For 25 years, my Wife & I have lived in a very secure bubble.
The same job in the same building.
We survived multible owners, managers, restructuring & renovations.
It was always a place we could depend on.
That now seems to be comming to an end.

6 months ago someone bought this place.
They thought they could make millions in months.
The problem is, they didn't know nothing about what the business & location would support. (we are 1 of 3 bowling centers in town, which is the limit of what this town will support).

So they poured money into modernizing the bar, and building a junky restuarant, none of which this town or location can support.
Hell, they even hired The Beach Boys to play the parkinglot for $110,000 dollars at the end of last summer.

And they are making no more money then if they had just left everything alone (which was making a nice proven profit year after year).

So they have reverted back to just a snackbar, and scaled back the bar, all at a huge loss.
We are back to where we were before they thought they knew what they were doing.

Now the kicker: The 2 other Bowling Centers have come to me to tell me that our owner has approached them to sell off all of our bowling equipmemt. These other lanes were informed that this place is getting turned into an indoor/outdoor storage lot in 3 months (he owns several others, and as I find out now he is known for buying properties and converting them into storage lots).
The new owners are killing off a 50 year strong Bowling Center, simply to store stuff.

So we confronted the owners.
They sheepishly avoided, denied, and talked around the question, but also added that even if they did do that, I would still have a job as a "Groundskeeper", and my Wife, Storage Rental.
Yeah, an $18 dollar an hour Groundskeeper, & a $14 dollar an hour Front Desk person.
Riiiiiiiight.

We do believe they are going to kill this place.
The question that confronts me now is, "What do we do?"
Another Bowling Center has offered me my Head Mechanic posistion at my same rate of pay.
But the place is run & managed by drunks.
Late & bouncy paychecks, no parts budget, horrable working conditions, no organization, in-house backstabbing & fighting, etc.
Just not a good dependable situation.

So, that leaves a 50 year old somewhat body-creeky man on the job market with pretty much non-transferable skills, starting over. (My 25 years of mechanical expirience is pretty unique to these machines.)
Starting over & competing with young strapping 19 year old bucks (I hate those guys!).
In a world that prefers to hire young & cheap into entry-level occupations.

After talking with the Wife, (who has worked as Head Bartender/Bar Manager/Bookeeper in the same Bowling Center) we came to the conclussion that our jobs were all that was really holding us in Alaska.
So why don't we just split this scene?
If we have to start over, why not somewhere warm & civilized?

All we really got of value is $10,000 dollars cash, and 2 paid off 2004 Chyrsler sedans in pristeen condition with 50,000 miles each.
Why not hook a U-Haul to one of them, load our stuff, take Grandma (who has wanted to leave here for 30 years), and drive both of them up on out of here?
The $10,000 bucks would pay for gas & lodging & to settle somewhere & quickly find a job, before we were broke.
Forced to leave our bubble, the question is, where to go?
So many great states to choose from, but the most important thing is work.
I must have work.

Would a guy like me be able to find work somewhere?
I know alot of stuff about alot of jobs, and I'm very dependable & loyal.
I have a great funny personality, get along with everone, and have no drama, marital or otherwise.
I don't run the streets, which means I'm always either at work or at home.
No job is really below me, as long as the money is fair, and the people are right.

My Wife is all of the above, PLUS really smart!
And has fairly big (although somewhat gravity-stricken) breasts, as do I.

Where might a couple go where they need someone like us?

Bad situation, and it's happening all over. LOTS of people looking for jobs everywhere. I don't know that I'd count on that $10k taking you very far....even if you didn't have to move.

I lost my job last year, and I got a nice severance package and I was still scared to death. I'm pretty well qualified, and the ONLY job I found was with a 20% pay cut.

Moving could be the best thing you ever did but it sure is scary.

I would stay where you're at and see if they keep you on and then maybe even take the job at the other place. All during this time start contacting companies in your line of work. Do some research on the ones that seem positive and send out your info to them. Never let your cash drop or your ability to move if you have to.

