I have to confess, I'm only 52 and my hair is not grey,yet.
I still have to do the WORK thing for a few years yet, though we did recently buy a Jurgens caravan and did a half lap of Aus.
While on our trip I kept thinking, I wonder what those people did for a crust. I'm now back in Sydney and back to work. Just before new year I had an accident and won't be able to work til the end of March. Gives me a lot of time to consider life,work and all things funner(I'm sure that's a word). Anyway, I live on the Northern Beaches and have always traveled all over Sydney for work. I'm just getting tired of it, with all the traffic etc. I'd really love to work locally or better still, work from home. BUT, I have no good ideas what I could do. I'm a sparky, I'm pretty handy with tools, I have a garage/shed. My boys are nearly finished school,my wife likes her job and I own my home, so I have an opportunity to start something new. I'm happy to invest time and money in a new project. Only thing is, what!
So I'm asking you wonderful people for help. If, when you retired, you had a good/interesting income stream that you did from your backyard,shed,home office or locally, I'd love to hear from you. If you prefer not to post,then please PM me any advise. I'm not really after everyone just jumping in with an opinion, but rather if anyone has a real idea about a possible income stream from home, please let me know.
Thanks in advance and I wish you all safe travels.
PS.. It's ok to sit back under the stars and laugh at what a sucker I am to still have to work. Haha
Possum3 said
07:21 PM Feb 21, 2019
You say you're a Sparky not Electrician. A competent licenced electrician can elect to work in their local area and never run out of work. An Auto Electrician is also able to work in the area they live with a minimum of advertising. Local Handymen are also in short supply just look at Jim's and Hire a Hubby franchises.
At 52 years of age you could start any career with minimum effort.
I think there maybe an attitude owing to the fact you say you are a sucker to have to work.
I believe most on this site are doing what they want to do, because they want to do it, some are pensioners, some self funded retirees, others are just working at all sorts of jobs as they travel to afford their lifestyle. (Welders, Hair dressers, Roo Shooters, Cooks, Barmen, etc.
Go to your local technical college and talk to a counsellor, while you are off work, and see if there is any courses you fancy that could assist you in a tree change.
Burns1 said
08:07 PM Feb 21, 2019
Thanks Possum, Yes I have a Qualified Supervisors Certificate, the highest grade Electricians license, and no, I not looking to become a house Sparky. I could go back to being well paid for specialist controls work but that means travel.
There is no "attitude" to work. Just a joke about all your care free, traveling lifestye's, compared to me trying to find a new career. The whole point is, I've been working way to hard for too long and I've payed off my house, raised 2 boys and are now looking for something to take me to retirement.
When I do give up the rat race, I'll surely end up working at something as we travel around this country. I've already spotted greynomadsjobs.com.
blaze said
09:56 PM Feb 21, 2019
Started sas a diesel fitter Won a contract to maintain mobile plant at 25 yo Self-taught computers while mechanicing (building and maintaining) Purchased a franchise within the printing industry
Then brought an offset printing press
then purchased a sign plotter This got us out of the crap we got into with the franchise and offset press. Become the first gold member of the sign acciation of Australia in Tasmania.
Then also started screen printing
Then had 12 years installing austar
then had 5years doing various jobs while travelling WA
Now pensione off with a buggered body
There has also been lots of licences and training along the way as well as some minor different contracted positions cheers blaze
-- Edited by blaze on Thursday 21st of February 2019 09:58:15 PM
Dougwe said
08:43 AM Feb 22, 2019
AHHHHH! Work! What a painful word that is these days. Should be
I worked from 12 years old to 60 and now enjoy my well earned retirement and enjoy the travelling lifestyle I have chosen.
At 52 you are still young and have great qualifications, well done. There is heaps of work around for your skills so just combine both, skills and travel.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
Burns1 said
01:13 PM Feb 22, 2019
Yeah Dougwe, I'm not yet in a position to travel/work. That will come. I have one in yr10 and one in yr12 and both mine and my wife's mothers are quite old and live close by.
Kebbin said
05:07 PM Feb 22, 2019
G'day Bernie and welcome, Have you ever thought about going into offgrid mobile solar/battery setups for RV's designing installing and offering kits for the more capable amongst us. It is prehaps the one thing every caravan/motorhome owner wants or needs.
Lithium batteries are getting cheaper if you assembled your own with quality cells they would be even more attractive to the likes of Grey Nomads as most suppliers are still asking top dollar. Just a thought.
Burns1 said
11:04 AM Feb 24, 2019
Hi Kebbin. Interesting thought. I only have the 1 caravan I bought as experience in this area, and the research I did before the purchase. It's only 17ft with a single battery and portable solar cells. Don't most caravans come fairly well quipped to be off grid these days with batteries, inverters,LED lighting,solar cells etc? And I thought most wanted portable solar cells so they can put them in the sun. I did have to redesign my van though, as I wasn't happy with the way the 3 way fridge was wired for 12v.My current career has a lot to do with LED lighting and batteries. If your happy to PM me and explain where you think the problems lie with the current RV/caravan 12v power set up, I'd love to find out about it. It would make a good transition to a full time nomad with a career. Haha
Kebbin said
12:01 PM Feb 24, 2019
Most caravans have some form of battery power, some just for lighting others power + lighting others 2 AGMs + Solar for self sufficiency, but I'm sure they would all want to have a Lithium set up, new technology lighter batteries more power to use better systems overall.
