Thank you Mr Gage. I have a Brother Firefighter friend who has been driving an oil truck for years. He has since retired and STILL drives an oil truck.
Must be something to it. Seems he enjoys it too.
You also mention bartenders.
Yes, in our small 60 member department there were FOUR Bartenders. Two of which owned their own bars.
It was the place where we all talked either sports, mostly Boston Red Sox's Fans (yes, they love those guys here) and of course fire dept chit chat filled with gossip, funny stories, and how the fire dept should be run. Most of us never really got to run it though.
Maybe some of you can relate to that.
Oh yes, we also had our car mechanic and small engine (lawn mowers, snow blowers, etc) repair guys. If needed they would even make house calls.
But now to finish up with my own story and those carpenters, electrician, plumber, painter/firefighters.
The year was 1987.
I buy a run down fixer upper across the street from the firehouse I work at.
The elderly owner who lives there offers it to me for a bargain price. She just wants to get rid of it. A price that I just couldn't really turn down.
The neighborhood isn't the best, BUT after already owning the two family duplex I live in, my goal would be to make it into 2 family dwelling.
As it turns out, a buff buddy of mine works at a local bank and his specialty is dealing with mortgages.
He explains to me about a Construction Mortgage that you only pay on the amount you borrow.
It works out great for me. I also get approval from the city zoning board to convert it from a one family to a two family.
I hire all those firefighter/tradesmen and they are happy to help out.
I get good tenants that I reward every month $25.00 for early or on time rental payments
Seems they can't wait to pay the rent and get that $25.00 rental rebate.
It's a Win/Win for everybody.
My part time job is now a landlord with three rental units
A couple of years go by and I sell that now two family dwelling for a nice profit.
I also give those Firefighter/Tradesmen a nice bonus for helping me.
I take the profits and buy another duplex not far from my home in Smalltown, Ct., total population about 5,000 people.
These days I have very good people living there.
One unit is occupied by my brother, a retired Bridgeport, Ct Battalion Chief.
The other unit is rented to a Brother Firefighter I worked with for years, along with his wife.
They both have a BARGAIN DEAL that they can't refuse
In the summer, I just maintain the lawn and shrubs and even pay myself a fair hourly wage to buy all my goodies like those Big Mac's, ice cream treats, or get some take out chow at my favorite restaurant called; "Manny's". Manny is the father of one of the guys on the job here.
Here's a secret for some of our younger member/firefighters/buffs, etc who might be just starting out with mortgage payments.
Check with your mortgage company or bank.
You might be able to SAVE YOURSELF Thousands of Dollars $$$$$$$, like I did.
Every year I made ONE EXTRA Monthly Mortgage Payment on the Principle.
For me, with BOTH HOUSES, I paid off my houses in 18 years rather than the 25 years it was supposed to be.
I SAVED "72" Mortgage Payments at a cost of only 18 extra payments over those years.
As I figure, that's "54" mortgage payments I didn't make.
How's that for some extra income ?
I guess I did get a little off track here, but I hope that maybe I might be able to help a couple of our younger guys here
But that success story all began with a buff buddy, and those firefighters who hustled on the side, doing what they did BEST.
Getting themselves some much needed added income to take care of their families. Some who put their kids though college. Including one I know that became a doctor.
That being the daughter of "NFDtilleman", Stoch, a Vietnam Veteran/Retired Fire Captain, who I believe you have been introduced to in the "News of Members" topic here.
And of course THANK YOU GUYS for taking the time to read a part of my own life's story.
I am VERY THANKFUL for my good health and everything I have.
Including MY GOOD FRIENDS, many who I have met because of this web site.
"I just wish we knew each other 20 or 30 years ago".