All good things must end!

[Barnyard]

Today I came home and joined the ranks of the unemployed. It is somewhat hard to suddenly find yourself out of a job. For almost twenty seven years I have had a very rewarding career, one that most people would never want to lose. Some days the work was nonstop, meetings with contractors here and employees there. This report or that spreadsheet had to get out before the day ended. If a major system of our building went down I was the one responsible to get a crew working on it and meet with upper management to keep them informed of the status. Then there were those days when it was so slow that I was actually bored. But today that all ended.

I worked hard through my career to get to where I was. I started out as a forklift operator loading trucks and shipping tax forms across the country. After a couple of years, management saw I had mechanical skills so they sent me to the office appliance repair shop (yes the IRS had one of those). I spent nine years unjamming staplers, adjusting mail sorting machines and working on machinery in general.

All that eventually led to a nine year stint as the building maintenance manager. No matter what happened in our building, I was the guy who got the phone call when something went wrong. I was fortunate in having a topnotch crew who responded to any problem and made things right with the world. Then, in 2004, the government said, ”Hey, let’s outsource these guys”. My position was abolished and I faced losing my job, and this is right after we had bought the barnyard and BOB.

Luck held out and I found myself qualified to oversee the maintenance contract that was set up for the contractor who took over all of the building operations. I was saved and given the position of Building Maintenance Specialist/Building Management Consultant. I was still the guy who ran the operations but I didn’t have a crew to be responsible for. This is a somewhat busy at times, slow at others position. I feel I did quite well with it these past seven plus years and really enjoyed the work.

And then today, BOOM, it all came to a screeching halt. I will survive! I walked out the door with my head held high, knowing that I gave it my all. It was no big surprise but it still weighed heavy on my mind. I am looking forward to spending more time working with my Cubs and hopefully getting more done with the walls and floor on BOB.

I knew this was coming; in fact I pretty much brought it on myself a couple of weeks ago, because I’m the one who told the boss, “I’m retiring July 27th”!

[Winfield Dave]

Congratulations Bill !!

And on a related note:
ATTENTION Midwest Residents !
Lock your garages and barns !
If Barnyard accumulated 30+ tractors while employed,
NONE are safe now.

All kidding aside, Best Wishes, Bill.

[RUSSALL]

Way to go Bill!
I know you have been thinking about this for quite a while.
Enjoy your retirement .


Russ

[ScottyD'sdad]

Bill, being retired isn't bad. The pay isn't great though. God, I can't picture Barnyard, with MORE time on his hands! Scary thought! (You could come up to Cecil's cubfests, since you're available. Rosey could use a break!) Ed

[Don McCombs]

Congratulations, Bill.

Welcome to the club.

[Ken (48 Cub)]

Congrats Barnyard, enjoy your free time....it was well earned!

[Mr E]

Congrats, Bill. Enjoy your retirement.

[Roy47]

Congrats on the retirement Bill. I remember the last day with the company I had been with for 30 years. I still dream about being at work and I've been retired for almost 20 years. However when I left my wife owned a small company so I went to work for her. (Look up the meaning of - "out of the the frying pan and into the fire" and you will probably see my smiling face!!)
(Boy I'm glad she doesn't read this forum)
Roy

[Cecil]

Another upstanding individual for the "what Cub shall I work on today" club. Congrats. Now get your butt out here in October.

[Larry G]

Congradulations Bill. If you start now you might be ready for the 2013 Bash!!!

Enjoy your retirement.

Larry and Cindy.

[Dennis]

Congratulations Bill! Now you can start working for "free" like the rest of us retired old fart

[v w]

Enjoy! Any plans? Vern

[Jeff Silvey]

Congrats Bill. Dont start buying to many cubs.

[(CUB HUT)]

Congrats. Bill , Just remember one thing –Retirement is great but you will never have another day off

[Bob McCarty]

Congrats Bill. I bet you won't look back for a millisecond. And by the way, the Rocky Mtn. Cubfest is Aug 17th and 18th. Easy two day drive.

Bob