the job up his arse. I left on the friday, & on monday started a job with another local bus company. I stayed with them for a year, until I moved to Tenerife. What I'm trying to tell you is that at the same age as you are now, I started a new life, & I've never looked back. Don't give up hope - just keep your options open. :2tup:

[burkbuilds]

Sarris, sorry to hear about your job situation. Hang in there and keep your chin up and your mind open to new options. I spent my life in construction since age 15 until 2007 when I blew my back out for the "umpteenth" time and was told by my back surgeon, "find something to do where you don't have to bend, twist or lift things". So, back to a local tech college for me at the age of 45. Now I'm 47, got an Associates out of the Tech college and a job working in an Engineering R & D department while I work on my BS in Engineering. Four years ago, if someone had told me I'd be out of the construction industry, have a two year degree, be working in an Engineering department, living 100+ miles away from my wife and youngest kid during the week and in a four year Engineering program, I would have called them crazy. I guess what I'm saying is, just keep moving forward in any direction you can until you are back on your feet and hopefully back on a bike. Hope you can find something soon.

[dhgeyer]

Wow! A lot of present and former school bus drivers here. Count me in. I did it for about 5 years on and off. It's a job you either love or hate. I loved it, but I like kids. You won't get rich, but if you have a reasonable financial base, you can get by.

[dentheman]

I have a suggestion for a job that REALLY SUCKS, but the pay was OK and the benefits were great, at least in Texas. That is Correctional Officer.

It required a background investigation, pee in a bottle, a six week 'boot camp' (Correctional Officer Academy, much easier than military boot camp), and you would have to move anywhere in the state that you were assigned.

They do not discriminate by age, but you have to be able to pass some minimal physical tests.

I saw some of the worst dregs of society, and not all of them were inmates.

I took the job for seven years after retiring from the military because my wife needed the (excellent) medical insurance, but I quit three months after she passed away in 2005.

That's the way it was in TX, FL may differ. Some of the youngsters enjoyed the job, it gave them power that they often abused; I was too kind hearted to stick it out any longer than I had too, so I am getting by OK now on just my military retirement.

Maybe in today's economy there isn't a big need for Correctional Officers, but when I started there was a huge shortage in TX and most states.

It sucked, but it got me by for several years.

[alanmcorcoran]

In some ways this thread is very uplifting, what with everyone pulling for Sarris and all, and yet... it's kind of a harsh reality check when the best employment opportunities for a man who is technically in his career prime, involve either prisoners or a yellow cage with an extended wheel base.

I'm gonna look into what the hiring requirements are for driving the bus that transports the cons from county to state. It's gotta be the golden career opportunity of the next decade.

[blaine]

I spent twenty years as a flooring contractor,the last ten years self employed.In 07 I was sidelined with throat cancer,and had a total laryngectomy.I was told I had to change careers.I spent all of 09 looking for a different line of work with no luck.In early 2010 I decided to go back doing flooring.I'm glad I did,as I feel good & love my work.As they say "love what you do,and you will never work a day in your life".Head up Sarris things will turn around!
:2tup: :)

[dentheman]

I can't think of many jobs that are more recession-proof than school bus driver or correctional officer. There will always be kids and criminals.

[5th_bike]

Sarris,
I'm not in your line of work so you probably already know, but have you checked into becoming "LEED accredited", that seems to be hot and important nowadays. It is about 'green building'. Sorry if this was no help whatsoever, and the best of luck with your situation.
I sure hope you can afford to get on two wheels again soon.

[burkbuilds]

Sarris, I guess you have noticed that a lot of us hold you in very high regard. A good name is worth more than many riches. We are thinking of you and hoping for a positive change in your employment situation in the near future. Hang in there.

[Sarris]

Thanks guys, your comments are very kind.

Like I said, it is what it is. Que será, será

Thanks again;

Sarris :)

[GZ250]

try North Carolina (Durham, Cary, Apex, Raleigh, RTP (research triangle park) area. NC is much better than many states, florida especially in housing market.

the construction stopped here but it is coming back so they will need people and experience sometime helps, may be you wont make what you were making before but something is better than nothing.

good luck and best wishes for all who are in the same boat.

[music man]

The problem is that once you get into the position Sarris is in now, where you are liquidating assets just to keep the lights on (figuratively speaking), it is way too late to pick up and relocate, because if you had the funds to do that, you wouldn't be selling your stuff in the first place.

Not a knock on Sarris mind you, because that is usually exactly how it works, you very rarely get to know your going to end up in that position, you just start slowing inching your way toward where he is now, and then BAM, you realize that you have your back against the wall.

Like I have told Sarris, I have had a house and driveway full of stuff more than once in my life only to have it all vaporize before my eyes. I have more now than I ever have before (money and stuff), not that I have a whole lot of either, but I have more than I personally have ever had. But that doesn't mean that for a second I don't know that I could be sitting empty-handed all over again, but I also know that I am going to do what I have always done, and knowing Sarris as well as I think I do, what he is going to do too, he is going to pick himself up off the ground, brush himself off and build up all over again.

[Sarris]

My biggest problem is that I have semi-elderly parents here and I want to enjoy their company in their twilight years. I was born in Clearwater, Florida less than 30 miles from where I now live. I'm a tried and true Florida boy and I don't plan on leaving until life becomes unbearable here.

I've got 20 to 24 months worth of living expenses still in the coffers. The bike sale was a preemptive strike to buy me more time to find a local job.

Thanks for y'alls positive thoughts, but I'll come out of this. I'm not down, and I'm sure as hell not out. The fat man will be just fine.

:) :)

[music man]

Sarris is just yankin' our chain, he sold the both the bikes because he got the itch to buy the new 2011 Harley Ultra deluxe mega killer special Classic Glide 3000cc, with a optional full time butt massage therapist on board and fold out king size pillow top bed on the back :lol:

I thought this thread needed some lighter subject matter for a bit.

[Water Warrior 2]

Would love to hear the lighter subject matter was true.