Pat, I watched my dad work his life away and by the time he got to retirement his body was spent. I also used to be that way but had an epiphany one day that I was the only one in control on whether I took time to myself or not. When I first opened my speed shop back in the early 90's, I was also still working my full-time/day job and was burning the candle at both ends as I'm sure you know what that's like. I would cancel vacations in order to get quads or sleds repaired and completed for clients thinking they would really appreciate it but ultimately all it did is make me resent them as they really didn't care about me, they just cared about getting their toys back so they could go play. It starting causing ripples between my wife and I in addition to the resentment so one day I said enough is enough and thought if I don't care about my sanity and my free time, no one else will and that was a major turning point in my life. I didn't want to miss out on my family, especially my son's activities because I couldn't break away from working on other people's stuff. My father never got a chance to see any of my games while I was in school nor any of my racing later in life and I will never get a chance to remedy that.
As for the truck in the picture, it seems like each time we see that truck it is a little more under the surface.
I get it Mike and OD...
I am kind of married to this place. I have a specialty niche area of the business that I play in which generates between 5-25% of the sales for the year. There are some days I have nothing and some days where if I had 48 hours in a day I would still be behind. It's a cow I gotta milk for Sheet Metal.
I have people here that can do it but they have to set aside what they have going and turn my stuff which there is no wiggle room to be late. Fast Paced and high demand. Which means if I am out for a day it takes me 2 to catch up. Out for 2 means 4...but that is my choice.
My Customer do get it and they are grateful as it has helped them grow over the years. My main customer went from 60 people to just over 700 in 9 years due mainly to the support they receive from our company and they recognize that. It is a niche model both of us have really grown in and most players can't handle it thus the margins are good for both of us.
There will come a day where if I do retire/cut back my hours we will have to sort out how we will handle that portion of the business.
Recently with the slowdown in the business I have gotten a taste of downtime...as great as it seems there is a catch at least with me. I don't sleep as much. I believe it is because I mentally don't tax myself enough thus the 3 ring circus starts going in my head in the middle of the night. Then I come into the office wound up tighter than a Banjo string with a list of things we need to move forward on in the business...yeah I am that guy that creates work for already busy people...but in the best interest of the customer and the employee.
A few of the latest initiatives are starting to pay off in people happiness here and productivity. When we take that bone and chew on it I sleep at night as I am mentally drained.
In the last 7 years I can say I haven't worked maybe more than a week...because I love what I do.
Need to do some soul searching...
I have traveled to almost every state in the lower 48. Saw all of it from the seat of a Semi or Motorhome only to stop and look down a 1/4 mile two lane and come home to do it all over again. The next trip I'll be stopping to see the sites.
I appreciate the insight Mike!!!
And maybe the occasional extra hose-to-bleeder thing, to burp out air pockets. 
