TomFromCA

[TomInPA]

For some time now, I have gratefully accepted the beers bought for me by generous forum friends as my self-employed business has dwindled. It was a good run, starting in 1996, but due to changes in my clients like buy-outs, retirements, tough economic times, changes in organization that internalized the environmental permitting, and competition from larger consulting companies with marketing departments, my business declined. While I enjoyed the extra "vacation", and have become an expert poster on this forum, it was not sustainable in light of the need to support a household and buy gas and farkles for the FJR.

I am packing to leave for a new job and an exciting opportunity in Pittsburgh PA. This company has generously recognized this mid-life change in careers, and offered a compensation, benefits, relocation and vacation package that a self-employed person could only dream about. In return, I get to apply my 30+ years of experience to make the production, processing, transmission and distribution of natural gas from the Marcellus and Huron shales in the Mid-Atlantic states a safer, environmentally friendly business, producing low-impact, inexpensive, clean energy. When was the last time we did something like that in CA? No more tilting at windmills for me!

A side effect is I'm outta here! Tomorrow I'll head out by car and will join my daughter, and wife's family in Pittsburgh for the holidays, and will establish a new home. Mary Ann (wife) will hopefully follow soon. Meanwhile the FJR will spend the winter in the garage in CA, and I'll look forward to a spring farewell tour of California, and ride to the east. There is no place like California and the surrounding states for riding, and enjoying the company of FJR owners that have become like a second family. I'm going to miss this group...even Old Michael. I look forward to getting to know, a new group in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic, and learn the skills of the East in evading detection by the dense population of LEOs patrolling the ridiculously low speed limits between construction zones there. :blink:

Anyway, this should be fun, and I'm looking forward to it, but I may be the FJR rider known as TomFromCA soon. The winter withdrawal will be tough.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Congrats Tom!

Knowing the economics behind all this, I understand and am excited for your new opportunities out east. :clapping:

Make sure you bring your great camera skills with you as you get to discover and explore some roads new to you. I'm sure the PA, OH, WV, and NY riders will point you to some good roads and good times.

Hopefully, we'll see you around at one of the gatherings out east...and I'm sure your Kali friends will send you off in a sporting way.

Thanks again for going out of your way to show airboss and I some roads around California "Gold Country" last year...that was a great way to spend our last day in Kali...

 

[russperry]

Sorry to hear that changes require you to uproot and move to the chilly east. I enjoyed the rides we shared and your suggestions on roads in the Sierras that I would not have heard of otherwise.

I can't see how I'd end up as far east as PA on the Feejer, but luckily the board here and the characters stay put, even if some of us have to move around physically.

Good luck with the new adventure, for you and your family :good:

 

[Joe]

Tom, sorry to hear you are leaving California but glad you have gotten a good job.

Hope all works out for you and the family, It must be hard at you age to move across the

country.

Good Luck,

Joe (Tucson Joe)

 

[wheatonFJR]

...I can't see how I'd end up as far east as PA on the Feejer...

You DO know that some of the Iron ***** around here go across the country in a day or two. I took it easy and took three days to get to Kali from Wheaton.

If riding on an FJR that far seems boring, trailer it east behind your AC equipped vehicle and see some roads and country that will make your jaw drop.

If you only stay west of the Rockies, you are only seeing half of it...

 

[luvtoride]

Hi Tom & welcome to the east,

Congrats on the new job!

& if you get around on your bike & you decide to visit one of the numerous FJR events that happen around these parts, I'm bound to meet you at some point.

Also, don't be so disappointed about leaving the wonderful riding of the west. We have some really, really good riding on this side of the country. Maybe not right in Pittsburgh... but a couple/few hours out. Not ever riding out west myself, I understand that the riding here is better if you like the tighter stuff... the mountains & views in CA are far superior to here. Understand that what westerners call a twisty we Southeasterners call a sweeper. I'll leave it at that.

& congrats... looking forward to meeting you one day, Heidi

 

[gregory]

Congrats on the job!

Beware of certain sheep/goat lovers in that region!

 

[exskibum]

WOW, Tom.

Glad you're landing on your feet. It's tough at our age, and while I didn't know what business you were in, I certainly understand, having spent plenty of time in a related line of work.

Gonna miss you out here, but will look forward to the farewell ride next spring. Much luck to you.

 

[kman09]

Congrats on the new job Tom. It's nice to be looking forward to something new.

Hope all works out for you and Mary Ann. When you get use to the new surroundings,

take the FJ thru the Pocono Mtn's for a spin. Five minutes into the ride and you'll

say to yourself California what?

 

[airboss]

Tom know that you love the riding in CA, but you've got a pretty good location in Pittsburg. It's not to far from SE Ohio (flat & boring My A$$) WV (there are no bad roads) East KY & TN, all great places to own a motorcycle.

Hope you have enough vacation time for the rallies SE Ohio ramble, EOM, NERDS, and streching a little CFO and Hooterville. All excellent events to meet like minded people.

Then closer to home is the Johnstown area #2 daughter says it's a great place to ride, like colonial America stepped off the pages of a history book. Add in the PA Amish country and I don't think you're trading down at all.

 

[TomInPA]

Mark, thanks much for the good wishes and memories of a great spring day riding with friends. We did discover where the road ended that day.

Russ, now you know why I stole your wallet. :lol2: I've enjoyed the ride...hope you get more adventurous or we get together for a farewell tour. :bye2:

Gosh Joe...everyone talking about "at your age". I thought we shared that in common as riders of the FJR. :headbonk:

Heidi, I have ridden across country on the FJR the last couple of years, and I'm originally from Ohio. I met my wife in Cape Hatteras in 1978 riding my motorcycle (Suzuki GS750). The roads in the east are a hoot, they just have low speed limits for the most part. I'm sure I'll see you next summer at some ride or another.

Exskibum..I know you can relate...as for the "tough at your age" thing :finger:

Karl, can you say "six-weeks"? :yahoo:

 

[airboss]

Karl, can you say "six-weeks"? :yahoo:

6 weeks, that's a good number. I gave up 6 weeks vacation when I retired, what a bummer! :lol:

Good deal for you. Sure we'll meet up at a rally are two next year.

 

[Willie]

Good luck with your relocation and new job. Although you are leaving a great area for riding, you are going to a new area to explore. I don't think WV has a straight road. New places to explore, ride and take pics.

Willie

 

[rogdeb]

Hey Tom !

Congrats on the new job , but, we'll miss you in CA ............. looking forward to the Spring Farewell ride with you.

 

[dcarver]

It IS Friday, yes?

 

We *finally* got the ol' bastid outta da Kali hood

 

Good on yah Tom!

 

[exskibum]

Exskibum..I know you can relate...as for the "tough at your age" thing :finger:

Well, ya old fart -- I see you have a birthday next week, and maybe reading glasses would be an appropriate gift? Hint in appropriate typeface:

"our" does not = "your"

Still, thanks for finally explaining the 2011 wallet theft. Pretty funny making Russ ride back to Walker and then to Strawberry before confessing, though. :lol: :yahoo:

 

[wheatonFJR]

Well, ya old fart -- I see you have a birthday next week, and maybe reading glasses would be an appropriate gift? Hint in appropriate typeface:

"our" does not = "your"

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[BikerGeek99]

Never like to hear about a small business taking a hit, but it sounds like you have found an excellent opportunity. Congratulations!

6 weeks, eh? Excellent! Hopefully we'll meet up with ya at the SE Ohio Ramble or EOM or CFR or whatever...

 

[odot]

I think you are going to have to remove some emissions equiptment to be able to register your scoot outside of kalifornia. We usually don't allow them kinda bikes out thissa way.