<HTML>In a message dated 12/5/2000 2:17:29 PM Mid-Atlantic Standard Time, Ray@Bentley.net writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px"> I regularly tell people that there are two main reasons I love working on their pianos.  The piano is only one reason:  the wonderful people I meet are the other.  There are many people who wish to visit the entire time I'm working on their piano.  I never discourage this.  I just continue to work while they chatter.  It does us both a lot of good. </BLOCKQUOTE> I might add to this:  I agree with all of the above and the following :  As I progressed with my family, we always had two or three dogs in the house too.   As t he kids grew up and moved out on their own, my wife and I began traveling a lot and so could no longer be "tied" down by having to care for pets.  We also never wanted to have to board them in a vet's hospital.  So the bonus to me in my piano tuning career, is that I get to visit all these homes with dogs (and sometimes cats).  I can play with them,and like Grandchildren, can then leave without having any responsibilities.  I like that part a lot.  I wish there was a "Rent-A-Pet" company out there somewhere so that you could rent a pet for a weekend, and then just turn them back in-no responsibilites.  So the piano business gives me that little extra bonus- in addition to meeting the wonderful people with whom you come in c! ontact. Just another thought. Bob Bergantino, RPT Willoughby Hills, Ohio</HTML>