This is topic What do retired signmakers do? in forum Letterhead/Pinstriper Talk at The Letterville BullBoard.


To visit this topic, use this URL:
http://www.letterville.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/1/62157.html

Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
 
I am 70 years old and have been fully retired for 7 years.

I do anything I feel like doing and don't do anything I don't feel like doing.

I live in Canada for 5 months in the summer and 7 months in Mexico in the winter..

I do some volunteer work, a couple of days a month, at a food bank here in Mexico. I help friends here who need guidance in dealing with Mexican beurocracy (SP?).

I go to bed when I feel like it and I wake up when I feel like it (except when my bladder says I better get up soon!!! LOL)

I love playing around with CorelDraw...BUT I really want to learn how to create lifelike animations that I see on TV ads. (Like the Geico gheko) 20 years ago I used to play around with animated GIF's and they were fun to do...But I need more.

What do other retired signmakers do?

ARE there any other fully retired signmakers?

Or do true signmakers ever fully retire?
 
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
 
remodel bathrooms............and make doctor appointments)))))

[ October 23, 2014, 12:45 AM: Message edited by: old paint ]
 
Posted by Bill Davidson (Member # 531) on :
 
Fade away like One Shot red.
 
Posted by Donald Miner (Member # 6472) on :
 
I retired, then one day I answered the telephone, so now I make neon for Krispy Kreme HOT NOW signs. Oh well, it helps pay the bills, keeps me off the streets and out of the Gin Mills. I may die doing it, but I enjoy it, especially the money. Peace, Don
 
Posted by Dave Sherby (Member # 698) on :
 
One Shot red?????????

How about One Shot.... period.
 
Posted by Preston McCall (Member # 351) on :
 
I paint landscapes and meet interesting people who come in to admire the paintings up here on Canyon Road. Much more fun than calling on cardogs to get them to paint their showroom windows. No ladders and pinon wood fireplace aromas!
 
Posted by Rodger MacMunn (Member # 4316) on :
 
I was thinking EXACTLY what Dave said,
I'm thinking, when I retire, that I can make something funky out of that shiny black cottage cheese that you find the second time you open a can of No-shot black ..........
 
Posted by Dale Feicke (Member # 767) on :
 
I'm a bit like Dave. I pretty much work when I want, and work on what I want to work on.

I have people come to me all the time to do cheapo stuff, and I send them down the road. I want to concentrate on the more crafty and challenging jobs.....fewer and farther between, but more funner and rewarding.

I'm also a city council member in our town, am on the building and grounds committee at our church, and do plastic welding jobs on the side.

I've known too many people over the years, that died within a year of retirement, because they got a rocking chair and became a couch potato. I prefer to stay active.
 
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
 
Dale...We had friends who waited until age 65 (when their Canadian gov't pension money kicked in) One died with his first cheque still sitting in the mailbox, another got to spend his first cheque and then died.

I was ready to retire when I was 60, not because I was old, not because I hated my job (I LOVED the sign business), not because business was bad, but because I was just tired of freezing my butt off during the winter in Canada.

I spent several years planning the whole retirement thing and trying to convince Shirley that it was doable. It took until age 63 for me to finally convince her. And it was probably good that I did wait until age 63, a few more years to build up savings and equity.

If I had retired and just vegetated in Canada, I would probably be dead by now too.

But spending 7 months of the year in Mexico keeps me young and active. Just doing regular house maintenance is a "job" in itself. All our Ex-pat friends from age 60 to 80 are "young and active" and we all tend to keep each other the same way. Heck, a simple thing like getting our car's licence plates renewed is an all day job when you are dealing with an unfamiliar and confusing system!

If I had had the privelidge of living in a southern US State where the winter was tolerable, I might still be working in the business. But after 7 years I am happy with the decision I made.

[ October 26, 2014, 05:34 PM: Message edited by: Dave Grundy ]
 
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
 
I retired back when I was 23. That's when I decided it was time to do exactly what I loved and NOT do what I didn't want to. I still go into the shop daily but it's in my back yard.

