The end...

[Enzo]

Been closing down my shop, selling this, selling that, tossing those, remembering the others. But it has still been my shop I am sitting in, surrounded by familiar stuff. I emptied a lot of drawer bins into envelopes - resistors, transistors, diodes, etc. ANd I gave a couple drawer bin units to a friend last night. But even with three 60-drawer bins off the shelf, a dozen remain, so it is still a shop.

But today, I lined up a truck, leased a storage unit, and... sob... pulled my scope off the bench riser. Right before my eyes, the riser turned into a...shelf. I'll leave the computer up until the last moment for communication and breaks. But the secondary computer is about to come off.

I got one of those wheeled tool carts, like a mechanic uses, though on top I don't use a tool chest, I use by palleted took kit from my field days. Jensen or Platt, I forget, but the airlines could not destroy the thing, and they tried. I actually saw a baggage cart drag a wheel up and over it once. (Of course the same wheel ran over my garment bag too, and tore that up pretty well, so I am not sure who won.) Anyway, red steel tool cart, couple of drawers and a larger bottom area with garage door thing. The upper drawer was little special hand tools, markers, calipers, odds and ends, the second drawer was all test leads and specialized test hookups. Odd adaptors wired up for just that occasion when you have to connect say a MIDI cord to a garden hose, or whatever. I used to work on wound boards for arcades, and there was a remoted volume controls on a cable. When I get the board, it has no control, so I have a little Molex guy with a trim pot on it to plug into the board. That sort of thing. Haven't cleaned that drawer in years, so I threw out the ten dead scope probes (well, it might be handy to make some BNC wired thing one day, and...), and the collection of specially wired Molex jumper plugs for things I never see. Found my smaller dummy load resistors. 1 ohm , 5 ohm , evena couple 8s. Giving those to my grasshopper. And the large selection of fine aged mouse turds. Oh and all manner of BNC adaptors. BNC to male banana, BNC to female banana, BNC T adpator, and many others. I have them all clipped together so ti looks like the ISS sorta.

But in the morning, I will pick up the truck, and out we go. I like a challenge, and fitting all this crap into 10x10 feet will be one.

Pulled the big display rack of boxed fuses off the wall, that area looks blank. That was where the special speaker cables hung too, like the XLR4 to 1/4 male cord for working on flip top Ampeg chassis. The odd dual banana male to RCA male cord. I think that was for connecting cheap stereos with RCA speaker wires to my bench speaker/load patch panel. RCA to clip leads, BNC to clip leads, two wire detachable power cords for like Roland..... All gone.

Forgot I had socket adaptors. For 7 and for 9 pin sockets, pins on bottom, oh, look like this:

Works like a bias probe adaptor, plug into socket, tube into adapator, then contacts circle it to connect probes, no need to go under chassis.

ANyway... all going away, and it finally sinks in that I am not in the game any longer.

[Tom Phillips]

Enzo,
Life moves on but your great knowledge and good reputation will last for ever.
I'm glad I had the opportunity to see your shop in person and I send my wishes that all will be good for you as you move on into retirement.
Best Regards,
Tom

[nickb]

That has to be tough.

So ya gonna a rock band now instead?

[Enzo]

Mick Jagger is doing it, and he's even older than I am.

I am going to continue being retired and broke, like I'v been doing, I just won;t have the familiar surroundings to sit in and pretend I am being productive. I have a friend I have been mentoring in the art of amp work, and I have been loading him up with STUFF.

I handed him a church key and he looked mistified. Then I told him it was the secret to getting tight knows off pots. The secret is using TWO of them. Put the flat end under the knob on opposite sides, then gently but firmly (whatever that means) lever it off. Using one lever or a screwdriver puts sideways pressure on it.

These"


He prolly thinks I am nuts, looking in the bag and finding odd lengths of heat shrink. And other odd items.

[Leo_Gnardo]

pretend I am being productive.

We're having none of that - you're plenty productive here Enzo, giving good advice, spinning the occasional yarn & even more occasionally delivering a well deserved conk on the head to those who need it. I'm sure we ALL thank you for doing that, and please continue!

Also should mention continuing to be Wenzo's wonderful husband. That counts in the productivity tally too, good for both of you.

Meanwhile I'm having my own small-by-comparison problem today, my newer computer crashed on takeoff , claims the OS files for XP+ have been corrupted. No worries, I'll take that over to the computer corner, maybe someone here will have an answer.

[Mark Hammer]

Adjusting to retirement can be tougher for some than for others. Much of the literature indicates that the more multi-facetted one's sense of self is, the less of a punch to the guts retirement tends to be, simply because you're only losing one small part of yourself, not all of yourself. Retirement is a much harder adjustment for folks who define themselves largely by a single role: athlete, military man, police officer, politician, teacher, etc.

Still, even if you have a full, complex life - grandkids, religious community, hobbies, social causes, etc. - there are going to be some sorts of intellectual challenges that you go to bed thinking about, and plenty you don't. I'm sure I'm not the only person here who, despite having a zillion other things to be involved in/with, lies in bed thinking about what the downstream impact of setting these components over here might be down there.