Boonie,
No idea where you want to land but, I'd start by using my strengths and using that internet knowledge. Start contacting bowling centers that might need someone with your skills, that will give you a good indication as to where you might end up living. First step is to build a strong resume, list everything you can do and all the different bowling machines you have expertise on. I wouldn't just quit and take off looking for a job and hoping the $10K was enough to get you established somewhere else, it probably won't be.

If you don't want to stay in that arena, I hear the ballet is always looking for male dancers.

Ron

damn that sucks.
one of the hardest things is looking for work after being someplace "forever"
kinda lucky you have a fallback with other place, run by drunks. you can only hope they may get better, being now they have 1 less competitor.

packing up & rolling out is scary when there is no real plan. $10k will get ya maybe 3 months of roaming.

you do seem to have IT skills. maybe take that other job for awhile, and go get some certifications for IT. CCNA, MSCE, etc

Even those 'young bucks' are having difficulty finding work now. Nobody I graduated with a year ago has found a job yet. Companies are hiring displaced workers with years of experience at entry-level salaries.

Where NOT to move: Michigan.

I would stick out the next 3 months continuing to make what you do now, saving up, selling anything you don't want to take with you when you move. At that point, if the grounds keeper position doesn't pay the same as the old job as promised, see if the other place will still take you at the same rate of pay, as they claimed. Put up with office politics for a while, continuing to save.

The current owners probably drove the alley into the ground because they would either a) Make the alley wildly successful and profitable, or b) have a good excuse to turn it into a storage facility.

Sorry to hear man.
These other two alleys, they need anyone?
I guess I would prepare as best you can, throw some applications out there, but stay and see what develops with the storage manager thing. Could you get him to write something up regarding that?
Moving might be a good thing, though scary.

quote Originally posted by 2.5: Moving might be a good thing, though scary.

I disagree, moving can be a great experience if you have something to move for. That, in this case being a solid job. Though I'm not sure any of those exist today.

Ron

quote Originally posted by blackrams: I disagree, moving can be a great experience if you have something to move for. That, in this case being a solid job. Though I'm not sure any of those exist today. Ron

True, a new beginning, getting rid of the old unused baggage. Running leaner and meaner. Scouting for jobs and basing a move on it could be exciting. Heck us PFFers are all over the US, maybe someone can help out.

Boonie, remember one thing though.
Knowing pinsetters is sort of a specialized field, and I doubt that many "young bucks" are going to know near what you do.
I would maybe try to find a list of AMF bowling centers in the US and start contacting those places in areas you might be
interested in.
If you find somewhere that desperately needs someone you could probably write your own ticket.
mike

quote Originally posted by 2.5: True, a new beginning, getting rid of the old unused baggage. Running leaner and meaner. Scouting for jobs and basing a move on it could be exciting. Heck us PFFers are all over the US, maybe someone can help out.

Actually, I wouldn't encourage anyone to quit a job without already having another to go to. Good jobs today are tough to find, get the job first, then move to the job.

Maybe Jeremy of Fiero Factory would consider putting in a bowling alley? Boonie would have the best of both worlds.
Edited: And totally different weather.

Ron

[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 01-21-2010).]

Maybe you could buy the place? 10 thousand down, just a thought.

I would not try and relocate with 10 grand unless I already was set up where I was going.

Three places to bowl? wish we had even one.

Good luck man.

Here`s a couple.

http://www.indeed.com/q-Pin...aintenance-jobs.html

Mike

quote Originally posted by TXGOOD: Boonie, remember one thing though. Knowing pinsetters is sort of a specialized field, and I doubt that many "young bucks" are going to know near what you do. I would maybe try to find a list of AMF bowling centers in the US and start contacting those places in areas you might be interested in. If you find somewhere that desperately needs someone you could probably write your own ticket. mike

I have already spoken with a few centers, stateside.
My problem is that most are in very aggressive parts of large cities that i'm not sure I could adjust too.
Or resort locations where the pay is $13 an hour and the rent is $2500 a month.
It is going to be a very tricky transision.
I need somewhat of a "hometown" center, if I am going to continue in this profession, stateside.

