SuzukiSavage.com - Last day at Cardinal

Dave

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Last day at Cardinal
12/29/17 at 05:21:21

It has been 32 years in the making - but today is my last day working full time and having an office at Cardinal Engineering. It has been a career of a few ups and downs (a small civil engineering company is very dependent on the economy being good if we want to stay busy). When the economy went bad a few years ago we went down to 4 day weeks and borrowed money to keep our employees paid and our doors open - but we survived and have bounced back.......not all the small engineering companies were able to weather the storm and survive. It has been a career filled with lots of 60-70 hour weeks that included 4-5 public meetings each month - and on meetings days I could leave the house at 5AM and not get back home until after 10PM.

I am packing my office up today, and moving my things to my new office. My next career will be as the City Engineer/Zoning Administrator/Building Inspector for Highland Heights, KY. I have been working for them for the last 26 years as a consultant - now I will be one of their employees. I will be working about half as many hours as I do now, and I will be able to get away far easier for long weekend rides.

The new job will also give me the opportunity to ride a motorcycle to/from work - as I will have a city car to drive while I am working. Riding a motorcycle has not been a good option previously - as it is hard to pack the clothing/tools I might need on the job.

I am really looking forward to the next chapter in my life - and it will begin on Tuesday, January 2nd.....2018!

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Someday I will be old......But not today!

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Gary_in_NJ Serious Thumper Offline LS650 Cafe Racer Posts: 2633 Amongst the Twisty Roads	Re: Last day at Cardinal Reply #1 - 12/29/17 at 05:52:19 Congrats Dave. Enjoy a long and well deserved self imposed semi retirement.
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Serowbot YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline OK.... so what's the speed of dark? Posts: 28668 Tucson Az Gender:	Re: Last day at Cardinal Reply #2 - 12/29/17 at 06:04:45 Cheers!...
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Oldfeller--FSO

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Re: Last day at Cardinal
Reply #3 - 12/29/17 at 06:05:10

Dave, be careful of the cagers early in the morning -- juggling a cup of coffee and driving is more than most of them can handle.

Soccer moms in big SUVs love to make sudden lane shifts, not looking at all ...... Tongue

Four times now I took the rumble strip rather than getting soccer mom'd and it gets repetitive to look over at them from so close up and see them talking on the phone or sipping coffee just plain totally oblivious.

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Ruttly Serious Thumper Offline Thumpers Rule Posts: 5112 Manteca , CA Gender:	Re: Last day at Cardinal Reply #4 - 12/29/17 at 06:15:07 Happy New Year SD , Congrats Oldfeller is right use caution the most dangerous times to be riding is sun up & sun down they just don't see us !
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piedmontbuckeye

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Re: Last day at Cardinal
Reply #5 - 12/29/17 at 06:23:48

Congrats!! Hope your change will go well for you.

Also be careful on the roads on a regular basis. Back when my 2 older kids were little (circa 1984) I rode my BMW to work 13 miles each way nearly every day, rain or snow. During that time, I had approx, 2 close calls a week or so. So...I decided to sell both my BMW's so the kids could grow up with a Dad.

A few years ago, my youngest and I went on a 2,500 mile trip on our BMW's. During that trip which included a lot of interstates, being closer to passing traffic, I saw that about 50% of the drivers were immersed in their cell phones! Scary!! Sooo... please be careful!

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Steve H

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Re: Last day at Cardinal
Reply #6 - 12/29/17 at 07:38:59

Congrats on the semi-retirement, Dave.

Be careful on the commute. They aren't paying any attention early in the morning. The soccer moms will get you if you are in their way going to two or three different schools, starbucks and getting to work somewhere near on time. Their attention span while driving, drinking coffee, talking on the phone and yelling at kids is effectively nil...they are on autopilot.

I hope you enjoy your extra time for yourself.

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Todd James Full Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 238 Mansfield, Ohio Gender:	Re: Last day at Cardinal Reply #7 - 12/29/17 at 08:00:35 Congratulations, Dave. That's a great way to start a new year !
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springman Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 2217 Spring, Texas Gender:	Re: Last day at Cardinal Reply #8 - 12/29/17 at 08:10:33 Way to go Dave. I truly hope you will greatly enjoy this new chapter in your life. I am guessing you will like this better than going cold turkey.
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Last day at Cardinal Reply #9 - 12/29/17 at 08:55:51 Great news, good for you,man. Will Cardinal be able to make it?
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engineer Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 872 Gender:	Re: Last day at Cardinal Reply #10 - 12/29/17 at 10:03:07 Congratulations. You'll not regret your decision.
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Dave

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Re: Last day at Cardinal
Reply #11 - 12/29/17 at 10:07:01

justin_o_guy2 wrote on 12/29/17 at 08:55:51:

Will Cardinal be able to make it?

Cardinal is doing great! They have a good group of young owners/engineers that are very well respected, have good clients, and are technically gifted. When I started here we were still using survey transits, theodolites, manual levels and steel tapes to survey - now we have electronic total stations and a drone that can create topographic surveys and video. I am the last old guy here......and it is time to let the younger generation shine- they have a bright future ahead of them.

My parting is good for everyone involved, and we remain good friends. I am available to them if they need some part time help in the coming years - but I don't want it to interfere with my riding!

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Someday I will be old......But not today!

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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Last day at Cardinal Reply #12 - 12/29/17 at 11:04:01 Excellent,, growth and stability ,, That the company has grown is good to hear.
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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28887 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Last day at Cardinal Reply #13 - 12/29/17 at 13:35:20 completely envious, enjoy.
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Papa Bear Senior Member Offline Posts: 476 Canada ... near the Motor City Gender:	Re: Last day at Cardinal Reply #14 - 12/29/17 at 13:36:43 Congrats, Dave !! Good to hear.
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