I punched time clocks for 20 years after 4 years in the USMC.

20 years helping manufacturers make products.

I punched that damn clock one last time at 2:45 pm today.

I'm free.

I'm out of the cage.

God damn it feels good!

Congratulations!

You know what they say, self employed people work for a tyrant. Wouldn't work for anyone else if I could help it, best of fortune to you.

I wished I'd done it in that order.. instead I didn't punch one for 20 yeras... and now have to for retirement... but only 10 years minimum left

Congratulations, Dave!

Now, you will be busier than you've ever been in your life!



Ed

Best wishes for the new shop and your whole family, Dave! I hope you have all the work you need and want, and I hope everything goes well for your whole gang.

Sure, all sounds good now ..... wait till your new boss gets a hold of you!

Good on you Dave. Enjoy it and I am 11 years behind you!

The new boss has crazy ideas if 16 hour days right out if the gates.

Lol

Just 20 years.....must be a government job

Good luck in your future

26 years on the clock in a factory with 22 more to go

You'd better pay attention to that crazy S.O.B.! He writes the checks!

Ed

Enjoy!

Congrats Man!

How may beers ya got down so far?

Color me envious.

Congrats. Best of luck.

My cage got too tight, otherwise I'd still be there.

Congrats, and welcome to your own rat race.

No beers, meeting with insurance agent at 4, maybe afterwards.

Congrats Dave

If I'd just punched the clock for the last time I would be sitting in that insurance dudes office with one of those plastic 2 beer hats and straws in my mouf! lol

Go Get Em Dave!

When does the party start?

I hope your endeavor's go exactly as planed, no matter what anyone else thinks or says, it takes Gut's big time to cut it all loose and go it on your own... specially when you have a family! Good Luck with it all.

Phil

Two things, You never get a day off from being retired and you will wonder how you ever had time for a job. miles

Dave,

When I worked I just lied on my timesheet.

Not sure if this will change your decision or not. Good luck regardless.



Travis

Hey flave, it ain't just the clock. Nobody does politically correct like a business with corporate structure goals. That schit is 8 brazillion kinds of stupid. I hate fake, and that schit is fake as hell.

If I want to pretend, I'll put on a Bigfoot costume or something.

Don't yell at me.

I was just trying to help.



Travis

Good luck with the new shop, and congratulations on the last punch!

Congrats on your last punch, enjoy retirement. My last clock punch was on Halloween of 2013 after my 64th birthday. I have been enjoying my retirement ever since, I find lots to do and am never bored. Not having to fit things I want to do around work time is a joy.

Sorry, its the new avatar. I'm not really yelling.

I went with the killer Kowalski avatar because everybody always thinks I'm angry. (Its just my regular face, looks angry I guess)

Anyways, I figure with this avatar, when people finally meet me they will think "hey, he don't seem so angry"

That's gotta feel great. As of COB today I have 90 work days until I do the same.

Nice.
Your new horizon looks pretty fruitful, and good for the soul.
Good luck.

Most excellent. Go forth and play.

I fortunately had a job that I enjoyed. I did the final punch out a few years ago, but still go in for fun. Still it's nice to get up in the AM and know that I can really do anything I want. Briefly considered some part time professional work, but then went "Nah."

Have a good one,

Congrats, Dave!

Damn, what a prick!!


















Congrats on your new lease on life ND!

ND,

Congrats on moving on to the next chapter in your life.

Now get to work building those fancy grills and schit....

Maybe even bead blast a few actions!! (I'm in if you do).

He told me the same thing, Dave. He was right. I went back to work to get some rest.

Congrats and best of luck on your business!

A beer in your honor Dave enjoy !!!

Congrats!

There is something to be said for being your own boss, and in it's own way worth the long hours, and the many unpaid hours. Now the only corporate BS you'll have to put up with is your own

That is great news Dave.

Best of luck in the new venture. Judging from the work you have shown here on the forums, you should do very well for yourself and customers.

So,.......you're saying there's a job opening up that way that might still include office rutting practice with White Bear..?

I could have retired from Civil Service two years ago but want another year to pad my retirement. Wish you well.....enjoy life!

Congrats, I retired in Jan on this year. Not sure if you are going to do the same? I can tell you this I am so dang busy now, I have no idea how I had time to go to work....

I retired with 23.7 years and will never have to work again, oh ya I'm 49....

No retirement here, its likely I'll put in 20 yrs in my little hot rod shop before I retire. But right now I sure feel free.

