May 12, 2014

  • Sooooooo

    Three weeks ago I bought a new commercial building to convert into an art studio and gallery. I am calling the enterprise "The Artists Cave" and have registered the business. I moved my wood working tools, my art supplies, tables, shelves and benches in and have been remodeling, painting, rewiring the electrical etc etc etc... I still have my roofing job, and will probably continue to work for the company for a few more years, but my retirement from this 35 year roofing career is close at hand and I will need something to keep me going. I believe this adventure in art is the perfect plan.

    By the time I am ready to retire from roofing the studio gallery should be in full operation.

    We have room for small classes in art, several guest artists to work, a large and small gallery space, a wood shop, a restoration and preservation area, a small office, a break room and a small store to sell prints t-shirts note cards etc. I had to beg, borrow and steal the money to pay for it, well not steal, but I did beg and borrow though.

    The funny thing is my wife and I were financially all set, I could have retired any time and just sat around watching grass grow, but that isn't me. I have to be contributing and fulfilling my inner artistic spirit. Now we are as deep in debt as I have ever been in my life and I am loving it. I am not afraid and I have no reservation, only drive and ambition.

    Now I only have to figure out how to best deal with government bureaucracy. As I see it, the state is the biggest obstacle between every entrepreneur and success. Our local gov't is fine and easy to work with, but I live in New York State and historically New York, despite all the PR to the contrary is relatively unfriendly towards small business owners, or any business owners for that matter. New York loves to tax and fine it's businesses.

    Maybe time will prove my impressions of the state wrong. I can only hope so.

    So that is one thing keeping me very busy, on top of building a new fireplace and finishing the loft and shower in the log cabin, preparing the gardens, my regular job and practicing my piano. Did I mention that I see my wife ever few days in passing?

    Actually I sleep an average of 7 hours a night and deeply. So I feel very good right now. The key is to not waste time, nor try too hard. One must maintain balance, each day setting goals and establishing the priorities for the day. It is good to have goals, and be able to strive toward achieving them.

    SO why am I writing this blog and visiting my Xanga friends when I have so much to do? Because I have reviewed my priorities and my friends are still a top priority. All seven of you. I love you all...

Comments (17)

  • 8! It's 8 friends! haha.

  • I think that you are a fascinating person, and look forward to hearing more about your new enterprise. I hope that you are not hindered by the taxes imposed.
    You stopped by to see me early in May, and said some encouraging things to me about my poetry. I thought that I'd commented back, but that must be about the time that I was taking a "Xanga-break." Thanks you for your comment.
    I'm a lover of art and music as well as of literature, and being an entrepreneur myself, I am cheering you on all the way! :-)
    Carolyn

  • Seven friends on Xanga? Dang you are rich, John!

    So happy to read that you are preparing yourself in such a positive way for your retirement. What a wonderful project to adopt, something that you love so much. Good going my friend!

  • I just counted your friends who commented, and there are 11 of them, and I make 12. So there! I bet on the old Xanga you had more than you could count. I don't know how to make friends with the new Xanga. Your new building sounds great! My husband started his own business many years ago. One of my sons bought a small business and runs it, so I understand how difficult it can be with all the regulations, taxes, etc. Even in Indiana which is supposed to be friendly to small businesses.

  • Staying busy keeps us young. I hope! Thanks for the kind Mother's Day wishes. I hope yours was good too! I wish you the best in New York. Seems the new mayor of New York City is worse than Bloomberg, if that's even possible. The rest of the state might have to bail them out over and over. I guess a mayor has the right to armed robbery, right? :D

  • RYC: Indeed we have been surprised to see how very young children already had the sense of the rhythm

  • I encourage you, JOHN FOR THIS PROJECT ; i LIKE THE NAME OF YOUR GALERY ," ART CAVE" AND THIS MAKEs ME THINK YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO ADD A SECTION 3 <FRENCH WINS CAVE ° AT THE SIDE OF THE ARTS ;. The oenology is an art.
    Bravo for you spirit of enterprise .
    In friendship
    Michel

  • Come on...there are at least 10 of us! ;-) :-D And we love you, too! :-)

    Thank you for sharing your life with us! I love that you are not going to sit and rest on your laurels (retire), but are going to venture forth and share your talents with others! :-)

    I'm so excited about The Artist's Cave!!! :-) What wonderful times are ahead, what wonderful fun, what memory making! Yay! :-)

    Could you make music there, too?!

    I'm glad you still see your wife in passing! She is super important! :-)

    I wish you luck! I pray for smooth sailing! I know you are going to do great! :-)

    HUGS!!! :-)

  • You are so modest. I know you have at least nine friends.

  • I think your artists' studio will be a success based on your paintings alone! I wish there were some galleries around here that would sell on commission 3-D work. Almost all of them only accept paintings/drawings. The few that accept other things are narrow - only jewelry or only bronze/stone/marble sculptures. The ceramic artist is left out... I hope you will post some photos of your progress on the studio!

  • That's great -- one of the most neglected aspects in planning for retirement is what will keep you active when you're no longer working every day! Somehow watching the grass grow isn't very fulfilling! I wish you great success with the gallery -- one of these days I'll come and visit an old curmudgeon artist and reminisce about the old Xanga days :-) !

  • No fear. Full steam ahead. That's the stuff! How this country was built.

  • It all sounds wonderful! ~ may the gov't be kind ~ :)

  • I think your life sounds interesting, exciting and adventurous. I think it's great that you want more out of life than lying down in the grass. I hope your vision grows and blossoms like the sweetest flower.

  • Oh, that sounds like an exciting business venture. I wish I could come and take lessons, but I think you're rather far for me to drive. :) I never did learn to paint with oils, only really water colors.

  • I am mulling over Jilly's comment.

    You do sound busy, driven, successful, and poised for a new chapter in your life. I wish you well.

  • so I'm one of the seven?

    LOL

    my uncle is 83yr old and has a studio behind his house for years in Sonoma County.
    I was 50yr old before I realized all those nudes weren't my aunt Lorraine. I said,"why all the white terry cloth robes hanging on pegs and she said for the nudes of course.
    He has classes there and likes to teach,too.

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