Best of all I get paid every day to do what I am passionate about. Ten employees (whom I love like my own kids) help me out daily and in fact do all the hard stuff.

Two times a year people come from all over the world to our workshops and I get to share all I've learned through the years, making sure the knowledge I've managed to accumulate doesn't die with me.

My clients (two or three each year) pay for me to travel to some pretty cool places (This year Florida and Trinidad)

I'm surrounded by family on a daily basis and live in a most beautiful part of the world. Winters here are pretty mild and on the days it does rain I have a big wonderfully equipped shop to play in.

Although as I get older I would like the pace to slow down some I don't want to quit the dream I live daily. With my son Peter now fully involved in the business I will eventually slowly back away from total involvement.

Like Dave's version of retirement, mine didn't come by chance. It was the result of many,daily, small choices that added up to what we enjoy today.

It sure beats working for a living!

-grampa dan
 
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
 
Dan...I think that most folks here would agree that you didn't get to the point in your life nor in business without a whole lot of thought, planning and talent.

You are probably living everyone's dream!

Congratulations. [Applause] [Applause]

The word "retirement" brings to mind different images to everyone. Each of us has a different "version". Thank you for noticing and mentioning that fact.

Hoping that we can meet again next summer at a walldog meet. It's been a couple of years.

(BTW....You do live in one of the most wonderful areas of Canada. I still consider Chilliwack my "hometown")
 
Posted by Rusty Bradley (Member # 6938) on :
 
I've been semi-retired for the last 3 years...we love nature and one of the things we enjoy is going kayaking with friends...we go about once a week from spring through fall...we have 10 kayaks and try to fill as many as we can when we go...we filled 6 on yesterday's 3 hour float...here are some pics from yesterday.


 -
 
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
 
That looks like a great form of retirement Rusty. Wonderful scenery!

-grampa dan
 
Posted by Dave Sherby (Member # 698) on :
 
What do retired signmakers do?

Looks like I'm going to be in the group that keeps making signs, just not on a full time basis. I'm actually in my wife's 2nd year of our 4 year plan to sell off our properties here in Michigan and move to Texas. Last year's brutal winter was the last straw for me, and I'm tired of seeing my grand kids once a year and watching them grow up on facebook. So right now I'm learning web site design and getting ready to make web sites for several products that I can produce on my cnc router and sell world wide. Some are sign related, some are not. I don't want to retire completely. I feel like Dan, this 3D stuff is just too much fun to stop doing all together.
 
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
 
I officially retired from Westpoint Manufacturing back in 1999 at age 38. Since then I have had my former employers as customers many times, including this one a few months ago. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=796970063648579&set=a.798489813496604&type=1&theater

Now I get to use my tools to build things like 3D signs and, more recently, CNC machines. At home I tinker around with raising sheep and selling them to Middle Eastern customers. But I don't intend to ever stop "working".
 
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
 
RUSTY HAS FRIENDS....and a female one to boot???? i am impressed)))))HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA gotcha rusty...
 
Posted by Ricardo Davila (Member # 3854) on :
 
Ok, guys,

Just in case that I forget.......BOOO ! and HAPPY HALLOWEEN to all here !

 -


RD

[ October 27, 2014, 08:44 PM: Message edited by: Ricardo Davila ]
 
Posted by Rusty Bradley (Member # 6938) on :
 
Joe...at least I take my lady on enjoyable float trips down a beautiful and pristine rivers to commune with the wonders of nature...while you put your lady to work tearing out your bathroom floor.

[ October 28, 2014, 08:32 AM: Message edited by: Rusty Bradley ]
 
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
 
I am just gonna go pop some popcorn and wait for the next post... [Applause] [Applause]

Let me know if I missed something while I was away!!! [Big Grin] [Big Grin]
 
Posted by Ricardo Davila (Member # 3854) on :
 
[Applause] [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] [Applause]
 
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
 
i live right down the road from BLACKWATER & PERDIDO rivers. got 1 12' kayak sittin in the yard))). wife has a sister lives in chatanooga, and they all(4 sisters)did the natahala & ocoee couple times.....been to some of the most pristine waterways......google ALAGASH WATERWAY. and i hand fished salmon on the Miramichi River in new brunswick............
 