I would really like to do something else, but my 25 year work history makes it quicker & easier to stay in this line of work.

quote Originally posted by Boondawg: I would really like to do something else, but my 25 year work history makes it quicker & easier to stay in this line of work.

Apparently, you missed my suggestion about ballet.

Ron

In most states there are high taxes and do not have a
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_Permanent_Fund
There are at least half the states with better unemployment rates, pick one of them.
http://www.bls.gov/web/laumstrk.htm
It might be worth waiting until the employer makes a move and study what you need until then.
You already have a down payment for http://www.realtor.com/real...urce=hp&cmid=1098474
NORTH DAKOTA with the lowest unemployment rate.

I am sorry to hear your tough situation.

I would be very careful about both of you leaving on only $10K worth of cash reserves and hoping to quickly land jobs paying enough to sustain your household. The job market right now is treacherous, and your age and the fact you will not have had a job where you end up going will also work against you. If that $10K were to run out before you both had well enough paying jobs to pay the bills, would you have a plan B?

I like a lot of the advice here. Start doing ground work now, while you are employed. I am sure there has to be some smaller town, local bowling centers around the country. Even the ones in more densly populated areas would more than likely have a community feel to them. All the ones locally tend to attract local crowds (and we still have a number of local alleys in the Buffalo area).

If you want to get into something else, try to pinpoint a profession and aggressively look for specific openings. A scatter shot search for all kinds of things can work, but if you are specific and focused in what you want to do, that will come across to employers too, and show them that you know what you want and make you look like a better candidate.

Finally, don't sell yourself short. Knowing the equipment in your alley is job specific knowledge, I am sure that you have a lot of very good, advanced general mechanical, troubleshooting, and repair skills and experience and they should be transferrable to any number of industries. You would just need to build up those skills, and be willing to learn the job specific knowledge on the fly. Those young guys may have cheap asking prices, but there is no replacement for experience in employing those skills either.

Best of luck!!

quote Originally posted by blackrams: Apparently, you missed my suggestion about ballet. Ron

I assumed you were comedically refering to some posters beliefs around here that I am quite adept at "dancing" around questions I don't want to answer, and should get a job dancing, since I am so good at it.

Although a very funny shot at some humor (which I am usually quite up for), i'm sorry to say i'm just not feeling all that funny today.
If that was not the case, no offense ment, and none taken.

Just busy thinkin'...................

[This message has been edited by Boondawg (edited 01-21-2010).]

1) If the place goes under, file for unemployment. after 25 years, I am sure you qualify.

2) If you decide to move to the "mainland" find an area with low employment and plenty of jobs close in scope to yours and also with cheap rent.

I humbly suggest San Antonio Texas. Why? Low unemployment and we have bowling centers here along with:

3) Consider working for the NAF activities on a military base, We also have bowling centers. You can check out NAF oppertunities along with other government jobs on mil bases at usa.jobs.gov (works nationwide, not just texas)

4) San Antonio has 3 bases nearby, as well as a large metroplex, and (relatively) low rent and nice warm (most of the time) weather.

Its TEXAS lots of room here too, without the Polar Bears.

EDIT: NAF is "non-approporated fund" Morale and welfare activities on base. They are called NAF because of the way the Government funds them.

[This message has been edited by htexans1 (edited 01-21-2010).]

quote Originally posted by htexans1: 1) If the place goes under, file for unemployment. after 25 years, I am sure you qualify. 2) If you decide to move to the "mainland" find an area with low employment and plenty of jobs close in scope to yours and also with cheap rent. I humbly suggest San Antonio Texas. Why? Low unemployment and we have bowling centers here along with: 3) Consider working for the NAF activities on a military base, We also have bowling centers. You can check out NAF oppertunities along with other government jobs on mil bases at usa.jobs.gov (works nationwide, not just texas) 4) San Antonio has 3 bases nearby, as well as a large metroplex, and (relatively) low rent and nice warm (most of the time) weather. Its TEXAS lots of room here too, without the Polar Bears.