So I feel for you, Enzo.

[Chuck H]

Mark has it. It's what you're DOING next, not what you're NOT DOING anymore that necessitates moving out of the shop. I fully understand the identity issue, but no one has cut Samson's hair (or beard ). So, maybe you're not going to be "in the shop Enzo" now. You're going to be whatever the next Enzo is. Because wherever you go, there you are. And life has a way of finding us in our element, familiar or otherwise. "Semi-retirement" can also be a consideration. You can be as much a hero helping a local shop maybe? Certainly you continue to help us. And I know you'll keep a good amount of bench gear for your own purposes and even helping others in your building.

From what I hear you and Wenzo could polish your bit and take it on the road Dual income

[DRH1958]

I have a friend I have been mentoring in the art of amp work, and I have been loading him up with STUFF.

IMHO, this is one of the best things we can do, passing the knowledge on to others in a hands on way. I answered a local Craigslist ad for "can anybody help me convert this amp into a guitar amp?" I responded that I'd give it a try and it turned out that he lived only a mile away in a Mpls. metro area of around 3 million total population. What's the chances of that? We had to start with basic electric theory, you know "a 1.5 volt battery has a 10 ohm resistor connected, how much current flows?" because he really wanted to understand this stuff, not just have me build him an amp. In the end, he understood basic triode amplification theory and we converted a Hammond AO-35 (DR.Z Carmen Ghia original donor) into a great sounding amp. A very rewarding experience to say the least. Good for you, Enzo!

[Leo_Gnardo]

Enzo, while you're moving & stacking boxes of this n that, any more of those 8417's left or did The Dude buy 'em all. I got a couple old Bogen power amps that could use a few.

[The Dude]

Not much to say here that hasn't already been said. I wish you well in your retirement, Enzo. KICK BACK AND ENJOY IT!

[Enzo]

I just found another eight 8417s. PM me.

[Dave H]

I wish you well in your retirement, Enzo. KICK BACK AND ENJOY IT!

I wish you the same Enzo.

[Chuck H]

Get busy Enzo! No kicking back. Find things you enjoy and invest yourself in them.

[Enzo]

I would, but the wife frowns on me bringing home the cheerleaders from the high school...


I am about to disconnect the computer.

[Tom Phillips]

...I am about to disconnect the computer.

Enzo,
What exactly does this mean? Disconnect the computer in the shop and move it to home and therefor off the air for a while? Or something else?
Tom

[olddawg]

Enzo...I "retired" from electronics over 10 years ago for health reasons and am younger than you. What I have found is that it never really ends. I do a repair or project a month (usually for desperate young musicians or friends) or so instead of 10 a day in the shop. The kitchen table, office, or garage becomes the "shop". I kept my hand tools, test equipment and scope. I just have to do it when the wife is not looking, lol. It will be a pain soon when we downscale and sell this house. Enjoy your retirement. I don't see how you guys can stand MI winters!

[Enzo]

Tom, pulling the computer at teh shop meant finally disconnecting from teh world...THERE. I brought it home. I am not disappearing, just losing my second home.


I doubt I will do much work here, I did bring my scope home and will bring the solder gear, but I suspect it won;t come out much.

[Chuck H]

Too dark...

Did you need to title the thread "The end".?.

Every end is a new beginning No $h!t. It works that way until you're dead. Make the most of it!!! Money isn't an issue. There are plenty of things that don't cost much and can be gratifying. This from a guy who use to live in a metropolis in the SF bay area, but now lives on an island in the PNW!!! Life is what you make it. The end is incredibly anticlimactic most of the time. It's about the journey. Sane people don't lay on their death bed and proudly say "Look! I made it. I'm going to die." Strap in soldier. Your obligations aren't over just because you're retired and your shop is closed. It's just harder now because you're old and things hurt sometimes. But you're not done. There's still things to deal with, handle, finish, manage... I don't know a retired guy that didn't say they wished they could just go back to work because it was easier

Nothing but respect on this end. I would address you as comrade, except I don't feel worthy. Understand that your absence from the industry is a loss. But you're doing what you need to do now.

[g1]

What he said ^^^^^^
Sounds like dabbling at home may not be a good fit. I recalled a guy talking about something called 'maker space' which would be a good place to go and fiddle.
http://music-electronics-forum.com/t41523/#post414822
Turns out there is such a place near you, not only that but they have classes and probably need teachers. Could be right up your alley.

https://www.lansingmakersnetwork.org...and-workshops/

[dchang0]

Enzo, thanks for all your help through the years.

If it helps you, I have a friend that is in her mid-80s. She seems more alive than I do, with all that she does. She was taking French lessons, math lessons, computer lessons, working on a screenplay, trading stocks (she did quite well with buy-and-hold on Apple from $94/share), traveling with her husband, volunteering at a charity, exercising even in spite of a bum leg from polio, and more!