Posted by Rusty Bradley (Member # 6938) on :
 
Some summer pics from floating on the Buffalo...a beautiful experience...mind and body...I tell my friends that when I die I want to be laid in my kayak and set adrift to float down river...they can leave my life preserver off.

 -


http://s1163.photobucket.com/user/signsbyrusty/library/Buffalo%20River%20Float%20Trip
 
Posted by Ricardo Davila (Member # 3854) on :
 
VERY NICE, RUSTY !...........Back in 1989/1990, when I lived in Murfreesboro, with my son, I used to take him boating to J Percy Priest Lake, between Smyrna and Lavergne, during the weekends, and spend the whole day in the lake with him.......Bought him a canoe, with a flat transom, and a small electric outboard motor, to go with it.......Those were, really, fun days for both of us.

He was 5 to 6 years old, then.......Now, he will be 31, in February 2015 and , still, remembers those beautiful moments.

So, I do know what it means to you.

RD

[ October 28, 2014, 02:29 PM: Message edited by: Ricardo Davila ]
 
Posted by Tom Rose (Member # 606) on :
 
i retired not by choice, but by STROKE.... i really would have liked to work til was 80 ! I am doing pretty well, but miss the shop and almost all of the customers.Now 76.
i took some lessons in acrylic painting, in an apartment and had to get rid of oils ( which I enjoyed ) because of the long lasting odors. I am now painting with my left hand, and the little bit I have done, looks a bit looser tha my previous work!

one word of advice to those under 100, put a bit away for retirement ( I did not, my bad ) it gets here so damn much quicker than you could ever imagine.
 
Posted by Rusty Bradley (Member # 6938) on :
 
Tom...so sorry to hear about the circumstances that forced your early retirement...but glad to hear you're doing well...when you said you are painting now with the left hand what are you painting?...is it signwork or in more of a fine art area?
 
Posted by Rusty Bradley (Member # 6938) on :
 
Ricardo...I'll bet the Stone's River up in Murfreesboro Tn. would make a nice float trip...it's only about 1.5 hours away...do you remember anything about it.
 
Posted by Ricardo Davila (Member # 3854) on :
 
Rusty, I am sure it would have been a great float..........But I never went that far, to the South end of Percy Priest, to the Stones River ( East or West ).

Percy Priest is so large that we would, generally, stay within the lake, close to the marina ( Fate Sanders Marina ).....With occasional stops at some of the small inner isles, of the lake.....Most of the time, close to the marina, from where we sailed. Mainly because we spent most of the time, in the water, fishing.

We had lots of fun, without the need to go too far South.........Remember, I was alone with my 6 year old son, then.....So, I didn't like to get too far away from the marina and take unnecessary chances, while I was with him........Probably, because once, during one of our canoeing days, we had a very brief "encounter" with a black bear. We saw the bear, from a very safe distance, on one of the isles of the reservoir.........That was good enough for me.....So, from that day on, I decided to have fun within the safest areas of the lake, which, of course did not include getting off the canoe to walk, with a 6 year old child, on unknown territory.

But, like I said, we both had lots of very safe fun.

I love Tennessee......I think I mentioned it, to you, before.......I went to high school at Castle Heights Military Academy, in Lebanon, and because of one of those turns that you take, in life, I end up being relocated, with my son, to work in Murfreesboro, July 1st, 1989........Very close to Lebanon......We lived there, almost two years, before we moved to Orlando, Fla.


RD

[ October 28, 2014, 08:06 PM: Message edited by: Ricardo Davila ]
 
Posted by Tom Rose (Member # 606) on :
 
Hi Rusty,

I am doing left handed landscapes...I guess it could be called fine art , but that might be a stretch ...... I really think the wrong hand approach might really loosen me up a lot,
Most of what I did in the past was kind of photo realistic drag race art. But I don't think it's possible to compete with MILLIONS of digital images. ( some of which are actually great )

No real beef with possible recovery process. Especially when I see so many in therapy way the hell worse off than I am !
 
