The time has arrived

Mark,
The way that our work careers overlap is amazing.

I too started in 1984.

I too am retiring, just two days after you, June 30.

I eagerly look forward to having choices with my time.

Congratulations on your career and blessings on your last few weeks.
Larry Eckart

PS: Don't you have a Hoefgen Duck Boat? I seem to remember you having one when I posted about mine, which I had for many years but sold last year.
 
Mark~


What a great tale! Sounds like you had a wonderful career - plenty of new challenges and interesting people all within a meaningful mission. Congratulations!



I remember my first Retirement Epiphany. My last day at NYSDEC was at the end of September and our Duck season opens in early October. Whilst driving to the hardware store mid-week (yup, a duckboat project!), I happened to notice a big bunch of Mallards and Blacks feeding in sheet water on a cornfield where I happened to have permission to hunt. Rather than planning for the weekend - or even the next morning - I soon realized that I had the freedom to pursue them that very day....


Early that afternoon - after pushing them out and waiting for them to trickle back in - I "discovered" that a limit of puddle ducks (Mallards, a Black, Woodies) was a fine way to celebrate "Phase II". May you make plenty of similar discoveries!



All the best,


SJS

 
Hi mark, this morning I sealed some seams in the bed of the new truck (new truck with open seams you can see to the ground - wtf?). When I had to choose an auto body seam sealant, I went with 3m urethane seam sealer hoping that it would push like 5200 (which I know how to work with to get it to do what I want). Project turned out perfect, so thank your colleagues for me before your last day. :).
 
tod osier said:
Hi mark, this morning I sealed some seams in the bed of the new truck (new truck with open seams you can see to the ground - wtf?). When I had to choose an auto body seam sealant, I went with 3m urethane seam sealer hoping that it would push like 5200 (which I know how to work with to get it to do what I want). Project turned out perfect, so thank your colleagues for me before your last day. :).

You bought the wrong truck....

Did you spray it? I remember the scale up of those products at our factory. Lots of issues going from a lab batch to 1000?s of gallons/batch. The product release specs are almost never met and then it is scramble mode and praying the work done before you get to the plant is comprehensive. I?ve thrown out or scrapped $250,000 factory runs. Those are never fun to explain to the bosses as to what happened.

Glad to hear the product worked. Ice to bear. 9.5 more days, or one more Sunday.
 
Mark W said:
tod osier said:
Hi mark, this morning I sealed some seams in the bed of the new truck (new truck with open seams you can see to the ground - wtf?). When I had to choose an auto body seam sealant, I went with 3m urethane seam sealer hoping that it would push like 5200 (which I know how to work with to get it to do what I want). Project turned out perfect, so thank your colleagues for me before your last day. :).

You bought the wrong truck....

Did you spray it? I remember the scale up of those products at our factory. Lots of issues going from a lab batch to 1000?s of gallons/batch. The product release specs are almost never met and then it is scramble mode and praying the work done before you get to the plant is comprehensive. I?ve thrown out or scrapped $250,000 factory runs. Those are never fun to explain to the bosses as to what happened.

Glad to hear the product worked. Ice to bear. 9.5 more days, or one more Sunday.

I just about crapped to see gaps in the bed of the new truck, would be fine if used as a truck, but with a topper I needed a better seal. I used it from a tube. Basically was able to mask and tool the bead just like 5200. Perfect curing day here at 157% humidity.
 
tod osier said:
Hi mark, this morning I sealed some seams in the bed of the new truck (new truck with open seams you can see to the ground - wtf?).

My F150 was the same way. New meaning to open bed truck? I understand the reason behind it (reduces tolerances which reduces costs) but the open seams sure let in all kinds of road dust. Oh ya, a 4x4 truck is only driven on city streets during sunshiny days. My topper has scupper holes at the bottom of the rear window ledge. These drain rain water that collects on the window ledge. The rain water drains onto the top of the plastic trim piece on the tailgate. From there the rain water runs down the INSIDE face of the tailgate. Anything touching the inside face of the tailgate gets wet. Real good engineering, yessire, real good,,,,,,,,, NOT.
 
Huntindave McCann said:
tod osier said:
Hi mark, this morning I sealed some seams in the bed of the new truck (new truck with open seams you can see to the ground - wtf?).

My F150 was the same way. New meaning to open bed truck? I understand the reason behind it (reduces tolerances which reduces costs) but the open seams sure let in all kinds of road dust. Oh ya, a 4x4 truck is only driven on city streets during sunshiny days. My topper has scupper holes at the bottom of the rear window ledge. These drain rain water that collects on the window ledge. The rain water drains onto the top of the plastic trim piece on the tailgate. From there the rain water runs down the INSIDE face of the tailgate. Anything touching the inside face of the tailgate gets wet. Real good engineering, yessire, real good,,,,,,,,, NOT.

Yep, f250 here. I?ll have to see about the cap and rain. I?m waiting for the cap. First cap was sent back for poor finish quality.
 
[size 4]Congrats, Mark. Welcome to the "pick up and go when the spirit moves" hunting club. Dave, Al, & I are on the board of directors [;)]

The first full comprehension that everyone else is at work really hit when I spent the first week of the season away with the MLB on Au Train Lake in Michigan; but then I realized that after that trip was over I'd be returning home to.........duck hunt whenever I wanted to for the rest of the season!!!
View attachment AuTrainMLBXII 085.jpg


View attachment AuTrainMLBXII 076.jpg

Stay healthy; enjoy the blessing of retirement.
 
MLBob Furia said:
Congrats, Mark. Welcome to the "pick up and go when the spirit moves" hunting club. Dave, Al, & I are on the board of directors [;)]


The first full comprehension that everyone else is at work really hit when,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,


Bob,
Interesting that you mention this. The "comprehension" hit me while I was fishing a public lake in the middle of a large park I like to frequent. A few boats were out and about that day, but it was far from crowded. That in itself was not necessarily unusual, but as I was sitting there enjoying myself, I became aware of a sound in the distance. I recognized the sound as the sound of a mower cutting grass.

How strange, I thought to myself, I've never heard them (the park staff) mowing before now. Then it dawned on me,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, It was the middle of the week! DUH [cool][cool]
 
Congrats Mark! 3M continues to be a big supporter & advocate of DU as well, especially for the MN Living Lakes Projects.

Big question is can you claim your WI property as permanent residence to avoid the taxation of MN?
 
What a great career! You deserve a long and well earned retirement!
I hope to be done in 5 years which would give a 35 yr career in medicine.
 
Andrew L. said:
Congrats Mark! 3M continues to be a big supporter & advocate of DU as well, especially for the MN Living Lakes Projects.

Big question is can you claim your WI property as permanent residence to avoid the taxation of MN?

There are pro's and con's to moving the permanent residence to WI. It is really just about a wash. We do have property in south Dakota which would be a huge benefit in income taxes but would pay for the difference in medical between MN and SD. Besides, I enjoy paying 9.85% in income taxes to MN. Should go down now with the decreased income. Till MN screws it up again.
 
Back
Top