During the last month I have been asked how I am enjoying “retirement,” or if I’ve picked out a nice spacious refrigerator box for my new hobo-inspired lifestyle.
These people do not know me well.
Since June 15 I have taught four classes, taped two episodes of “The Woodwright’s Shop,” negotiated four book contracts, edited two books and built two projects in my shop at home. One’s a cabinet on commission – yay money – the other project is another one of those pesky A-squares that I put on the cover of “The Anarchist’s Tool Chest.”
This square is built from some sweet quartersawn walnut that carpenter Carl Bilderback unloaded on me (thanks Carl!). I don’t think it has been steamed. The above photo does not capture the color; the stuff is incredibly warm.
My daughter Katy and I cleaned up the beads on the square this morning, and I shot two coats of lacquer on it during lunch. Yes, I know I am going to hand-tool hell for using an HVLP sprayer. I’m OK with that.
Now I’ve got to prepare the rest of the wood for two side tables that I’m building for an upcoming DVD at Lie-Nielsen Toolworks. Saturday I leave to teach a class.
When I return, I hope to have some news on two new titles for Lost Art Press for 2011. And one of them is definitely not “Feng Shui in Your Lean-to.”
— Christopher Schwarz
So retirement simply means you’re tired all over again. Best of luck.
When you work for yourself, you only have to work half a day. You can do whatever you want with the remaining twelve hours.
I work much harder working for myself than I ever did at a company. Longer hours, too. Somehow, I have still have more free time and get more done both jobwise and around the house.
That’s all? What a slacker!
BTW, please sign me up for the first LAP School of Hand Tool Woodworking class, whatever it is you’re teaching, I’m there.
Thanks!
What an HVLP sprayer! I can’t believe it! Is there going to be an addendum to the Anarchist Tool Chest, if so I am going to have to change the dimensions of my tool chest (joking of course). Sounds like you are very busy but in a way that most of us woodworkers only dream about. I am eager to see your list of classes for 2012. I was bummed out when I saw that the two classes that you are teaching in Port Townsend were filled up. I really enjoyed TATC it was rather enlightening. Especially the part of the book that discussed the type of furniture you like to build vice what you like to live with. The video was rather neat too, I always wondered what tool brands you had for your own personal collection. Good luck Chris!
As my brother Greg, who runs his own business, is fond of saying – “I asked the boss for the day off, but the jerk keeps saying I can’t”.
btw – I caved in and bought your book (Anarchist’s Tool Chest) and enjoying it immensely, as I expected I would. Keep up the great work!
I would have thought that your new gig meant that the work really begins; quite the opposite of retirment. Can’t wait to hear the new titles, and ever greatful that it’s not a feng shui piece.
Kick anyone off the lawn yet?
Or did you finally pick up an old warehouse in the city for a song?
you sound board
.
You must be laughing all the way to the bank!
On a semantic note, the perfect oxymoron is “retirement job”
Happy days from wild Wales.
Howard
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It is really good to hear how GREAT your life is !! Really.
Keep the pictures coming of the new work. Look forward to seeing you at WIA.
BTW… Come on over the Google+ I have a circle 155 real woodworkers.
Being self employed is ruff but I sure do love it. No one to tell me what to do. But if i don’t work hard i don’t eat.
The first year I quite my “career” job, I was in transition on what I really wanted to do. I would get offended when I would get snide “well your home all day” remarks. I now realize(and “they” do too!) that I am the luckiest person around and the busiest. I can spend other peoples money as an interior designer, paint when I want as the artist I have always been and challenge myself with my new hobby-woodworking all with my dog at my feet.
I really enjoy reading your blog and articles, and if I can ever achieve a flat board with a plane – well, then, I’ll really have something to be happy about.
ok- i have to apologize for my typos – tiny keyboards suck.
I’m glad to hear you are keeping busy, but don’t let Megan read this about how busy you are. You might be visited by a knock on the door and a flaming bag of dog poo.
See you in Maine
Cat poo, actually.
Cat poo burns longer than dog poo, but with less smoke or smell.
There’s a world of difference between a customer and a boss. And I have a lot more respect for the self-employed tradesman who can actually DO something (and I would include “writer” in that category) than the corporate executive whose only real ability is to read the organizational tea leaves and schmooze his way to his next promotion.
What is would ‘hand-tool hell’ look like, exactly?
Row upon gleaming row of large horsepower Powermatic equipment.
With very dull blades.