<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2716.2200" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Clyde, Here's how I do it. I do my = tunings during the middle two weeks of the month. Next month I'm starting on the 10th. = I book 3 calls a day, which is a nice load, and doesn't tire me out too badly. = When that week is full I go ahead an fill the next week the same way. It's working = nicely for me. I've started piano lessons again plus have started playing = classical guitar (again) and mandolin so I don't get bored. At 67 years old, = it's fun to have the two free week to just sit and read, or go fishing etc, etc. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Of course a school or church might come = along and need a bit of help during the off weeks, but that can be taken as sort = of a break in the week.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I had planned to do shop rebuilding and = refinishing on the off weeks, but the heck with that. I've sold a lot of my shop = tools and will sell the rest of the piano related ones. I'm having too much fun..................</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Richard</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A title=cedel@supernet.com href="mailto:cedel@supernet.com">Clyde = Hollinger</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, February 26, = 2003 3:04 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Something to = appreciate about our profession</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV>Dave, <P>Something else I like about this occupation, if one is = self-employed as most of us probably are, is that one doesn't have to go suddenly from = a full-time job down to no work.  I am 56, and if I feel the need = to "downshift," I can choose to work less.  Maybe 16 pianos per week = rather than 20, then later on 13, 10, 5 or whatever as I enter the retirement = years. <P>But I haven't figured out how to gradually cut down the number of = customers I've served these many years.  I guess I'll ask this list for = that advice when I need it.  For now I just decide how many pianos I'm = willing to do in a month, and the rest go on a waiting list or get referred to = someone else. <P>Regards, <BR>Clyde <P>Piannaman@aol.com wrote: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE="CITE"><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT size=-1>Listers,</FONT></FONT> <P><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT size=-1>While attending the = PTG Conference in San Ramon, CA,(my first conference) something stood = out in my eyes.  At 50, I am still relatively young in this = business.  Those who are older are not cast out like they are in so much of the = high-tech industry in my neighborhood.  People with age and wisdom are = venerated and treated with respect, appreciated for the knowledge they have = and are willing and eager to share with those eager to learn.</FONT></FONT> <P><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT size=-1>Nice to have work = that doesn't give me the willies when I think about getting older!</FONT></FONT> <P><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT size=-1>Thanks for all the = wisdom available on this list on a daily basis,</FONT></FONT> <P><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT size=-1>Dave Stahl</FONT></FONT></P></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>