spro wrote:Harold. When you said "there's no shortage of those who would gladly see me leave.." It's "those" I am concerned about.
Heh! Not a big deal, spro, my friend. It's simple. In life, we often encounter others who tend to rub us the wrong direction. I'm outspoken and heavily opinionated, a quality they tend to dislike in others (albeit one they tend to share with me). No matter what you try to say or do, it is often interpreted by them in ways that were not intended. Any attempt to pacify them simply bolsters their attitude. I've seen it time and again. I also witnessed, (with great pleasure, I might add) a select number of them leaving the forum some time ago when their attempt to have me dismissed blew up in their face. It was a shocking experience for me to witness what one would hope to be adults behaving much like junior high school children.
All a person can do is carry on in the hopes that what they try to do to help others will be beneficial.
For those who have found my posts helpful, I'm grateful. I get as much out of trying to help as those who inquire. It keeps my mind sharp, as well as providing a degree of satisfaction knowing I've done my best to be of assistance.
Unlike some I know in the trade, I willingly share what little I know. They consider providing assistance in ways by which they make a living as being foolish---as if---somehow---the person that may gain some knowledge will threaten their ability to do so. I've never felt that way---primarily because I'm not insecure about my abilities (although I am not a well rounded machinist), but secure in the knowledge that without experience, knowledge, alone, is not a threat. If that wasn't the case, anyone could read a book and become an accomplished machinist. Nothing could be farther from reality.
Bottom line is, I'm grateful for those of you who find my posts informative and useful, and, health permitting, I fully expect to be around for some time yet.
Harold