Posted by Dale Feicke (Member # 767) on :
 
Hey Tom,
Have you any use of your right hand, or is it still a work in progress? I had a stroke about 3 years ago, lost most of the use of my right hand/arm; but with therapy and exercises, I've gotten most of it back. I started lettering left-handed; but am doing fine back to the right hand again. But, if you're happy as a lefty, go for it.

I still am not able to pinstripe very well (yet); but I'm shooting to get that back too. I have a good friend who had a stroke about a year ago. He was told by "whoever" that what you don't get back in a year, you'll never get back. Not true at all! I'm still getting stuff back; it's just baby steps now.....the major things do usually come more early-on.

I hope you're staying up with the therapy/exercises and that you continue to get better and better. You take care!

[ October 29, 2014, 01:19 PM: Message edited by: Dale Feicke ]
 
Posted by Ricardo Davila (Member # 3854) on :
 
Tom,

 -

I wish you the best, brother.


RD
 
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
 
I don't know about other retired sign people, but I do what I want, whenever I want to, wherever I want to do it.

I spent 45 years as a full time sign painter and enjoyed ever bit of it ... and when my back said it was time to give it up, I did. With no regrets!
 
Posted by Rodger MacMunn (Member # 4316) on :
 
Rusty, I think I'd rather get laid in the kayak BEFORE I die!
 
Posted by Bill Davidson (Member # 531) on :
 
I have also found, as an old sign Painter, I dream of the smell of turps and the fear I feel when working off a plank 12 feet in the air!

I had to give it up just before 70, shoulders, rotator cuff ops both sides within a year of one another. Lifting all that stock onto a router table takes it's toll. My L5 looks like a broken off 2 x 2!
 
Posted by Rusty Bradley (Member # 6938) on :
 
Rodger...if you can do that in my kayak...you might win America's Got Talent as a contortionist.
 
Posted by Shirley Carron (Member # 2446) on :
 
HA! HA! HA!
Great way to end the day Rodger...good one.
 
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
 
i think roger should start another post......
STRANGEST PLACES YOU EVER GOT LAID)))))))
 
Posted by Dale Feicke (Member # 767) on :
 
Sorry, Joe......we gotta stay on topic!!!!!!

How about STRANGEST PLACES YOU EVER GOT LAID.....WHILE PAINTING A SIGN ))))))))
 
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
 
Lol Dale ... don't tempt me!
 
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
 
well........there was this gal...................liked the way i swung my brush)))))))hahahahahahahahaha
 
Posted by Rodger MacMunn (Member # 4316) on :
 
The kayak can't be any worse than a 1959 VW . 6-volt system....the dome light was so dim that if you had one too many & forgot who she was, turning it on for a couple of seconds didn't narrow it down much.

Come on Si ..... I KNOW you have a tale or two......
 
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
 
VW BUG, GAS HEATER, MADAWASKA MAINE........-20 BELOW 20 POUNDS OF PARKAS......4 PEOPLE(2 IN FRONT 2 IN BACK)........GETTIN IT ON))))))) ahhh to be 19 again)))))
 
Posted by Rusty Bradley (Member # 6938) on :
 
Trampoline. [Smile] ...need I say more.
 
Posted by Rodger MacMunn (Member # 4316) on :
 
Trampoline, huh? OK everyone .... just conjure up an image of how that might play out ................LOL
 
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
 
Reminds me of the lines from "Graceland" by Paul Simon....

"There is a girl in New York City
Who calls herself the human trampoline
And sometimes when I'm falling, flying
Or tumbling in turmoil I say
Oh, so this is what she means
She means we're bouncing into Graceland"

Another one of the all time great tunes!!!! [Smile] [Smile]
 
Posted by Donna in BC (Member # 130) on :
 
Retirement?! I've only just begun! [Smile]

In all seriousness... on a day off, I do exactly what I'd do on a work day. A division no longer exists. But it took retiring from the sign industry to realize that.

