On Fri, 12 Mar 2004 17:34:24 GMT, Gunner wrote:
Actually last year my gross was about $26k. With the 65k mileage.
Since the big layoffs in 2001, I am now an independent machine tool
repair technician. This means I work on machines in machine shops. If
there are no machine shops (or few of them) then I have no work. No
work =no money. no money= no mortgage payment=out on the street.

So perhaps its best that I stay where there are machine shops, no? Hard
to find enough machine shops in Podunk Falls to make a living fixing
their machines/phone systems/plant maint.

Im also 50 yrs old, with an ailing wife, no savings (well, I have $100
in my pocket for emergencies) and a home that will be paid off in about
12 months, however it happens to be in a town that is dying, and
selling it would result in a net loss.

As Dr Phil would say, "How's that workin' for ya?"

It is obvious that you've made some bad choices, and had some
bad breaks, but continuing to stay where you are, playing a losing
game, isn't really smart. Perhaps it is time to make other choices.

My neighbor worked as a mechanic for Eastern Airlines until they
went bankrupt. He started a business restringing tennis rackets in
his garage. Today he repairs and refurbishes all sorts of sports
equipment, and makes a much better living than he did while
working for Eastern. He no longer cares about the health of the
airline industry.

Another of his co-workers at Eastern, a baggage handler, started
a home painting business, and also is doing much better than
when he worked for Eastern.

A new neighbor is a landscaper. Judging by the several nice cars
and trucks, and the big boat he keeps in his back yard, I suspect
he is doing much better than $26,000 a year gross too.

The local QuikTrip always has a sign in the window saying that
store managers make an average of $52,280 per year, and they're
hiring.

The point of all this is that you don't have to be stuck. There are
better choices out there than the ones you've made. Choices that
will bring you more money, health insurance coverage, and freedom
from worries about scratching out a living in a declining industry
located in undesirable parts of cities.

Gary