Actually, that don't sound half bad.
Gets me closer to a few members I have been wanting to aggravate!

My parents have moved cross country with less cash than that. $2000, maybe. But what was different in those cases (yes, cases... we moved several times) was my dad had a written offer for a job.

Ironically, Anchorage, AK is the #1 place to start over according to Business Week... lol

Since you're accustomed to cold weather, probably like the "family climate" that small towns offer, I would suggest taking a look at Minnesota...

Question: When looking for work in states close to the Mexican border, does speaking & understanding english well while speaking NO spanish put me at an advantage or disadvantage when seeking employment?

quote Originally posted by Boondawg: Question: When looking for work in states close to the Mexican border, does speaking & understanding english well while speaking NO spanish put me at an advantage or disadvantage when seeking employment?

English is still the primary language in larger cities around here, but I would try to at least learn a little Spanish-- helps to improve communication with people who don't know "much English." Your level of professional knowledge in bowling equipment would probably (opinion) overcome any lack of bilingual skills.

Spanish isn't that hard to learn, you'll pick it up quicker then you'd think hanging around those who speak it.

[This message has been edited by htexans1 (edited 01-21-2010).]

We have a couple of large bowling centers but leagues are the only thing keeping them going. Jobs are tight right now and they just froze our pay raises this year and cut our profit sharing.

I would have suggested you put in for a maintenance job where I work but good luck with that we are not hiring right now and will probably be cutting back. But look here is something you should think about. You like computers and obviously like working on them. You seem to have a knack. Why not look into a new career? Fresh start and you get all the way out of the bubble.
Help desk staff make pretty good money. Before you say its too late 3 of the 6 of our help desk guys are over 50 its not how old you are its how good you are. Being able to think on your feet is a big part of the job. I tell people all the time that you cant teach the knack.

Just saying its a lot less wear and tear on you working on computers than it is air handlers.

Have you considered a PC tech job with Geek Squad?
Yes, I'm sure it would be a pay cut, but I'm sure you can do it and once you do the job for a while you have experience on your resume. Add a couple of certs with your job time and then move to a "real" I.T. job.

It's not ideal, but it is something you're skilled with and interested in. .

Sorry man. Hope for the best for you and your family.

I've worked for drunks before--not too bad of a deal--as long as they also take care of business. They did, and I didn't mind that the paycheck smelled a bit like Crown Royal.

I would reccomend you try to find emplyment first--before hooking onto the uhaul.

Keep whatever job you can for now, until you build up some more cash reserves. If you lose your job file for unemployment right away, it takes a while before you can collect. If you want to move to another state, get a job there first and make sure the cost of living is similar or less than where you are now. Sell all you can before you move too. It will help to have less junk if you need to downsize. Good luck.

quote Originally posted by avengador1: make sure the cost of living is less than where you are now.

Uh, compared to Alaska?
Hawaii would be the only place more expensive.

quote Originally posted by avengador1: Sell all you can before you move too. It will help to have less junk if you need to downsize.

Contents of U-Haul:
3 Big Screen TVs
3 DVD/BluRay players
3 Computers
3 Flatscreen Monitors
3 Queen size Beds
Minimum clothes & shoes

The smallest U-Haul trailer should do it.

[This message has been edited by Boondawg (edited 01-21-2010).]

No advice, just wish you success in making a new start.

I second the advice to move to Texas if that is the kind of place you want. I lived in San Antonio(actually I stashed my ex wife there while overseas)and I liked it a lot.

I also like the notion of contacting NAF to look for jobs but check out www.usajobs.gov for appropriated fund jobs because you can find some pretty good opportunities there and you know what they say about how hard governmet employees work. I worked for the government and at least government employee's pay keeps pace with inflation. The applicaiton process can be daunting but contact me or someone you know who knows the "system" and they can help you.