Deerwhacker, white bear quit before I did, he's self employed now too.

Congrats! Enjoy.

BFT buddy.
I did this a while back & it's been non-stop from daylight to dusk then to the shop with me for repairs until midnight most days.
I make sure to take a little time with the bear cub in the evenings. Don't forget that part. He's just getting old enough to be scattering all of my tools worse than me.

It is a feeling like none other. The freedom & also wondering how the next months payments will be made in time. It all works it's way out though.

No kidding on the corporate structure BS. It's a nightmare with my new line of self-employment.

I'll have to swing by for coffee & check out that old shed you'll be working in the next rain day we get.

Congrats & good luck again!!!!!

Supposed to rain tomorrow......

Congrats on living your dream--now get to work!

But really, this is what America is all about, or at least should be.

It has to rain a bunch to shut me down as you well know.
We'll see what happens. The new service truck should be ready for a road trip by the end of this evening.

Road trip!

Congrats Dave! I retired in May. Thus far, it seems to be something Im good at.

Good for you!!!

Well done!

Congratulations hope lot of success comes your way.

Cripe sakes, are you all Polish? I'm not retiring! I'm just a kid dammit! Barely 44 yrs old!

Lol.


Congrats to you though, that's awesome.

Congratulations Dave!

Fortunately, I have no idea what it feels like to punch a time clock. June of 2015 I'll have 20yrs in as a plumber and I started full-time the day after I graduated high school. The trades have been pretty good to me thus far and I really enjoy the fact and freedom of not punching a time clock. So far I have really only worked for 2 different companies (1st one retired) and I really have no desire to be self-employed. I'm happy packing a lunch box every day and giving an honest 8, then coming home to my family where I can focus on our interest & not having to let my work interfere with my family life. My dad owned several businesses the majority of his life and it was a big turn-off for me! Different strokes for different folks.

...... I truly wish you the best!

I'm glad I reread this thread title. I thought it said that last COCK punch was sweet

Oh my...

If there is one guy I want to be around when he decides to sell some guns, it's EdM.



Travis

No, Im Irish!


And I retired the first time at 38 years old! Get busy kid!

Oh its bout to get plenty bissy.

What? Poobs is retarded and Nort D got busy?

Sounds complicated!

Congrats Dave! Gotta feel good steppin' out on your own terms.

Congrats Dave.
Can any of us expect more hard car driving phone videos followed by a bird shot?
I think you should make it happen after every build.

Anyone understand that? ^^^

I think you were one of a chosen few to receive that video.

Yep, we create our own psychosis for ourselves.

Hope you make big bucks and have fun doing it.

You punched out early. You need to go back tomorrow and finish the last 15 min.

Should I feel honored or what?
Did Les get it?

Yeah I'm pretty sure spider boy got it too.

Lol

Post it up for your many fans here on the Campfire.

Good luck on the new job Dave. To bad about losing your seniority come deer season though...

It's been a lot of fun watching your shop come together, ND.

Brimming with confidence here that under it's well planned, and professionally organized roof that many dreams will come true, ...yours, and your patrons / clients.

Dittos on "fake" chit, and here's to the life of an owner / operator.

GTC

Congratulations!

Good for you. I was just wondering the other day when you were going to pull the plug and get started in the new venture. I wish you all the success in the world. We all know you have the talent as we have seen what you can do. Now get out there and show the rest of the world.
Bill

Sorry Dave...I misread the title...

Congratulations anyways...

Last time I punched one was flippin burgers age 16 at a Wendys

Fu(k that hell hole

How does a woman shjit straight up a stall wall to the ceiling. What in the heyall?

I hear ya.. After 15+ years in the car biz, I was ecstatic when I got OUT for good... Now I just have me to answer for - not some slave-driving GM over me...

Congrats ND...

Dave
I have been retired for 25 years now and enjoying every minute of it, hope you do it for twice that. All the best on the new shop.
Glen

Did the same thing earlier this year Dave -

Good luck to you sir -

Congrats and best of luck with the enterprise of reviving iron history one bucket at a time!

I feel different today, I think it's "happy"

Congratulations! Best of luck to you.

Must be nice to retire and have nothin to do

Congrats ND! Well deserved! What's the first project?

Meanwhile, in Dave's backyard, now that there's no clock to punch....

I will keep you in mind as there will be an azzload sold. Need to fund a little 427 for my new toy.