My late uncle Archie used to say that getting old wasn’t much fun, but it beat the alternative. It’s been about 40 years since he told me that, and he was correct. In a few months I will celebrate (or at least experience) my 72nd birthday. The first 30 years of my career was as a skilled trades person, in the cabinetmaking and millwork industry, and the last 25 have been mainly in writing, editing and publishing. I have been blessed to have spent the last half-century doing the work I loved to do, and I don’t regret that I didn’t sell out somewhere along the way to make more money.
I can’t say my plans for retirement didn’t work out because I never really had a plan. When I interviewed for a job at Popular Woodworking magazine more than 25 years ago I mentioned that my long-term plan was to do three things part-time; make the stuff from wood I wanted to make, write about all aspects of making that stuff, and teach others how to design, plan and make the things they wanted to make. The job at PopWood fit that plan for 10 years, and I managed to continue juggling those 3 things since then. I reckoned I could continue that indefinitely, but advancing age and health problems have let me know that it is now time to scale way back and go sit by the ocean and relax.
My health issues, according to my doctors, are things I will die with, not from. A few years ago I realized that I couldn’t work in the shop for very long at a time without a lot of pain, and the quality of my work wasn’t what it used to be. A bit more than a year a year ago my lovely, charming and talented wife and I had a serious talk about who we are now and what we ought to do in the time we have left. I decided that it was time to stop woodworking, which meant that we no longer needed a shop and all the tools and equipment. If we didn’t need the shop space then we didn’t need the house that was perfect for who we were a decade ago, but too much for us to keep up with now. We came to Cincinnati in 2004 to take the magazine job, and if we sold the house we could live anywhere we wanted that we could afford.
That’s what we decided to do and the decision about where to go kept circling back to our son, who moved to Spain a few years ago at the urging of his Spanish wife. We really miss the kid and he really likes living in Spain. We decided to take the risk and made a decision. Last November we took a two week scouting trip, filled our bellies with tapas and jamon and found a nice area with reasonable housing prices and a relaxed atmosphere along the Mediterranean. Our house will be on the market this summer and if things work the way we hope they will, we will be leaving in the fall. I’m writing this to let the people who have purchased my books, attended classes and read what I’ve written know that we are incredibly grateful to you. Folks like you have made things possible for a guy like me and I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. I have met and become friends with an amazing bunch of folks that I will never forget.
If you’ve read this far you likely have a few questions; like what will become of Bob’s stuff? and what will become of this website/micro business? Let me answer those in order. When I decided it was time to let go and move on I gave away most of my hand tools to people starting their careers and sold most of the rest to students in the career program at the Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute in Adrian, Michigan. Shipping a house full of stuff across the ocean is quite expensive, so in addition to selling the house, we have been liquidating almost everything, except for the cat who is going with us.
I still have several things that need good homes that I need to sell:
- The biggest thing (literally) is my workbench, the original “21st Century Workbench”.
- A pretty nice table saw.
- Several power tools; routers and bits, clamps and other related items.
- Several pieces of furniture that I made for magazine articles and for my own amusement.
My plan is to create several posts over the next week or so with details and asking prices here on this site. I’m hoping to sell most things for local pickup and I’ve been listing things on Face Book Marketplace. You can find me on that platform at this link.
I have a PDF of the furniture pieces that you can download here. You can also reach me by email. I can’t deliver or help load, but I will gladly assist in arranging white glove shipping if you can’t come to Cincinnati.
What’s the plan for this website, and my other site craftsmanplans.com?
- I plan on keeping both sites up and running, but there will be a significant change.
- Around the first of September, 2026 I will stop selling and shipping printed books and plans.
- More plans in PDF format will be added to the store in the next year.
- My online SketchUp class will continue and the PDF version of “Woodworker’s Guide to SketchUp, 3rd edition will still be available.
- If you have an interest in taking over the fulfillment of printed books and plans I’m interested in talking to you about that. It’s not a cash cow, but it has kept me from becoming a greeter at the local Walmart for quite a while. It would be nice to see that end of the business continue, but I won’t be able to do that from outside the USA.
- I probably will have time to post more often.
Once again, my family and I thank you for your interest in my work and for your support over the years.
Discover more from ReadWatchDo.com
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
You were my inspiration for years all the best to you in your new chapter.
I too have found the craft too painful to do with the vigor I once did. I migrated to small repetitive projects that I can improve both my skills and processes. Small tools, small wood make it easy on my hands.
Thank you, Mike
Hi Bob
I am glad to hear you’re plans are coming together. I’m also sad to see you leaving the more hands-on aspects of your business but I do understand as I am only 10 years behind you (in age at least). Your note gave me a bit of a wake-up call that I need to pay better attention to my own situation and health…thanks for the nudge.
Cheers and the best of luck in Spain,
John (up in Canada)
Thanks, John
Well it’s been great to read and learn from your writing these years and I’m so happy for you to be able to buy a house in the Med to relax and enjoy time with family.
Thanks, Nick
Bob, sorry to hear about the health stuff but man, Spain! Doesn’t get much better than that. Wishing you and your wife all the best my friend.
Thanks Dave!
Hi, Bob.
If I understand correctly, my access to “Woodworker’s Guide to Sketchup, 3rd edition” will still be available to me online. If so, I’m thankful as your accompanying video tutorials have been really helpful and your help also. I found your teaching and materials the best for me. I’ll sit out for maybe a couple months at a time but am glad I can get back. Since I’m 5 yrs. older than you and still wonder if electricity is the devil’s tool, I have to drag myself sometimes back to the computer. I still hope to have my workshop “mise en place” and so I sometimes feel like Ed Norton on the “Honeymooners” where Jackie Gleason yelled at him, “Just sign it!” Don’t know if a youngster like you remembers that episode but it struck a reality aspect with me.
My wife and I moved to be near and help with our grandchildren and understand completely your move. All the best wishes for any of your future activities. I read once that working towards a dream or something like that keeps you alive. I think so.
Thanks again for the help in increasing my ability as you have done for so many others.
Take care and stay well,
Gordon Meffert
Thanks Gordon,
Yes, the online SketchUp content will be available for the foreseeable future.
Bob, We had a common experience about 3-4 years ago when Patrick Edwards, Jim Creaseman and I with help from you published an article on building the Chevalet. Since that time, I too gave Patrick Edwards a fond farewell and headed out to pasture for an easier life as well. I just wanted to wish you and your wife the very best, I was honored to have had a brief encounter with you, and congratulate you on a wonderful and meaningful Career.
Hi David,
That article in American Period Furniture was one of the highlights of my career. Thanks to you, Patrick and Jim for sharing your expertise.