Can we ever retire?

[Wimblees@AOL.COM]

In a message dated 3/14/99 3:27:10 AM !!!First Boot!!!, WallyTS@compuserve.com
writes:

<< The 1997 PTG survey shows that 17.8% of members responding were over 65
 years of age. Of them, quite a few still put in 20, 30, and even 40+ hours
 per week at piano related activities.
 
 Maybe the question should be, "Would we ever WANT to retire?" Is this an
 occupation that only gets more and more enjoyable the older we get, or is
 it simply one in which the majority of us can never earn enough money to
 afford a comfortable retirement?  >>



A couple of years ago Dale Probst and I were discussing how one of our most
esteemed  piano tuners was "bragging" how, at age 85, he was still able to
tune 4 pianos a day. His comment to me was. "I hope, at age 85, I don't _have_
to tune 4 pianos a day." 

Unfortunately, there are many piano tuners who don't plan ahead to allow them
to retire at a certain age. As was mentioned, it is one thing to love your job
enough to continue to tune a couple of pianos a week, if you want to. But it's
quite another thing if you have to tune 4 or 5 pianos a day, in order to make
it. 

My wife and I are looking forward to "retiring" in a couple of years. While I
would love to just completely hang it up, I also know that unless I keep
active, I'll go nuts. With the kind of operation I have now, I hope to be able
to take extended vacations, while someone else make money for me. After that,
I hope to have enough money set aside to be able just dabble in my trade once
in a while.

The key to all of this is planning. For you younger techs, put money aside
every month, or at least have a plan that will allow you the luxury of not
_having_ to tune in your golden age. 

Willem Blees