Oh, and she reads voraciously--her mind is sharper than many of people half her age.

It ain't over till you say it's over.

[Tom Phillips]

Enzo,
Did Egnater respond to your offer to help with his amp building seminar? That was a very nice offer you made and the seminar sounded like it had the potential for a lot of fun.
Tom

[Enzo]

No, but I don't think he hangs here much. I would like to contact him with lead time for a future event though. I am looking for a job, tough to find, other than ones that involve greeting people entering stores.

[Chuck H]

No, but I don't think he hangs here much. I would like to contact him with lead time for a future event though. I am looking for a job, tough to find, other than ones that involve greeting people entering stores.

I'm reminded of a Family Guy episode where Dick Cheney somehow ends up as a Walmart greeter. Everyone entering gets a cursory "Go f@#k yourself".

Not that you're a misanthrope. I don't get that impression anyway. But you are going to need something more to scale with your talents. Maybe if they did an event where everyone entering gets to bring in something broken and you have to fix it in two minutes or less

[Enzo]

No, I tell them what it needs so they can do it themselves.

A friend was helping me load out, and I came across a sign I had that says "giving the customer what he needs, that's good service."

Ooh, I have to remember my picture of Mr. NAtural saying, "Always get the right tool for the job.

[J M Fahey]

When I saw the thread title and poster I was happy, I thought you were coming to Buenos Aires to watch a show by this Argentine Pink Floyd "tribute" (a.k.a. "cover") band:


hey, they are still playing , so you are always welcome
And bring da` Mizzuz` too

[Enzo]

Thanks, but I swore never to leave the USA again. I like Canada, and would enjoy visiting, but any time I leave the USA, and I am sure Argentina is lovely, I have to then return through US customs, and in my experience they are all total assholes.

[drewl]

Whatever you end up doing I hope you enjoy it, and thanks for all the help over the years.

We just moved our company to a new building.
Sixteen years worth of stuff!

Alot junk we'll never use and could have been thrown away, well I can use alot of the stuff fr repairs!

Hell, our lab isn't even fully wired up.

Anyway, good wishes to the future, you never know what it may bring.

[dchang0]

It's not cost-effective, but couldn't you ship stuff back to yourself from outside the USA? Your stuff still goes through US Customs, but when you come back on the plane and go through Customs, you will have nothing to declare and minimal fuss.

[Enzo]

Oh I don't buy much stuff. I have a drug conviction on my record from 50 years ago, but they would find it. And I look like a biker or something, so... It has been many years since the last trip, but I had the opportunity for them to look up my butt hole for contraband.

[dchang0]

Yeah, that would be a massive deterrent to travel! The gov't wants every excuse to anal probe all of us, and it will concoct any law, rule, or regulation to do so.

[olddawg]

Oh I don't buy much stuff. I have a drug conviction on my record from 50 years ago, but they would find it. And I look like a biker or something, so... It has been many years since the last trip, but I had the opportunity for them to look up my butt hole for contraband.

I resemble that remark! Lol!

[Enzo]

Wow. Rented a 16 ft truck a few days ago, and spent a couple nights loading stuff. Today we unloaded into a 10x10 ft storage unit. The wife, o she of little faith, kept telling me it would never all fit. She wasn't around in my touring days when I was king of the truck packers. We packed it in with room to walk around and for my wheeled cart to sit. Things are even relatively accessible. I kept certain items out front expecting to sell soon.

I had been picking at the shop a long time, but as I loaded, and the truck got fuller, and as I lost energy (Hey, I'm old...), I was watching myself lower the threshold for throwing things away. I left behind my big pile of power adaptors, never would have thought that. I saved out some odd ones, like for Rane, and Spirit mixer, those actually sell online for $$$. Left an old computer, left all my shelves. Things I had always envisioned were useful or were going to be a project. I know they won't, but it sank in as the mental cost rose. I am glad I had all that junk around me, as it now and then allowed a repair to happen, but in closing, they become pointless anchors.

Fortunately a couple friends came along to help. My former partner, and a long term customer who has become a close friend. Partner took over the schlepping and hauled most of the heavy stuff. He still hauls PA systems around for a living anyway.

[The Dude]

I'm probably the last one who should say this, as I have a tendency to keep things that should probably be tossed. More than once it's paid off, but still......
Every once in a while, I have to remind myself that "space" has value, too.

[nsubulysses]

Hey Enzo any chance you still have those project Gibson amps. I figured I would probably buy them one day when I'm in the area again

[Enzo]

Sorta. The young man I have been mentoring in amp repair came by to help me move out of the shop, and he was immensely helpful. The wife and I can barely lift things, let alone climb in and out of the big truck. So I gave him the two old 1x12 Gibsons as a deal. I told him to fix them up and sell them, and we'd split the profits. All parts expense comes off the top. But if you are coming this way, I can find out if he has worked on them or not, and whether he is jonesing to do so. If he is not attached to them, I'd be happy to work a deal with you.