I can't speak for others but a lithuim setup is very appealing but I'm not sure how to go about buying cells online from China along with BMS to put together a system myself ( as I believe this is not only cost effective but also better then sealed units). I do think you could make a decent living out of designing building and even installing systems.
sandgrooper1 said
01:43 PM Feb 26, 2019
Hi Burns1,
At nearly 56 years of age myself I can relate to how you feel as expressed in your first post. I think a lot of people may suffer from what I term 'Fiftyituss'.
I know where I work quite a few seem too now as others have in the past. Last week for instance on one day alone I was informed of three workmates diagnosed with cancer and a forth retired workmate as well(2 x prostate one spread further both 60 yrs,1 x bowel cancer 75 yrs, 1 x osophegus cancer...inoperable 62 yrs).
Makes you think.....
Basically also retirement is on the horizon, most have advanced as far as they are ever going too at work....thus counting down the days, months, years.
I dare say we will get there.
Keep the chin up.
Regards AL
Burns1 said
04:41 PM Mar 9, 2019
Oh no AL. I'm sorry to hear about your work mates. I hope they get good help and get a bit longer at life.
I'm still happy to work for another 10-15 yrs. I'm just trying to get the balance right for where I am in life.
I have to confess, I'm only 52 and my hair is not grey,yet.
I still have to do the WORK thing for a few years yet, though we did recently buy a Jurgens caravan and did a half lap of Aus.
While on our trip I kept thinking, I wonder what those people did for a crust. I'm now back in Sydney and back to work. Just before new year I had an accident and won't be able to work til the end of March. Gives me a lot of time to consider life,work and all things funner(I'm sure that's a word). Anyway, I live on the Northern Beaches and have always traveled all over Sydney for work. I'm just getting tired of it, with all the traffic etc. I'd really love to work locally or better still, work from home. BUT, I have no good ideas what I could do. I'm a sparky, I'm pretty handy with tools, I have a garage/shed. My boys are nearly finished school,my wife likes her job and I own my home, so I have an opportunity to start something new. I'm happy to invest time and money in a new project. Only thing is, what!
So I'm asking you wonderful people for help. If, when you retired, you had a good/interesting income stream that you did from your backyard,shed,home office or locally, I'd love to hear from you. If you prefer not to post,then please PM me any advise. I'm not really after everyone just jumping in with an opinion, but rather if anyone has a real idea about a possible income stream from home, please let me know.
Thanks in advance and I wish you all safe travels.
PS.. It's ok to sit back under the stars and laugh at what a sucker I am to still have to work. Haha
At 52 years of age you could start any career with minimum effort.
I think there maybe an attitude owing to the fact you say you are a sucker to have to work.
I believe most on this site are doing what they want to do, because they want to do it, some are pensioners, some self funded retirees, others are just working at all sorts of jobs as they travel to afford their lifestyle. (Welders, Hair dressers, Roo Shooters, Cooks, Barmen, etc.
Go to your local technical college and talk to a counsellor, while you are off work, and see if there is any courses you fancy that could assist you in a tree change.
Thanks Possum, Yes I have a Qualified Supervisors Certificate, the highest grade Electricians license, and no, I not looking to become a house Sparky. I could go back to being well paid for specialist controls work but that means travel.
There is no "attitude" to work. Just a joke about all your care free, traveling lifestye's, compared to me trying to find a new career. The whole point is, I've been working way to hard for too long and I've payed off my house, raised 2 boys and are now looking for something to take me to retirement.
When I do give up the rat race, I'll surely end up working at something as we travel around this country. I've already spotted greynomadsjobs.com.
Started sas a diesel fitter
Won a contract to maintain mobile plant at 25 yo
Self-taught computers while mechanicing (building and maintaining)
Purchased a franchise within the printing industry
Then brought an offset printing press
then purchased a sign plotter This got us out of the crap we got into with the franchise and offset press. Become the first gold member of the sign acciation of Australia in Tasmania.
Then also started screen printing
Then had 12 years installing austar
then had 5years doing various jobs while travelling WA
Now pensione off with a buggered body
There has also been lots of licences and training along the way as well as some minor different contracted positions
cheers
blaze
-- Edited by blaze on Thursday 21st of February 2019 09:58:15 PM
AHHHHH! Work! What a painful word that is these days. Should be
I worked from 12 years old to 60 and now enjoy my well earned retirement and enjoy the travelling lifestyle I have chosen.
At 52 you are still young and have great qualifications, well done. There is heaps of work around for your skills so just combine both, skills and travel.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
Lithium batteries are getting cheaper if you assembled your own with quality cells they would be even more attractive to the likes of Grey Nomads as most suppliers are still asking top dollar. Just a thought.
I can't speak for others but a lithuim setup is very appealing but I'm not sure how to go about buying cells online from China along with BMS to put together a system myself ( as I believe this is not only cost effective but also better then sealed units). I do think you could make a decent living out of designing building and even installing systems.
Hi Burns1,
At nearly 56 years of age myself I can relate to how you feel as expressed in your first post. I think a lot of people may suffer from what I term 'Fiftyituss'.
I know where I work quite a few seem too now as others have in the past. Last week for instance on one day alone I was informed of three workmates diagnosed with cancer and a forth retired workmate as well(2 x prostate one spread further both 60 yrs,1 x bowel cancer 75 yrs, 1 x osophegus cancer...inoperable 62 yrs).
Makes you think.....
Basically also retirement is on the horizon, most have advanced as far as they are ever going too at work....thus counting down the days, months, years.
I dare say we will get there.
Keep the chin up.
Regards AL
I'm still happy to work for another 10-15 yrs. I'm just trying to get the balance right for where I am in life.
Safe travels, Bernie