Good for you buddy.
Welcome back to the herd.
I have that cartoon on my wall also, it sure fits.
Take care and give me a shout sometime.
Randy
Congrats Deral. Michael is lucky to have good help!
Cliff
Ooooh! Payback time!!
When I finally made party chief on the slope, an old PC of mine was coming back thru Prudhoe from Kuparuk and was going to be my I-man for a day. Pulled up to the control point, looked at him, "I've been always wanted to say this....Get outta the truck!"
My Dad lasted about a month after retiring ... went back to work ASAP!
-JD-
Cool deal Trimble Man!
Keep your rod plumb.
It is tough to leave a profession that you so much love to be a part of. Of course, be ready to do all of the walking, since the PC just stands at the totalstation and takes shots. Congrads and enjoy not being the "Boss".
OK, so you sold your house, and then bought another??? say, I guess I am out of touch.... I thought you were becoming a motor home guy..... I sure relate to the cartoon though!
N
Welcome back, brutha man!
Rick
Just when you thought you would never worry about a shovel again, that it is back in your hands......
😉
Geez Deral,
That's just really weird! 🙂
[flash width=560 height=315] http://www.youtube.com/v/UPw-3e_pzqU?version=3&hl=en_US [/flash]
Welcome back to the hunt Deral... I'm usually fried in the fall after a hardcore season ...but after a couple three months downtime I start itching again to get out there ... I think my body will fail at some point ... but Im not gonna let anybody know about it.
It's easy to explain why I chose to return to the City of Lawton. I would never return to the old days before the City where I lived on the road much of the time and did mostly the large scale contract jobs. That is for younger men than I.
Here is an early shot somewhere in East Texas. From the clearing then this would be as we were staking the structures for the new 345KV line (Swepco). It was amazing to see it cleared after so much toil, sweat and often blood went into the preliminary routing and surveys. 
That is me with the shoulder holster, then Gary Fannon and Jeff Suiter. I heard Gary went back to working with horses and I know that Jeff got registered but not sure if he is still around Midland, Texas or not. We had a lot of good men on that 300 mile long project and many went on to become licensed.
Of course you all have seen some of my other interests posted here about our Roller Derby Ladies team, working with the Red Cross and other volunteer organizations. These are rewarding and I will continue to contribute to them but when I would drive around town I would see things being constructed that I had done the survey work for two years ago. I've been retired two years and with the funding process for many big projects it takes about that long before construction actually begins. And don't we all point out things to spouses, friends and family that we have worked on as you drive around? Lot pins, sections corners, and even sanitary sewer lines.
I frequent several facebook pages devoted to the early years of Lawton and also to current happenings. I grew up in OKC but I love my little Lawton. Just the right size to get things done on a citywide scale. And so here I was sitting, thinking about all the experience and training that was sitting idle for the most part. They asked if I would be interested at all in returning and after much thought then I applied and got offered the job.
I didn't miss surveying as much as I missed working for the City and helping out the people in our town. Whether improved streets or a more effective 911 map then all are very important to me mentally. And mental health is one thing that makes your life either worthwhile or a nightmare. I'll never stamp a thing again on paper but I'll have my stamp on the ground all over town. The reason it is called Civil Engineering is because the Civil stands for Civilization. I want to contribute and be in the loop.
I hope that makes sense on some level. This was the only job that I've had where I got to be a part of the conceptual idea, the survey, the construction and the completion. And you know from my postings how much I enjoyed all the people I worked with from all over the world. Some speak of a team but our division really worked that way.
And now, Michael, is the one to go talk to the boss on projects. I get to stock the stakes, tie flagging and clean the equipment getting ready to start the day. I'm looking forward to starting my day with my buddy once again. And we never really worked as a boss/employee with just a two man crew. I don't think that will have changed since I left.
Yes, I sold my home and rented another. I could not bear to put my things in storage although I have downsized greatly. From the bedroom suite that grand dad brought to Oklahoma in the land run to the framed topo map from John Giles. It's across the street from a friend and she was going to watch the house when I was out of town. And actually, not a ton more expensive than the really nice environmentally sound storage units.
I still plan to travel as much as possible but maybe I'm just not ready to give it all up and live in a motor coach just yet. Maybe I'm not as much the Vagabond Traveler as I thought.
As I thought about cutting these roots, I found that they were larger and deeper than I had imagined.
Great to hear from you again! I too enjoy the "art of helping others".
Had a great example yesterday with a conference call with my client and his attorney. At the conclusion of the conversation, all went away with a better understanding of what we can accomplish and more respect for the knowledge that each brings to the table. Conversations (from the surveyors perspective) on reciprocal ingress/egress easements, written descriptions, possible r/w acquisition for a deceleration lane and other issues relating to the development of this commercial tract made for an enjoyable day.
Wow! I almost missed this post. It was the last one before it runs off to page two which I rarely go off the main page so I would have missed it after the next new thread. Funny I would run across this just now. Not but a few ago I was wondering what you have been to.
Congrats to ya Bro!
E
Deral,
You and W.C. Not a bad way to go. 🙂
Good for you Deral! You are going to live a lot longer now. I worry about friends that retire, to many die young. You have had a nice long vacation and now can look forward to a productive yet much less stressful day and contribute to your community. Enjoy!