How is Covid 19 affecting your livelihood?

OkieKubota

OkieKubota

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I am starting this thread to see if any of you are noticing any differences in your day to day? I have added dozer work, clearing, dirt work to my established tractor business I had. I had 3 jobs lined up to start this weekend and the largest job which was a clearing job on 10 acres of woods texted me a cancellation until at least a couple of months goes by and we see where the virus is at that time. The owner is still fully employed and teleworking from home. I had already walked the property with the landowner and have instructions on exactly what to do, the survey team came and got the survey done a week ago, the dozer is ready to work. I texted the owner back explaining I would be in the woods, by myself on the machine and once I finish I will email her a statement and she can mail me a check and we won’t even see each other but she thought that was still too risky. I figured I would make about $8k in 2 weeks on that job.

The other 2 jobs I had lined up are more weather dependent with one requiring flood waters to recede from a 7” rain we got yesterday, it is a bridge repair. The other job is a pond bank rehab on a brand new pond but the clay on the dyke is going to have to dry enough for me to be able to move it and smooth it. I won’t be able to start that one for a couple weeks if we dry out enough by then...if not it will be a summer job...

I Was walking our property yesterday and got a text from someone wanting some clearing done so I set up a time to meet this morning and went there to look it over. It looks like about 3 acres of woods so perhaps 3 days of work or so. It is high, flint rock ground that is well drained so rain should not affect me much there. I got the bid on it so I start Monday on that job.

I have noticed all the restaurants shutting down, small businesses shuttering their doors, layoffs, etc... and as I explained to someone on Facebook last night who said everyone just needs to stay home for 2 months how are people going to make it doing that if they do not get paid? Most people do not have 2 months of expense money just sitting there. Somehow the economy has to trudge on in a common sense way!
 
I think they’re just saying 2 month but it’s really going to be closer to 4-6 months of closings. That’s just my opinion on what I’m hearing and seeing. I’m retired so nothing happens to me. The kids still have their jobs as they are sliding in under the essential services category but my guess is they will be applying for unemployment in April
 
I am still working...for now....from home. Supposed to return 4/6 to the office. I have a call here in just an hour or so and that could change. They could move out the date to return to the office...or put us all on some sort of leave...not sure. I am working from home but being in the automotive biz....with our major customers shutting down to reduce the spread....the ripple effect will still be felt at some level. They also have asked everyone how much vacation time we had....like they are going to require us to take some now....

The other thing is the stock market....with recent crashes lots of folks are a little puckered up about their money at the moment (I know as of yesterday my 401K lost 25% YTD. They will be cutting back or holding off on any non-needed types of purchases....which is where you client may be at. Like most things in our economy....when the big wheels at the top stop turning everything else tends to follow....

My concern with the closing is that as soon as they loosen them we will get another spike....and we will start all over again. They are trying to keep this at a level in which they can meet demand at hospitals and the like.....that doesn't reduce the number that get it....it simply slows the spread and reduces the spike where medical professionals have to decide who gets treated...and who doesn't.

I know in my area schools in particular are closed until May. We had our 3rd case confirmed in school teachers just today... You left them expose the kids who then bring that stuff home....and BOOM...you have another spike....or an even worse one....
 
My daughter n NC off for 3 wks. They are very well set unlike most 30 year olds. Her husband can work for house. NC is basically shut down. They have new 7 mo old so she looking forward to family time.

WV everything shut down w restaurants and lots other things. I only work 3 day weeks and have been covered up but put all on notice closing down wk of 23rd. Tough on my mostly younger staff. I’m going to pay them for couple wks but obviously the pit will go dry. See what happens. I’ve always kept 6 mo cash living expenses n the safe so at least for now am safe.
Played golf yesterday before they decide to close. Rode this today between rains to let life work itself out. We could all have it heck lot worse. Life is not always a fun ride as my nearly 90 yo mother told me yesterday as she rehashed some of her life bad days. Good luck to all.
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Well my call wasn't as bad as expected.....we are required to take 1 day of vacation every week for the next 8 weeks. Which isn't that bad. I also found out that my daughter was just laid-off from her full-time job. She lives at home....but will be a basket case when she gets home.... If things don't turn around....it will get worse....a lot worse....even worse than 2008. Companies will simply start turning people loose to minimize their losses.....then re-hire as needed.....
 
I retired 4 years ago and removed substantial sums of money from the "house of cards" stock market steadily through the past year. Business man for 40 years, IT Manager, and stayed totally in the game in 08. My livelihood is a paltry social security and timber sales in the recent past. I have some health insurance, but I have to go another 6 weeks for medicare to kick in. I love the outdoors, gardening, hunting, and playing music. When I retired, I decided I would do what I want to do, when I wanted, and at the speed I wanted. I've been playing music for the past 4 years and it has been so much fun. I made about $15 so far... ha... The music is about all over for the time being with restaurants and bars closed and I am disappointed about that.. Winter is over and gardening time is near. Here I am playing harmonica on a country boy tune at a jam in the Detroit area.. :) -
 
I work in a college town which is now a ghost town. I'm considered essential personal so I'm not going anywhere. Wife homeschools our boys so we are good there. The work enviroment is more of waiting for the other shoe to drop. Kids have the option of coming back from spring break next week. Last I heard only a 1000 coming back. It's going to be rough on a lot of the local business. I feel very grateful for the most part. More concerned about my parents health than my own at this point.
 