To get paid to play... weirdest most wonderful world ever.
 
Posted by Rusty Bradley (Member # 6938) on :
 
Also semi-retirement has given me more time to appreciate and pay reverence to the beauty that exists around us in nature...I've been playing around with creating another imaginary landscape the last couple of days while I wait on a sign permit to go through...still needs a little work but here is where it stands tonight.

 -

[ November 08, 2014, 12:12 PM: Message edited by: Rusty Bradley ]
 
Posted by Rodger MacMunn (Member # 4316) on :
 
Rusty, your work is inspiring. Someday I need to learn to do that.....
 
Posted by Dale Feicke (Member # 767) on :
 
Looks like the ol' imagination is working just fine, Rusty!!

Very beautiful work! How is that done?

[ November 09, 2014, 11:01 AM: Message edited by: Dale Feicke ]
 
Posted by Rusty Bradley (Member # 6938) on :
 
Dale...below is how I would have started off on this painting...I start off by roughing out a general composition using photoshop brushes...roughly where the colors and shapes will go...I now have the basic raw materials to begin developing what I might have in my head...I use Photoshop 7.0...it's old but I only need the basic tools for what I do so it's fine...from this point I pretty much use the smudge, clone, burn, dodge, and blur tools to develop the painting...the decisions you make are the same decisions you would make if painting on a real canvas.

 -

[ November 10, 2014, 01:14 PM: Message edited by: Rusty Bradley ]
 
Posted by Dave Sherby (Member # 698) on :
 
Great work Rusty
 
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
 
had to doit)))))
[IMG]  - [/IMG]

[ November 10, 2014, 07:02 PM: Message edited by: old paint ]
 
Posted by Shirley Carron (Member # 2446) on :
 
I'm looking Joe but I can't tell where on the painting you you were using Photoshop! Is it somewhere in the clouds area?
 
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
 
Don't be too hard on Joe, Shirley. You have to consider his advanced age!!! [Rolling On The Floor]
 
Posted by Rusty Bradley (Member # 6938) on :
 
Another example of what retired signmakers do...like waste their time on silliness...but if you're enjoying life who's complaining.


 -

[ November 10, 2014, 11:42 PM: Message edited by: Rusty Bradley ]
 
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
 
I gotta say it....Rusty beats Joe!!! No question about it!!!! [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] [Applause]
 
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
 
well.........i did "quicky" 5 minutes.........i was going for the "humor" more then the perfect joining of the 2)))))))
nice work rusty....
 
Posted by Rusty Bradley (Member # 6938) on :
 
Yep...I did get into it more than I originally meant to...but once I got started it just got to be fun...by the way Joe...that's not a bad look for me...what do you think?

[ November 11, 2014, 10:13 PM: Message edited by: Rusty Bradley ]
 
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
 
hair does make the man)))))singing....IAM SO PRETTY, IAM SO PRETTY.....LALAALAALALAALAALALLAA
[IMG]  - [/IMG]

[ November 11, 2014, 11:15 AM: Message edited by: old paint ]
 
Posted by Dave Sherby (Member # 698) on :
 
I see the mop, where's the handle?
 
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
 
boy davie...........you sure make this an easy comeback..........do i really gota say where MY HANDLE is??????hahahahahahahahaha
 
Posted by Dave Sherby (Member # 698) on :
 
I knew it was in your speedo Joe, just making sure you still did. [Wink]
 
Posted by Rusty Bradley (Member # 6938) on :
 
OP...it's true that for a guy who claims to have come back from the dead you're lookin pretty good there...but let me ask you...does that mean you're a zombie?

[ November 11, 2014, 10:11 PM: Message edited by: Rusty Bradley ]
 
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
 
grab my ..........HANDLE and see!!!!hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahaha
 
Posted by Rusty Bradley (Member # 6938) on :
 
Think I'll pass on the offer Joe...but thanks for the thought anyway.
 
