FrankW
I live in the sun downunder
Reged: 01/27/09
Posts: 1216
Loc: Queensland OZ
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This thread will either be a great success or a complete failure.
To start off I will tell you a little of my history. I was born and brought up in the slums of Moss Side which is a suburb of Manchester in the UK. That was in 1947, which will tell you my age. I left Manchester Grammar School in 1963 and served my apprenticeship as a motor mechanic at one of our local car dealerships. I didn’t like wrenching for a living so went back to Uni. I got a degree in Metallurgy, which I thought was the bee’s knees until I found that I could earn a lot more money by doing other things. (Some legal, others borderline)
In 1980 the UK was going through what I knew to be a mini depression and the factory that I was managing at the time was on the verge of closure,so I decided that a change of country was in order. I had two young children (a son 10 and a daughter 7) and I didn’t see any future for them in the UK or to that matter for myself.
After applying for positions in different countries (Canada, South Africa, USA & Australia) I decided Australia was the go. It was the degree that did it, even though I have never had a job that gave me the opportunity to use said degree. Other things always came along. I have managed a plastic extrusion factory, managed a paper conversion factory, managed a strip club and owned a Hotel / Motel to name but a few. I have never been very tolerant with people that say “I can’t find a job” there is always work out there, just keep looking never give up. You will find it in the end.
The reason I live where I live are numerous and varied.
We live in Bundaberg on the East Coast of Queensland Australia, it has a subtropical climate. Winter sees us with daytime temperatures of 17 to 20c. Summer is usually 30 to 33c. Our cost of living is very good and a reasonable standard of living is assured. I have travelled extensively through different countries of the world (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and most countries of Europe) but I am always relieved when I get home.
Being a person with permanent itchy feet I could probably write a book about my exploits but for now that is enough about me. Lets hear about you, and why you live where you live .
All I know about Canada is that Keith and Greg live there.
All I know about Texas is that Chad lives there.
All I know about Arizona is that Dwight lives there.
I would like to know who you are and why you live where you live. You must live where you live for a reason, never complain about where you live, you can always move. If you don’t want to share that’s OK, if you want to share please tell us.
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FrankW
Ex Speedmaster rider, now on the dark side. Harley Davidson Softail Deluxe 103 cu in. and loving it.
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Stretchermonkey
3/4 Throttle
Reged: 02/10/08
Posts: 973
Loc: The land of concrete cows
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I live in Buckinghamshire England because I can't sell my house at the moment. it's quite a nice place and if we hadn't decided to move to the USA I certainly wouldn't grumble about living here. I like where I work and have some good mates here.
Hopefully soon I'll be living somewhere in the woods in Massachusetts.
The good thing about still being in England is the fact I don't have to dress up like an eskimo at the moment to go outside, I can get decent tea bags at the shops and I don't have to sit and watch hours of advertisments on the tv for medical devices and insurance.
The bad thing about still being in England is I still have no bike after being "renaulted", my wife and furniture are all in the USA and I really don't want to be here anymore.
I'll be honest I'll miss people over here but then again I'll meet new people over there, even if they do speak a tad bit strange and can't spell words like colour, flavour and honour properly. 
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Before the war on terror, if I saw an unattended package I used to think "I'll be having that!"
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FrankW
I live in the sun downunder
Reged: 01/27/09
Posts: 1216
Loc: Queensland OZ
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Hi Graham, I moved to OZ 31 years ago and have not looked back. I found that I was so busy doing all the things that you have to do when moving to another country, you just find yourself sliding into the way of life wherever you settle. My kids are now grown up and are more Australian than you can imagine. I never wanted to leave the UK, but once I settled in OZ I knew it was the best thing I ever did.
To quote my daughter who went back to the UK 8 years ago. Her husband was working on a telecommunications contract.
"Dad how could you ever live there, nice to visit, live there, no way" She also said the same thing after spending time in the USA when her husband was working another contract.
I think the Australian way of life and our standard of living had a lot to do with it.
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FrankW
Ex Speedmaster rider, now on the dark side. Harley Davidson Softail Deluxe 103 cu in. and loving it.
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Stretchermonkey
3/4 Throttle
Reged: 02/10/08
Posts: 973
Loc: The land of concrete cows
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Well I have the house in Massachusetts, know the area reasonably well now and know a few people over there - even got to meet a few people off the site over there.
So it's not like I'm totally in the dark about moving over there.
Just remains the issue of getting a job - but ive been practicing by putting chips into tiny bags, heavily salting them, asking if I'd like to supersize myself and then charging myself a fortune for the pleasure of it. 
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Before the war on terror, if I saw an unattended package I used to think "I'll be having that!"
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FrankW
I live in the sun downunder
Reged: 01/27/09
Posts: 1216
Loc: Queensland OZ
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Quote:
Well I have the house in Massachusetts, know the area reasonably well now and know a few people over there - even got to meet a few people off the site over there.
So it's not like I'm totally in the dark about moving over there.
