whatscooking
ArboristSite Operative
I was raised what some would call poor, no frills you might say. My first bicycle I pulled from a junk pile fixed it up and made do with that. Waste not want not. I have worked for everything I have. No big deal but I have learned to take care of my stuff so it will last. I worked as a mechanic for a number of years and have accumulated what I figured I needed before I retired.
Now that I have retired and don't have the money coming in like I did the nice things I do have will not be abused. With all this being said when I first retired and being a mechanic I would help neighbors out and felt good about it. Funny thing happened it quickly turned into a one way affair. Total rebuild of brakes on a truck turned into, the dealership replaced the intake twice and it is leaking again can you fix that and the brake lines are rusted away can you fix that too, my tractor needs the pto clutch replaced, my chainsaw wont run and on and on, they all feel like I can bring my magic wand over and fix anything\everything for them and honestly I barley get a thank you. All the while I had things I WANTED TO DO FOR MYSELF but never seemed to get ANY help from them.
Now I have another neighbor that flagged me down yesterday and wanted me to bring over my tractor and loader and move something that I think will overload what I can lift and he wanted me to do it right then and there. After he says he has another buddy with a backhoe I say that I do not want to do this, more than I can lift safely and I will not tear my stuff up. I get the, he can't get here for a few days with the backhoe so I say sweep the welding rods and other things out of the way so I don't get a flat and move the mess out of your yard so I can get into where I need to go and I will be here in the morning. I could see the anger\disgust in his face, says he will go see his buddy I say good.
Now that I have retired and don't have the money coming in like I did the nice things I do have will not be abused. With all this being said when I first retired and being a mechanic I would help neighbors out and felt good about it. Funny thing happened it quickly turned into a one way affair. Total rebuild of brakes on a truck turned into, the dealership replaced the intake twice and it is leaking again can you fix that and the brake lines are rusted away can you fix that too, my tractor needs the pto clutch replaced, my chainsaw wont run and on and on, they all feel like I can bring my magic wand over and fix anything\everything for them and honestly I barley get a thank you. All the while I had things I WANTED TO DO FOR MYSELF but never seemed to get ANY help from them.
Now I have another neighbor that flagged me down yesterday and wanted me to bring over my tractor and loader and move something that I think will overload what I can lift and he wanted me to do it right then and there. After he says he has another buddy with a backhoe I say that I do not want to do this, more than I can lift safely and I will not tear my stuff up. I get the, he can't get here for a few days with the backhoe so I say sweep the welding rods and other things out of the way so I don't get a flat and move the mess out of your yard so I can get into where I need to go and I will be here in the morning. I could see the anger\disgust in his face, says he will go see his buddy I say good.