On Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:03:19 -0800, Gunner Asch
wrote:

California is dying as an industrial power. It at one time was the 7th
largest economy in the world. No longer. Its the #3 hardest hit state
in the looming Great Depression Part Deux, only behind Michigan with
its Rust Belt.

And Im not getting any work in my current trade, machine tool repair.

So Ive been looking around a bit at other states for employment..and
Id like to ask you folks for your input.

Some prelims...

Im 56yrs old, had some medical issues, now largely resolved.

Im tecnically oriented and can troubleshoot electrionics at assembly
level, machine, lathe and mill, can fix complex mechanical assemblies,
can weld, do woodworking, gunsmithing, can do commecial and industrial
electricial. Ive worked as a lumberjack, oil field roughneck etc etc
etc.

Frankly...there isnt much that I cant do. I detest retail work, paper
work, suit and tie work. Im honest, motivated, self starter,
experinced in job requirements and meeting them. I deal well with
others and can supervise others well. However..Ive spent my life
working as an individual technician and dont fit well in a herd.
Shrug. Im good at what I do..far too many out there simply sucking on
the paycheck.

Give me a task, tell me where the parts are..and go away. Ill finish
the job and ask for another.


So anyways..Ive been considering moving out of California..after being
here for 30+ yrs.

Idaho is simply one of the states Im considering but the one Im
focused on at the moment.

If anyone has suggestions for other states..feel free to toss em
in..Id be happy to look at them.

I figure Im good for another 15-20 yrs working. Shrug

So anyone have any good or bad things to say about Idaho? Its
economy, chances for growth and employment and so forth.

Im interested in perhaps moving out of California...heading anyplace
that I can prosper enough to keep myself and my family alive and
eating regularly.

Anyone?

Im not moving tommorow, next week or next month. Next
year...shrug...gotta have someplace to go, before figuring out how to
get there.

Gunner

I don't know jack about Idaho, but perhaps your focus should be on
what rather than where.

You can do commercial and industrial electrical, but only as a scab
and that can be hard work even when scab work is available. It
obviously isn't. If you can repair complex mechanical assemblies,
you've opted not to fix your own truck so that obviously doesn't
appeal to you. You may be able to troubleshoot electronics, but I
rather doubt that you can do it better than zit-faced eager hungry
young techs with recent training, young families, strong motivation
and willingness to tolerate whatever crap they must for a paycheck.
You ain't gonna be a lumberjack or oilfield roughneck at age 60 and
beyond.

Your most consistent interest and passion has to do with guns. If
you're really serious about a new course, I'd say build on that. You
know guns and their use, you can respect people who respect guns, and
you have at least rudimentary skills in machining and smithing. The
people most likely to be tolerant of your idiosyncrasies are those who
appreciate and covet fine firearms and will pay handsomely to have
them made for them. There are people with money to spend even in
recessions. Hell, you know how nuts sales of AR-15's has been since
the election, even in a down economy.

A few men with modest lathes, some tooling and considerable skills who
can craft rifles that win BR matches and/or craft pistols that are
exquisite in design and function have far more work than they can do
even in the present economy and perhaps especially at present. They
can live where ever they want and most do live in rural to remote
locales. Age doesn't matter, nor does physical frailty that
inevitably accompanies advancing age. You say you're good for another
15 to 20 and maybe you are, but I'll note that being 68 is definitely
different from being 56. YMMV.