Well, I don’t know yet how much it will affect us. I’m retired, my wife is the local high school librarian. She’s still getting paid but until at least April 3rd will only help in the cafeteria for 1.5 hrs a week, as will some of the other non-teaching staff.

I just returned from a trip to Central Texas to kill an axis doe, but wound up killing a fallow instead. That’s ok, they’re bigger ! I have a freezer full already, deer and vegetables, didn’t have to fight for butt wipe or paper towels at the local wallyworld, (my wife stays stocked up on essentials), and as long as the electricity stays on we’re good.

I cancelled our turkey hunt because we stayed in a motel and ate in restaurants, and withdrew our Wyoming antelope applications because the landowner decided not to continue the hunts. He said it took up too much of his time, but I feel it was because of the covid-19. Can’t say as I blame him, but he really didn’t even have to see us except to take our money. It was not a guided hunt. We could have put the money under a rock ! :D No matter, his ranch, his rules.

Our governor has instituted some rules starting at midnight tonight and going until April third that virtually quarantines us, no dining in, so lots of restaurants are closed, bars are closed, no school, no gatherings of more than ten humans, etc. Ain’t gonna bother me, but it has some of the wussified crowd upset. I’ve not done much but work my butt off for most of my life so I’m ready to slack off a little. I told my wife yesterday that life ain’t gonna change much for me except she’s gonna be here with me to share the fun.............:)
 
Barn building has been deemed non-life-sustaining (for home sapiens) so we had to shut down by the end of today. Here's my best guess according to the way things usually work out; they'll remove all work restrictions the day before our Spring Gobbler season opens on May second...
 
My customer I dealt with this morning is an interesting fellow...came here from Laos at about 10 years of age. His father and grandfather were freedom fighters and fought communism with the help of US forces and as a reward were given citizenship here in the US. I am clearing land for him to farm and put animals on because he fears communism is coming to the US now...
 
OkieKubota said:
My customer I dealt with this morning is an interesting fellow...came here from Laos at about 10 years of age. His father and grandfather were freedom fighters and fought communism with the help of US forces and as a reward were given citizenship here in the US. I am clearing land for him to farm and put animals on because he fears communism is coming to the US now...
Click to expand...


I fear he’s right. If not communism, at least socialism. We’ve been headed that direction for awhile now. A lot of the minus 30 crowd thinks our Constitution is something to be ignored, just a piece of paper written by “old white men”. Our biggest problem IMO is that another bunch of old white men have been in D. C. much too long, but I fear we’ll never have term limits as long as they can exempt themselves from rules we have to adhere to and vote themselves raises.

I’m gonna get off my soapbox now ! :D I picked up 30 bags of that TSC pellet lime this morning for two small plots and Covid-19 didn’t enter my mind:)
 
I fixed the bridge today for a fellow...I noticed his place needed a good brushhogging while I was working and meant to ask him about it once I got done. Once I got done he asked what he owed...I got it done pretty quick so I just gave him my tractor hourly rate and he looked at me like I was an alien and gave me a nice tip on top...he then asked me how much to Brushhog his place before I could even ask him about it. It’s about 6 acres and he wants me to Brushhog it twice a year now so he goes on my list of regulars now...nice... dozer job starts Monday...
 
OkieKubota said:
I fixed the bridge today for a fellow...I noticed his place needed a good brushhogging while I was working and meant to ask him about it once I got done. Once I got done he asked what he owed...I got it done pretty quick so I just gave him my tractor hourly rate and he looked at me like I was an alien and gave me a nice tip on top...he then asked me how much to Brushhog his place before I could even ask him about it. It’s about 6 acres and he wants me to Brushhog it twice a year now so he goes on my list of regulars now...nice... dozer job starts Monday...
Click to expand...
Your story just reinforces how important it is to do good work even if it's a small job, because in business small jobs lead to bigger jobs. There's been times when I intentionally hired someone to do a small job with a bigger project in mind if they do good on the small job.
 
It's been busy as hell for me. I'm on the side of this that deals with the first effect of everything shutting down, so our businesses are getting busier. It's starting to wear on me.
 
THE LLC said:
2008 redo.
Click to expand...
Think this one is going to be a lot worse than 2008 crash. That one killed the housing market along with a lot of industries and businesses that supported construction. This one is wiping out well run small businesses across all fronts. And it's doing it in a hurry. I was at the farm this weekend and saw two contrails from jets either leaving or coming in to ATL. Sky is usually full of them. My heart aches for small businesses across all fronts. Good, decent, hard working folks that overnight, are experiencing their world crashing in on them.

Boys...let's wake up everyday with an inspiring attitude and do all we can to portray a sense of hope to all we come across. This too shall pass. We are the land of the free and the home of the brave. Revolutionary War, Civil War, WWI, WWII, Korean and Vietnam. Came through em all and ended up better for it as a country. Least each of us can do is be a beacon of hope in what are very uncertain and dark times.
 
I know a lot of people are hurting economically from this and it’s likely going to get worse before it gets better. I feel for everyone who is hurting. No doubt it’s hurting livelihoods, I’m hoping there’s a silver lining though and it can positively impact our lives. Spending more time together as families. Remembering to be thankful and that we never know what tomorrow brings. Developing a little more self reliance and preparedness. The importance of community and looking out for your neighbors. Hopefully as much good as bad can come from this situation.


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