I didn't say sinister, but I bet you've got a plan. Good!

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by fltsfshr
They have peanuts in Panama?

"Perhaps Panamanian peanuts properly prepared provide Panamanian peanut planters proper provender.

 

Jerry I am so sorry to hear your news, but your spirt is very uplifting.
My father may he R.I.P. was faced with a similar crossroads. A middle aged executive/engineer working for a big firm suddenly is told by someone half his age he is out of work He went on countless interviews to be told he was overqualified. Frustrated, he quite the rat race, and my mom and dad took a gamble, bankrolled some savings and bought the mom and pop shop they always dreamed of running together someday.......Long story short they doubled sales in 5 years and dad would give a high salute every time we passed by the ole plant I wish he could see the success of their business today, but I am very proud of his courage and his legacy This too will be a new beginning for you!


Besides, now you can fulfill your true love of keeping the Del Val group together and organizing more meets



Change is upsetting. Repetition is tedious. Three cheers for variation!
Mason Cooley


Good luck grandpa


:sig off:

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by mikes2k
... :sig off:

 

Jerry,

I'm really sorry to hear (read) of your turn of events at the firm. "Downsizing" is such a cheesy PC term devoid of any dignity or humanity,but that's what they used and the end result is the same -- you're on your own. Change is not easy on a person, and I don't know for certain that everything will turn out alright for you, but I too am betting that you eventually will be glad this happened! We've all got our stories, I suppose, but early on in my work-life I thought I was set, then got fired. No "downsizing" then, they just fired my butt! I've been grateful ever since, as I "went on to bigger & better things" as they say.

Maybe, as some have suggested, it is time to try out a different path, different work? Management has had you a little removed from the actual "stuff" of architecture, so you might be very happy doing hands-on for a change. The hands-on of designing the physical structures people need every day, the hands-on of informing students what's important in architecture or its history: these are art forms, and if you have the talent there is great satisfaction to be had here. Even the change of working for/by yourself instead of on a team of 100 would be different!

Sometimes a move to an entirely new geography-climate is helpful. I know you're not mobile right now with your mother-in-law, but you can plan ahead. I'm with smokee, tho, about Panama and anywhere else foreign; flawed we are, but I wouldn't live anywhere else. Besides, were you to start your own enterprise, the higher levels of personal freedom here in the USA make success more likely.

Do I hear Tucson beckoning now all of a sudden??

Good luck and keep us all posted.

Paul

 

Jerry,

A little late, but I would also like to echo what others have said about your situation. It's got to be a real bummer to have that happen, and I send you my best wishes. Being approximately the same age as you...OK, a couple of years older , I am now looking over my shoulder as well, as we have those *&^%$^$#@#@*&& consultants in our organization now, promising gazillions of $'s in savings to management. Never mind the history of why we do things as we do, or the fact that we have tried many of their ideas before, they have convinced the powers-that-be that by hiring them, they will save us from destruction.

My family farm in NC is looking better everyday! (Plus, it gets me closer to Carmen's second home in Myrtle Beach!) I've already got the home site picked out...perhaps you could design me a nice, one story, hill-top home with views to 3 sides?!

 

Gene, Your thoughts about outside "efficiency" consultants were thought--provoking, and I'll have some more comments on this area soon

Now, about the farm design....you should be in touch with my fellow vintage architect, MyBad. Phil is mostly on the Carolina Forum...sometimes posting here.....was at FC '03 in his GP White StooK. His firm (15-20 pp?) is in Wilmington NC and I think that he does residential design.

Also, klassyblue (Beth) is not far away in Richmond and does residential design work She was also at FC '03!

Just curious...where in NC is the farm We were just in Charleston SC for a 4 day long weekend getaway....nice people and beautiful country (too bad it was cold and rainy )

 

Kick butt and take names, Jerry.

Oh, and no moving to Panama allowed... Who's going to lead our Vintage team at FC'04 if you do that??

 

Paul- Good thoughts on your post Yes, Tucson is still an area of interest....we almost came to AZ last weekend on a last minute package, but decided to do Charleston SC instead (due to limited time). I still want to take a look at Civitano...

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by paS2K