[gtt]

Hey Old Guys,

I need a pep talk! I'm 57, still doing commercial tech work. This summer down here makes me reallllllly wonder. . . .how much longer can i do this?

Got two other guys in their 30's that I work with, needless to say, I cannot compete with their energy. But, even they say they run on coffee, & Red-Bulls to keep them moving.

Boss says the clients can see the difference, so I am not optimistic. Short-term is I can do the Red-Bull thing, and the summer and 100+ days are coming to a close, I guess.

Looking for a desk to drive!

 

[newoldtech]

Not sure how most homes are in your area but the residential market might be easier on your body. Especially if your any good at sales. Most companies, especially in the residential market would rather hire a good "sales tech" any way.

 

[gtt]

Vast majority of homes here are attic installations, and crawling around in 130+ temps,. . . . . . . knees and ankles are not the best. . .

 

[the dangling wrangler]

I can't offer you much of a pep talk. I'm in the same boat you are. I can't tell ya how much I hope this will be my last summer in this trade.

 

[Diceman]

I will be 59 next week, I feel your pain.
I work for myself but had a rough summer.
If I do more than 2 days of install or hard work in a week, my body cries out in agony.:grin2:
You do need a change, something to utilize your experience over physical work. A foreman type job or supervisor or whatever.
Maybe run it by the powers that be.
Good luck old man.

 

[Home&Marine]

Yes it's tough on us "old Guys". Don't kill yourself, it's not worth it. If you haven't already, try to start getting your financial things in order. Try to make a plan and set some Goals (yea, refer to Sentence #2). At age 50 my Goal/ 5 year plan was to Zero all debt and Get the Hell out of Corporate America. Everything came together a little quicker than I expected and I've been out on my own for 2 years now. Absolutely no regrets.

It's been an extremely hot Summer and I'm ready for a break. I don't know how long I'll do this either but one thing for sure, I make the decisions now.

Good luck.

 

[MichaelPaladin]

I'm 47 and heck I'll take a roof over an attic any day of the week. Even though I don't like those roofs so much in the winter time.

 

[rojacman]

whoa , hold on gtt

Hey Old Guys,

I need a pep talk! I'm 57, still doing commercial tech work. This summer down here makes me reallllllly wonder. . . .how much longer can i do this?

Got two other guys in their 30's that I work with, needless to say, I cannot compete with their energy. But, even they say they run on coffee, & Red-Bulls to keep them moving.

Boss says the clients can see the difference, so I am not optimistic. Short-term is I can do the Red-Bull thing, and the summer and 100+ days are coming to a close, I guess.

Looking for a desk to drive!

....forget the desk for now..you are a commercial tech already and could already be in line for a shift into a different phase of comm'l. work..i don't know your educational background but think about getting some education in digital control systems...both installing and servicing them....it's not a backbreaking job and you can stay in the trades 'till retirement...the work is interesting and with continuing education , you can usually write your own ticket....being a tech already is a good portion of the skilset required to learn this trade as you can adapt the components you're already familiar with to the control components...changing older pneumatic systems to ddc is a whole other challenge using the existing pneu. actuators and airlines , interesting work , not backbreaking....second suggestion would be test & balance , all new jobs need a t&b person to start the building air & water systems ....don't give up......Jack:cheers: o yea , i'm old & took my own advice......worked for me......

 

[timebuilder]

I turned 59 on 8/24.

I out-work ALL the younger guys.

It's a matter of the individual. You might need some cardio or other training to keep you up and at it.

In July, I weighed 218. Now, I weigh 188. I stopped going through the fast food lane and started limiting calories. By Christmas I will be back to my Judo weight of 168. That was 1995.

Then, I start P90X.

To quote an annoying TV exercise guy...


"you can do ittttttttttttt....."

 

[fearlessfurnace]

there are commercial outfits that want a tech on staff. lots of preventive maintenance that you can adjust the timing on. They want some stuff fixed now but I havent had one night call and only one 2 hr late day the last two months.

 

[stonewallred]

42, and from 8 until 20 I raced BMX or motocross.
Throw in 18+ years of tossing iron in the gym.

I gave up and went into business with a younger partner(a former tech of mine) and am riding out the years until I retire. What I can do, I do, what I can't, he handles.

Might be a solution.

 

[chillerfreak]

Hey Old Guys,



Boss says the clients can see the difference, so I am not optimistic. Short-term is I can do the Red-Bull thing, and the summer and 100+ days are coming to a close, I guess.

Looking for a desk to drive!

I would start out by kicking your bosses ass....That will make you feel better!......Who taught those young guys the trade anyway?

