A Soul Searching Morning

[Gigi]

**** being a responsible adult--concentrate on being happy!

This is my new mantra!  Sincerely and seriously.

 

[IanC]

Even though I now see it for the hogwash that it is, lifelong conditioning like that is not easy to overcome. I bumped into people on the road who were financially independent, yet they were in a near tizzy over the fact that they didn't know what to do next.

My sister is married to a guy who had a very successful programming business - traveled all over the world setting up bank ATM systems.  At 60 he sold the business for a cool 1 million.  They have a beautiful fully paid house in North Carolina.  He developed a sort of agoraphobia and never leaves the house other than to do a volunteer teaching job.  She started working to relieve the boredom and just took a SECOND job.  It boggles the mind that they could have a lifestyle where they could explore the country in a pretty nice fashion, but are so constrained by their sense of responsibility (?) that they can't see anything beyond work.

 

[IanC]

Ian, have you already considered doing some kind of small-scale, custom leather work at a few shows, fairs, etc several times per year, or perhaps instructing at summer camps or youth centers? I know there are full-timers who follow the state fairs around California, doing their own things.
I can still remember making moccasins(sp?) at summer camp; still have a couple of knife pouches, a belt & such that my own sons made at their summer camps & I'm now waiting for a grandson to do the same, maybe this summer.

I actually saw a work camping job at Dollywood for a leatherworker.  Maybe I'll put some thought into that too.

 

[AbuelaLoca]

Oh my goodness... I would love Dollywood!! Well, I'd like to meet Dolly... it's amazing the opportunities!!

 

[Treknik]

I've been reading the following book and liking it more and more. It is basically discussion and ideas on enjoying retirement without much focus on financials. It covers many of the "What do I do now?" issues. Recommended.

How To Retire Happy, Wild, and Free
- Retirement wisdom you won't get from your financial advisor
Ernie J. Zelinski

https://www.amazon.com/How-Retire-H...-1&keywords=how+to+retire+happy+wild+and+free

 

[TrainChaser]

You haven't been out long enough to know what you want!

This is about the biggest adjustment that a person can have. How do you think the old Southern slaves felt when they were freed? It must have been awfully scary. 'Different' can be scary. But you've got a back door open, so if it doesn't work, you can go home or go somewhere else and park.

YOU HAVE OPTIONS! It isn't like you're an old 1850s pioneer, trudging (mostly on foot) across 2,000 miles of strange, desolate land, not able to turn back, not sure what is ahead, worried about your wife and kids, staring at the butt of an ox, watching for Indians, moving two miles an hour.

You have a place to live, you have skills, should you decide to use them. You know stuff. Except for gas, you don't have too many expenses. If you don't like a place, all you have to do is pick up some stuff and turn the ignition key.

Like the others said, it was training, mind control. You've escaped. You're free.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

I don't know if you're into history, but when i'm out on the road I love seeing historic sites.....battlefields, old war ships, especially wooden ones, old homes like George Washington's Mt Vernon, monuments, living history museums, etc. Lots of history on the East Coast because that's where the country started, but there's stuff out West too. On a cross country trip to Oregon I drove to St Louis (I'm from Mass too) Then followed as close as I could to the original Oregon Trail. There were lots of stops along the way where you could hike a short distance to sections of the actual trail, one spot still had the wagon wheel ruts in the ground. There's probably some cool historic spots anchored around the different Gold Rush areas through out time. I could spend a few years just chasing history. I can't hike and backpack like I used too, but that also becomes oddly addicting, couldn't climb enough peaks to satisfy myself.

 

[AbuelaLoca]

I don't know if you're into history, but when i'm out on the road I love seeing historic sites.....battlefields, old war ships, especially wooden ones,  old homes like George Washington's Mt Vernon, monuments, living history museums, etc.  Lots of history on the East Coast because that's where the country started, but there's stuff out West too.  On a cross country trip to Oregon I drove to St Louis (I'm from Mass too)  Then followed as close as I could to the original Oregon Trail.  There were lots of stops along the way where you could hike a short distance to sections of the actual trail, one spot still  had the wagon wheel ruts in the ground.  There's probably some cool historic spots anchored around the different Gold Rush areas through out time.  I could spend a few years just chasing history.  I can't hike and backpack like I used too, but that also becomes oddly addicting, couldn't climb enough peaks to satisfy myself.