Pulling up stakes and leaving without a job would be difficult for me because I want a job when I get there and not have to use up all my cash just living while I job hunt. Unemployment compensation is about $400 a week--my nephew draws that right now in Texas--in the event you tell your boss to take your job and shovel it.

I learned just enough Spanglish to get by at the junk yards around San Antonio and Houston and it helped a lot. English is still the official language though some of us Texans probably sound a little funny to anyone else. With your computer knowledge, make a resume that is computer hardware specific becuase I have absolutely no verifiable computer experience but my wife convinced her boss to hire me to set up a network and hook everyone to a LAN and to the internet. After that job, I was contacted a couple times to do the same thing for other employers and that was word of mouth. Get references from Alaska who will verify your computer knowledge.

Bottom line: I don't recommend pulling up stakes and moving anywhere until you have a job but if you do, research the places you're interested in and apply immediately for government jobs because the application process can take months or even a year or two to produce a job.

Good luck to you and I am very sorry this is happening to you.

Looking around on line, San Antonio actually looks like they got a few good equipment maintaince jobs I could do for $13 - $16 an hour.
Well within my range.
Cost of living looks very low compaired to here.

The only thing that worries me is the heat.
Would it kill me?
Besides the heat issue, San Antonio seems to kind of just feel right to me.
I don't know why, though.

Yes, I would like to have a job all set up before I go, I just don't know how realistic that would be at working out.
I am not too scared about just leaving and getting work when I get there, as I know my personality serves me well at getting in the door, when it is needed.
And I will take just about any job I can survive on, just to get started.

I used to be pretty good at this kind of thang.....................BACK IN 1985!!!!

[This message has been edited by Boondawg (edited 01-21-2010).]

Look at the bright side, if you move to San Antonio you can hang out with me.

Oh, and I might be able to get you on Lackland AFB so you can scope out the bowling alley.

Goto SA and hang with GSjon!

Regarding the heat--my wife is from Oregon and we live in Colorado so she is accustomed to cooler weather. We lived in Houston about eight years before leaving and she observed that Texans in general never experience heat unless they have to work outside. In her line of work, she was an indoor gal and I worked indoors as well. So the scenario is that you leave an air conditioned house, climb into an air conditoned car, drive to a mall with AC or to an air conditioned office and you experience heat about an hour a day getting in and out of your car. I won't lie to you and say you'll get used to it but it was the humidity that got to me. I visit my brother every year and never go in summer--April and October are best.

There are offsetting advantages to Texas humidity: The best barbecue in the world, the prettiest women and some outstanding Fieros.

quote Originally posted by Boondawg: The only thing that worries me is the heat. Would it kill me?

It might. The average temperature during the coldest month of the year in San Antonio is about the same as the hottest month of the year in Anchorage. Seriously.

quote Originally posted by Boondawg: no parts budget, horrable working conditions, no organization, in-house backstabbing & fighting, etc.

Add in total lack of respect for labor standards laws, employees legal rights, or employees personal budgets (the staff is expected to shell out-of-pocket for expenses, and you MIGHT get the cash back in 30-90 days), PLUS--you will think and believe as told (management will decide your opinions, your religion/metaphysical beliefs, what you can and cant say---and there is hell to pay if it doesnt meet their ideals)----and you have my last employer.

quote Where might a couple go where they need someone like us?

Dunno.............but stay the HELL away from from any company that operates and wants you to fix slush freezers.........Unless, of course, you are one of those wierd ones who likes human stupidity, and 24/7 pressure and harrasment to be on the road fixing stuff (for free a lot of the time)

[This message has been edited by MidEngineManiac (edited 01-21-2010).]

with gold @ $1000 I'm surprised you aren't returning to your old ways.

quote Originally posted by blackrams: I disagree, moving can be a great experience if you have something to move for. That, in this case being a solid job. Though I'm not sure any of those exist today. Ron

Sounds more like you agree to me.