 

[vmc1161]

I turned 59 on 8/24.

I out-work ALL the younger guys.

It's a matter of the individual. You might need some cardio or other training to keep you up and at it.

In July, I weighed 218. Now, I weigh 188. I stopped going through the fast food lane and started limiting calories. By Christmas I will be back to my Judo weight of 168. That was 1995.

Then, I start P90X.

To quote an annoying TV exercise guy...


"you can do ittttttttttttt....."

I'd love to be 168, I'm about 182 now, I do not eat that much and was very active this summer ... but the weight just fluctuates a few pounds, I do have a muscular frame.

I'm 60 now and feel great ... about the way I did at age 30, I hope to keep working for at least ten more years ... unless I hit the lottery ... :grin2:

I think I’ve told this story before but here goes. When I came home from Marine boot camp (age 17) I weighed 160 and was rock hard. By chance an insurance agent was at the house, he asked what I weighed. When I told him he went to his chart and told me I was almost 20 lbs overweight …:eek2: Amazing.


.

 

[vmc1161]

Hey Old Guys,

I need a pep talk! I'm 57, still doing commercial tech work. This summer down here makes me reallllllly wonder. . . .how much longer can i do this?

Got two other guys in their 30's that I work with, needless to say, I cannot compete with their energy. But, even they say they run on coffee, & Red-Bulls to keep them moving.

Boss says the clients can see the difference, so I am not optimistic. Short-term is I can do the Red-Bull thing, and the summer and 100+ days are coming to a close, I guess.

Looking for a desk to drive!

Your boss is a jerk for saying something like that. All these things go in cycles so you have survived this low cycle and are on the start of an up cycle. Hang in there.

.

 

[gtt]

Thanks for the suggestions. Exercise? after going up and down ladders, roping up tools & parts, working in the blazing sun (110 in the SHADE), kneeling and squatting, dudes, if you still got the energy in you, I salute ya!. . . . This summer has been extraordinarily brutal down here, but is never easy. Almost snagged an interview for a sales support gig. and will look into the controls gigs. Those guy's toolbags are VERY light!!

 

[maxster]

big tonnage techs age much faster then the commercial techs...some guys i see that rigged,tore down,rebuilt chillers for 25 yrs can't figure it out still :gah: us recip rooftop guys look so tan and positive and actually like the work but the haulin' and lifting does get to me...and long for the Fall and those econo and heating calls...:cheers: and almost forgot everybody is younger then me, even the bosses,and that is leading to wondering is it time to get a maint.job checking guages and filters to fill in the remaining year

 

[cjkite]

get a lawyer. this is blatant age discrimination

 

[energy star]

OP, How tall are you and how much do you weigh?

 

[condensatingguy]

Everyone is different, look at finger prints. I too was in the same sinking boat. The guy that had the digit control idea was a good idea, the guy who told you to workout has no idea what you are feeling. I work out for the last 30 years, it don't stop the knees and hips from hurting. I have been self employed for the last 30+ years, it's not easy, but you don't really have to do as much work to make what the Boss is paying you. What I got into was ice machine service, electro freeze mach, walk in boxes, beer line coolers, and consulting. I have a customer base that I don't need or want to advertize for just anyone to call me, if you called me you know someone else that is happy with what I have done for them. Don't always worry about the money, if you keep your eye on the ball, (do the right thing) the money will take care of itself. (for the most part)
Best of luck to you.
BTW-- I have always tried to make this a respectable trade, lets be honest, it's not. Electricans makes more money, plumbers make more money, so what have we done wrong? The answer is this, for whatever reason we sell ourselves to cheap, then we get the guys who are willing to work for less. And then things just kept going down hill from there. A few months ago I was at a supply house and said to the counter guy, gee it looks like all these installers just got out of jail, I would'nt want them in my house. He said to me, well it makes sence, they make licence plates in prison, so when they get out they make sheetmetal !! I laughed, but it was something to think about. they don't teach you how to be electrican or plumber do they? My dad did the HVAC at the first world trade center buildings. An all union job, everyone was well paid and taken care of.
If I had to do it over again, a union job, they take care of their own. My dad worked till 65, when the buildings were done they gave my dad the nice little cush job of greasing the blower bearings on the roof equipment for the last 4 yrs he worked, he talked about how from the rooftop he could see all over, he loved it, the union took care of him, and my mom till she was 92 ! RIP Robert & Hilda

 

[condensatingguy]

BTW

I use the handle of condensatingguy because everyone in my family sweats like a pig even when it's winter! So I don't sweat, I say am so cool, I condensate )