Just remains the issue of getting a job - but ive been practicing by putting chips into tiny bags, heavily salting them, asking if I'd like to supersize myself and then charging myself a fortune for the pleasure of it.
You'll do well Bruce if you can remember to say "Would you like fries with that "
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FrankW
Ex Speedmaster rider, now on the dark side. Harley Davidson Softail Deluxe 103 cu in. and loving it.
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Soren
Should be Riding
Reged: 01/12/05
Posts: 12034
Loc: Beaverton, OR
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After growing up in Utah, then being in the U.S. Navy for a couple years, I moved around a lot (California, Colorado, Nevada). Ended up in Oregon, was tired of moving. Been stuck here ever since.
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•Triumph Connection
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Keith
Stickman Yogi
Reged: 03/21/09
Posts: 11609
Loc: BC, Canada
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I'll get to this for sure, Frank... just that I got a fragmented day ahead and want to be somewhat focused when I reply.
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Live to love, love to live.
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BrianT
Loquacious
Reged: 06/18/06
Posts: 2589
Loc: Fort Lauderdale, FL USA.
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I'm the youngest of 7. I was born in Pennsylvania, then moved to New Jersey,
when I was 9 we moved to Wisconsin,
which is a native american word meaning, "colder than the Devil's Heart".
At the age of 16, my Dad said, "We're moving to Florida."
I snuck off into the woods with the snow shovel and an axe.
The snow shovel never made it out again.
I love the weather in Florida. We also have the largest population of
beautiful women I've ever seen, and their wardrobes are wonderfully climate appropriate.
We have a shortage of curved roads, but the faster you go,
the more fun you can have on a straight road. Especially
if you throw in a bit of traffic for variety. And in South
Florida, we have this 200 mile long city-upon-city-upon-city
that can be great fun to blast through. The economy has
taken a big hit, but, same thing everywhere. At least I can
ride my bike all year 'round. BTW, I've lost 4 days of riding
in 33 years due to Hurricanes.
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Steelheart- '03 Speedmaster Black/Yellow
The Hayabusa Killa
16" Shorties/140 mains/Airbox drilled
Procom CDI
"There is no cure for Celibacy. But we can treat the symptoms."
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kidhaf
3/4 Throttle
Reged: 07/24/06
Posts: 751
Loc: Glasgow, Scotland
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Born and raised in Gods own country worked in various countries throuout europe Germany,Spain, France, Italy,Switzerland and done the back packing bit around the world. Kept making the big mistake of coming home when I should have taken up the offers to stay in various locations. Spent 6 months tpouring the states and decided lovely country but I would never be able to settle as there is too much to see.
I have all I need here in Scotland and some of the finest scenery any where in the world. We also have the best whisky of any country made from the cleanest water. I cannot be doing with this paying for health care either.
Am fine where I am 
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I cannot decide whether to be a good example or a horrible warning !
Peace & respect
http://www.tomcc.org/gg/
Eric
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Blackwind
Oil Expert
Reged: 01/11/05
Posts: 2049
Loc: Houston
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Native Houstonian, son of two school teachers. Dad actually coached high school football until I was about out of Jr. High, then retired as the ag teacher at LaPort High School. Mom taught 2nd grade.
I have an Ag-Business degree I've never used, and a Real Estate license I never used, either.
I worked for Goodyear Tire out of college (retail stores), got the RE license, dabbled at it for about 6 months, but with mouths to feed, had to get a real job again with steady income. Worked for a large uniform company (G&K Services) for 9 1/2 years - ran a "Super-Route" consisting of really large stops. Was "Route Salesman of the Year" in 1998, out of aprox. 1500 routes in North America, but I knew I couldn't stay on the route the rest of my life (hard on the knees and ankles, among other things), but I would have taken a huge pay cut to get off the route and stay with the company. One of my accounts, Westside Lexus, began building another dealership on the northside of Houston, so I applied for a Service Consultant position early in 1999, and they hired me. Been there ever since. No different than the uniform route, just providing good customer service....making friends, forming relationships....
Though I was raised in Pasadena, Tx, (a suburb of Houston), I never lived in Houston proper until I met my current wife of 10 years. I actually was more of a "county boy" through high school, college, and my early career with Goodyear, but I'm afraid the Big City has taken most all of that out of me...I don't even go camping anymore, and I used to camp out a lot, and have lots of gear. That's life in the Big City.
I'm ready for the country again, though. My three kids are almost all out of college now, and I should be able to back of the hectic lifestyle and slow down a bit then.
I never rode a motorcycle until I bought my Speedmaster. Took the class and bought her without even a test ride. My mind was made up. I knew what I wanted. Never would have happened if this forum did not exist. I would have likely gotten over my itch and never ever got into motorcycling if not for BonnevilleAmerica.com
 
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Keith
Houston
Ridin'Texas
'04 Speedmaster
AI removed, Pingle, UNI Filter, 1 shim, straight-through slash-cut TORs, 45 slow jets, 140 mains, 2.0 turns, 16/42 final drive, Nology Coils
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