Posted by Ricardo Davila (Member # 3854) on :
 
Guys,

If you guys, keep it up....( no, Joe, I don't mean that ) we, all, are going to get banned from this forum.


RD

[ November 12, 2014, 04:24 PM: Message edited by: Ricardo Davila ]
 
Posted by Dale Feicke (Member # 767) on :
 
Well, if that happens, we can all blame Bob Ross!! [Rolling On The Floor] [Rolling On The Floor]
 
Posted by Ricardo Davila (Member # 3854) on :
 
Dale,

Bob Ross is one of my heroes.....I made some quick money, a few times, by using what I learned from him......I am not kidding......I loved the guy.


RD
 
Posted by Ricardo Davila (Member # 3854) on :
 
Dale,

Here is a vignette I did, on the rear of an RV, using the Bob Ross method, in 1994, in Orlando, Fla :

 -


RD

[ November 13, 2014, 11:17 AM: Message edited by: Ricardo Davila ]
 
Posted by Dave Sherby (Member # 698) on :
 
Those trees look might happy!
 
Posted by Kathy Weeks (Member # 10828) on :
 
You guys are cracking me up! [Rolling On The Floor]
 
Posted by Ricardo Davila (Member # 3854) on :
 
Dave,

Never mind the trees.......Check out the happy eagle and the happy mountains and wait 'til the happy, naked lady, comes from behind those happy trees.


RD


P.S. --- Those are happy clouds, too.

[ November 13, 2014, 03:45 PM: Message edited by: Ricardo Davila ]
 
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
 
OK OK...Now I know what retired signmakers do!!!

They spend their time hanging around Letterville and posting humorous comments!!! [Bash] [Rolling On The Floor] [Bash]
 
Posted by Ricardo Davila (Member # 3854) on :
 
NO COMMENTS .......Remind you of anyone ?


 -

[ November 13, 2014, 06:38 PM: Message edited by: Ricardo Davila ]
 
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
 
HELL YES!!!

That was Si Allen when he was much younger!!! [Rolling On The Floor] [Rolling On The Floor] [Rolling On The Floor]
 
Posted by Rusty Bradley (Member # 6938) on :
 
 -

[ November 14, 2014, 01:24 AM: Message edited by: Rusty Bradley ]
 
Posted by Ricardo Davila (Member # 3854) on :
 
OUTSTANDING !! [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] [Applause]

[ November 14, 2014, 01:06 AM: Message edited by: Ricardo Davila ]
 
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
 
ok rusty.........ya did it now....this is john deatons take on me....
[IMG]  - [/IMG]

[ November 14, 2014, 01:43 AM: Message edited by: old paint ]
 
Posted by Rusty Bradley (Member # 6938) on :
 
With all due respect to John...this maybe a more accurate depiction.


 -
 
Posted by Ricardo Davila (Member # 3854) on :
 
Keep it up, guys.....Very impressive !!

[Applause] [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] :ap

:
 
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
 
iam tryin to be "nice" rusty......then ray rheam did this one)))))
[IMG]  - [/IMG]
 
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
 
Hey Ricardo ... stay away from my Skype avitar!


:bash: :bash: :bash: :bash:
 
Posted by Ricardo Davila (Member # 3854) on :
 
Had no idea, Si......Never seen your avatar.

[I Don t Know] [I Don t Know] [I Don t Know]

[ November 14, 2014, 09:22 PM: Message edited by: Ricardo Davila ]
 
Posted by Dave Sherby (Member # 698) on :
 
Now you made it easy Joe. I asked about your mop handle because it was too small to be seen. Your speedo proves it. [Wink]
 
Posted by Ricardo Davila (Member # 3854) on :
 
OUTSTANDING !!.........That does it !.....Now, you did it, Dave !.........We are, definitely, getting banned from here.


 -

[ November 14, 2014, 02:22 PM: Message edited by: Ricardo Davila ]
 
Posted by Dave Sherby (Member # 698) on :
 
Nah... it's all in fun. Can't wait for Joe's next comeback.
 


Powered by Infopop Corporation
UBB.classic™ 6.7.2