I've been working full time since I was 18 (part time before that). Never went further than high school, I just started working after high school, following my fathers foot steps in his trade. Spent most of my life in that trade (even though I did not like it and it almost killed me), until the industry was replaced by technology and society changed. At age 55 I was laid off during the great recession. Not having a degree in anything, knowing only the one trade I had worked at for most of my life and not being able to relocate out of the economically depressed area I live in because I needed to take care of my elderly mother, I could not find a job. I applied at 100s of places but nobody wanted to hire me at age 55 with my skill set. I finally landed a job as a school night shift janitor. I have worked at that job now for 10 years. Turned out to be a nice job and place to work. This will be my last week working as I am retiring on Friday. It looks like I made it to the finish line! Looking back now, are there things I would have done different. You bet there are but you can't go back in time. I am very proud to say I never gave up and just kept working at whatever I could do. My mother passed away a few weeks ago and we are still settling her estate and such. Once all of that is taken care of, I am headed to the woods for a extended stay. Looking forward to do more fishing and being able to hunt more this fall.
Take care Everybody,
brian
