Posted by Arthur P. Bloom on Wednesday, October 15, 2003 at 12:22PM :
In Reply to: What do all you do for a living???? posted by dave on Tuesday, October 14, 2003 at 11:21AM :
My first response to Dave's question was really advice, hastily written, about a new career opportunity. What may have been seen as flippant, and bragging, wasn't supposed to be. True, salaries for union-represented trades in the New York City area are real high, but reading some of you folks' description of acreage and lifestyles puts a little light on the subject for me.
I live on a little island, now a tourist spot, formerly a fishing and farming area, off the end of Long Island. I bought 11 acres of woods behind my Great-Grandfather's house, which I inherited, about 20 years ago, for $15,000 per acre. I couldn't afford to hold the entire 11, so I sold off 5 to my neighbors, at the same price, and built a little house and barn for me and the new wife.
The neighbors just sold their two houses, pool, barn, and pond on 7 acres, (original, plus the land I sold them) for $2,600,000.00.
An acre building lot here now goes for $350,000. One with water view goes for $450,000, and waterfront, with dock permit, goes for $500,000 and up. Most one-story houses are bought for the land value, then torn down and rebuilt in the $1,000,000 range.
So you see, making $100,000 per year (40% tax bracket) is all relative.
I am retired from Ma Bell, the management of which are the biggest bunch of thieves in the country, after "30 years of faithful service, 15 years on hold" (inside joke). I was a repairman, installer, splicer, tractor-trailer driver, security agent, powerman, instructor, foreman, and prisoner of "Dilbert-land" at various times.
Now I run two little businesses: a telephone and data installation and repair business, with one helper, and my military truck parts business. I volunteer at the church, at the county Auxiliary Police, and in the local Fire Department.
I am 56 years old, tall, ugly and bald, married to a brilliant, gorgeous babe, who works part-time at our church, and have two "life sentences" to consider: Erika Joy, aged 12, and Russell, aged 9. She likes horses and the saxophone, and he likes hamsters and Ford trucks. (I can't make all his decisions for him)
Oh yes, one M35A2, one Power Wagon, (a keeper) and one for sale.
Thanks, Joe.
Arthur