Ahhh... you've just described my dream life! Up the Oregon trail and down Route 66! Up the coastal highways and across the badlands... I love to wonder what it would have been like to be staring at the "butt of an ox" as was mentioned in an earlier post and try to figure out why some stopped "there" to homestead... what appealed to them? ... Thanks for the info on the Oregon Trail!!

 

[highdesertranger]

I love the history too. once way out in the middle of nowhere Nevada on a two track dirt road came across a bronze marker it said, "on this spot in 1863 not a damn thing happened. sure wish I could remember where that was. besides the Oregon trail the California trail and the Applegate trail are well marked for you to follow. I been on large sections of both, the Applegate trail passes right by where Burning Man is held. I wonder how many of the people at Burning Man even know this, or what the Applegate trail is? highdesertranger

 

[AbuelaLoca]

I love the history too.  once way out in the middle of nowhere Nevada on a two track dirt road came across a bronze marker it said,  "on this spot in 1863 not a damn thing happened.  sure wish I could remember where that was.  besides the Oregon trail the California trail and the Applegate trail are well marked for you to follow.  I been on large sections of both,  the Applegate trail passes right by where Burning Man is held.  I wonder how many of the people at Burning Man even know this,  or what the Applegate trail is?  highdesertranger

That saying is also at a covered wagon in Oklahoma! I laughed for a long time when I read it...

 

[Ballenxj]

(I was a leather crafter making high end bags and luggage) and need to decide what to do with the machines etc.  Also make some modifications to the trailer and perhaps get a tow vehicle with more power.

There was a guy on ebay that used to make holsters for guns, then switched to Harley accessories made from leather. Long story short, I bought one of his holsters that was made as a cross draw for a Ruger Single Six (Western style) .22 revolver. It was gorgeous! Everybody that saw it, complimented it and asked where I got it. The last time I messaged him he was only doing the Harley stuff. Then he just disappeared. Wasn't you, was it?

 

[IanC]

I love the history too.  once way out in the middle of nowhere Nevada on a two track dirt road came across a bronze marker it said,  "on this spot in 1863 not a damn thing happened.  sure wish I could remember where that was.  besides the Oregon trail the California trail and the Applegate trail are well marked for you to follow.  I been on large sections of both,  the Applegate trail passes right by where Burning Man is held.  I wonder how many of the people at Burning Man even know this,  or what the Applegate trail is?  highdesertranger

When I look at the terrain and mountains out here it blows me away that once people crossed the whole country without a single road or map and had no idea what was ahead of them or when they'd run into the next water source for them and the animals. They certainly must have been a rare breed but that's the case throughout history - men getting on ships without knowing how far their destination was. I know there is no equivalent in the modern world.

 

[IanC]

There was a guy on ebay that used to make holsters for guns, then switched to Harley accessories made from leather. Long story short, I bought one of his holsters that was made as a cross draw for a Ruger Single Six (Western style) .22 revolver. It was gorgeous! Everybody that saw it, complimented it and asked where I got it. The last time I messaged him he was only doing the Harley stuff. Then he just disappeared. Wasn't you, was it?

No, not me but I have made Western holsters. 

In a fit of craziness when I closed the business I deleted almost every picture of my past work, but here's an image from my (now closed) custom leather website showing one I made, and a few other products I was making

 

[TrainChaser]

I've followed the Oregon Trail, too!

In Guernsey, WY you can stand in the ruts of the trail that the wagon wheels wore down: https://www.nps.gov/oreg/planyourvisit/site7.htm Nearby are the Register Cliffs, where the pioneers carved their names in the rock.

In Baker, OR, is the Baker Heritage Museum (formerly Oregon Trail Regional Museum), and 8 miles east on Hwy. 86 is The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. Both have a lot of stuff about the trail.

 

[highdesertranger]

dang Ian that is some nice work. I would buy any of it from you. well not the purses(or handbags as they are called now). highdesertranger

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

I've followed the Oregon Trail, too!  

