Thanks for sharing. Sounds like a full rewarding life. Yes cars have always been a major part of my life too. I retired with 34 years and have been working part time for almost 8 years. The boat thing is a whole different story. Sounds like similar interests for sure. Some would say I’ve “wasted” a lot of money (cars & boats) but that’s subjective in my opinion. My family has enjoyed all of it with me. My kids turned out great (4 granddaughters!) and I have the same wife for 43 years. The good Lord has definitely blessed me.I envy the career you had. It is the trail I hoped to end up on but with two young sons early I had to jump when other opportunity knocked.
I had the chance of good paying industrial work and had to take the security + benefits. Made 30 yrs there only to be forced out due to health issues. For my loyalty they saw to it I left with a very generous early retirement/health ins package. Lots of places just toss folks after years. A shame. Only got to do cars for fun on the side and to help friends and family in my limited off times. Never charged for my repairs only for the parts with the request they pay it forward if / when they could by helping others. I have a real supportive wife who encouraged my lust for cars + boats even though I could not afford the big cui/high horse monsters that are in the unobtainum price range. You know about that. Collected the ones we liked the looks of and did no racing. I rebuilt some but once we had them right, liked to obsess over the detailing , riding , cruising and car shows. Owned (5) collectors. Chevys - 72 Malibu / three 76 Chevelle S3 models (1 stolen not recovered) / 72 Cutlass I curse myself still about selling in the 80s! Even an 86 Monte Carlo SS (stolen - recovered - stolen - never seen again!) I kick myself a for passing on a super rare Pontiac (one of my favorites from the smog era) 1977 LeMans Sports coupe Can Am with 19,000mi. To me one of the neatest looking of the 70s.
I have 2 buddies who did almost all you did. Once they gave up the wrenches , One ended up Parts + Service Manager for Chevrolet (retired) and the other became one of Chevrolet's top salemen in the gulf south region (retired now too). They both made good $$$ and got out before all the auto company melt downs / buy outs / lay offs etc....