In Guernsey, WY you can stand in the ruts of the trail that the wagon wheels wore down:  https://www.nps.gov/oreg/planyourvisit/site7.htm   Nearby are the Register Cliffs, where the pioneers carved their names in the rock.

Thank You for reminding me!  That's exactly where I was.....Register Cliffs is a really neat thing to see.  When I was coming back to the parking area there were a few girls screaming and pointing to the bathroom.  I went over and saw a rattle snake behind the toilet making the rattle.  I'm not very experienced in snake handling aside from catching garden snakes growing up.  Got my fly rod outta the jeep and was able to coax him to the woods from 8 feet away.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

No, not me but I have made Western holsters. 

In a fit of craziness when I closed the business I deleted almost every picture of my past work, but here's an image from my (now closed) custom leather website showing one I made, and a few other products I was making

My Dad's uncle owned a leather shop in Brockton Ma and he closed it down before I was born but kept the building and all the stuff inside.  Actually a really big company in it's hay day, I think he made shoes and handbags and shipped all over the country.  He'd let us play around in there and mess around with little leather projects.  I wish I kept all the hand tools for leather working he gave me.  I've just been trying to get back into it as a hobby.  I've been watching some youtube videos and remember more than I thought I would.  

I'd love to sit down with you for some pointers if we ever meet up on the road.  

I'm on a few knife groups on facebook and you could probably make a living just making simple knife sheaths for people on the different groups and forums.  I know you usually need the knife shipped to you to fit it, so not sure how that would work on the road.  I suppose you could have them ship it to where ever you were at the moment, once you completed a few jobs and people understood the process and word of mouth backing up the different shipping locations I think you could do really well.

 

[Gunny]

When you start working with leather again, PM me, I have an old Ruger .41 Single Six that needs a home. We've got open carry now and it would be my choice, just for grins.

Rob

 

[Ballenxj]

No, not me but I have made Western holsters. 

Looking at the photos, I'm sure they were good sellers. I would bet you could set up a decent work shop out of an enclosed trailer if you wanted, using a collapsible layout table that you could set up outside in good weather, with your stitching/sewing machine set up inside? That could be a great part time gig while you're traveling? Probably need a generator to power your machine unless you had a big enough solar power system in place.

 

[IanC]

 

I'd love to sit down with you for some pointers if we ever meet up on the road.  

Sure thing. I love showing other people how to do what I do, and had several guys who used to come to me for lessons. I wish more people would get into the leather business - us old people are dying out. I spoke to a guy who had a shop in Great Barrington, MA.  He had a shop in Greenwich Village in the 70's - said there was a leather shop on every block.  That was the days before we were flooded with Asian goods, and unfortunately the prices that they can sell slave labor for have set the new value.  Remember the days when owning a leather jacket was something special and you kept it for decades?  Now they come in by the container load from Pakistan and people have 3 or 4 of them.  Here's an interesting fact - the majority of all the hides coming from American slaughter houses go to China and Pakistan (mostly to be tanned for auto upholstery).  So much so that the few American tanneries left have trouble getting first grade hides. The best hides, by the way are from Europe - they are huge and don't have the range marks (barbed wire scratches, bug bite scars, etc). 

The only way to make a living is to appeal to wealthy people, which is what I was trying to do with the products I made.  I think I could have done it but I REALLY suck at the business end.  If I had had a partner whose skill was paperwork and marketing I might have had a shot.

Knife sheaths?  That's pretty much what killed me.  When you have a brick and mortar business you have to make a certain amount per day just to keep the doors open.  Once I got known in the area for making knife sheaths, the orders came in quickly and my days began filling up with making small products that you really don't make much profit on. PLUS, I made almost all the products on another guy's website (although he sold them under his name) - knife sheaths, belts, motorcycle gear, so I've made literally hundreds of sheaths - very cool, unique designs, I'll say, so I'm pretty quick with them, but mostly I found that after expenses I was making about the same as the dishwasher at Denny's.

As far as a product to sell on the road, I (think) I invented something very unique - a coffee cup holster that could be embossed and customized in a hundred ways. I've looked and look but never seen anything quite the same. What do you think? I could get that going for a couple of grand investment, but am scared of making the investment after I lost my ass last time.