NOTHING TO DO WITH CARS

[racydave]

Yes(NO) Mike and I can not sing, and should be well paid not to! I remember having a life and hobbies. Then came the Spider... I remember Bicycling, camping, nature, bird watching, distilling, goin to races, fishing. The best part of Spiderism is that my wife and adult children really like it also. And making new friends is cool too!

[rlux4]

Krissy and I have been married for 28 years (third time was a charm). We have a son, 19, and a daughter, just turned 16.
I dropped out of college in 1973 to start as a carpenter. I found my calling. Over the years I learned all the trades involved in building houses, and my wife and I have built houses from bare ground to finished project, including septic system and building the cabinets. I enjoy my work so much that woodworking is also one of my hobbies. I taught jr. high woodshop for 6 years at one point.
For years we toured on a motorcycle. We'd pack a tent, sleeping bags, a cooler and hit the road for a two or three day trip. We still camp (we have a 5th wheel, a tent trailer, a Casita, which is a small fiberglass, bubble shaped trailer, and several tents.) The motorcycling days are behind me now. Krissy let me have my Spider if I would sell the Goldwing. That decision didn't take too long to make!
And reading. I'll read a book or two on a day off. I'll have four or five books going at once, spread around so there'll be one handy wherever I happen to be.
And of course, the Spider and the friends we've made because of it.
Ron

[kmac33]

Narfire, another futball fanatic down here in Georgia, I've played pretty much my whole life - was playing twice a week in competetive recreation leagues but I'm currently having to take a break from playing myself thanks to tearing my left ACL at the end of 07 and tearing my right ACL my second game back after recovering from the first surgery(getting older sucks ). Currently working to Rehab the right knee and get back on the field to play. I guess that leaves more time for the Spider resoration! Before tearing my ACL's I was a very active runner - multiple 5K's, 10K's, half marathons and 1 marathon - was training for my second marathon when I tore the first ACL. I still love to work out and lift weights when I can make the time.
I'm a very proud dad. My 7 year old son is a soccer fanatic and pretty talented player (plays up 1 or 2 age groups depending on the league), so a good portion of my time is now spent coaching his teams, serving on the Board of the organization he plays for or just playing in the yard with him.
I am a Physical Therapist by trade (a good thing considering how often I damage my body!), but do very little patient care now. I'm in an Administrative position for a hospital system, so I stay busy with work.
I really enjoy reading (fiction, non-fiction and Fiat repair manuals ) and music (about 4500 songs and growing on the iPod right now). Love going to see good bands live - have seen Death Cab for Cutie, The National and The Decemberists in the last 3 weeks - all great shows!
Just wish I had afew extra hours each day to fit everything in!

[Spiddy]

Well, thanks everybody, it's prooved extremely interesting - although I was disappointed to find I'm the only nurd on this forum into model railroads.
Me? I'm married (33 years) with 2 ankle snappers; Ben, 29. Ex England squad 10 pin bowler, now runs a Bowling centre near Oxford. And Felicity, 27, busy working in a major store in Aylesbury. And boy, do I ever love them both They come out to Spain whenever they can, not sure if it's to see us or get the sun.
In my former life I was a graphic designer with my own business which covered marketing, exhibition design and conference and event organising. Retired at the grand old age of 52 back in 2001 and moved here where we run our holiday (vacation) villa letting business. If it's of interest, go to http://www.hazydayz.net
That's it, not going to bore you any further.

[azygoustoyou]

Nice Place Spiddy!!!

[spiderrey]

[narfire]

Hey Spiddy,looks like a great place to hang your hat.
I'll have to pass the name to my aunt. She and her husband live in Taunton(sp) and come to Spain a few times throughout the year. The dry heat is easy on the arthritis.
When we win the lottery,your definitely on the to-do/see list. Now... about a fleet of spiders to rent???
Chris

[Gunsmith]

Well let’s see….

Born in Ohio and lived in Florida my whole life,(Thank you parents!!) We have traveled quite a bit because we love learning the real cultures of other places. The family businesses growing up where commercial diving and gunsmithing which clearly go together. So I of course went into the technology business for 20 years or so and decided that I really liked Gunsmithing over having 50 technicians with major personality disorders to baby sit every day. I have been a car nut my whole life and the first car I really restored was a 79 Fiat. Everything we do is outdoors, surfing, fishing, diving, shooting, hunting, hiking, kayaking, camping, off roading, did I leave anything out? I have a wonderful wife and a 12 year old daughter that is the most beautiful and intelligent girl on the planet. Both of them despite viewing my fits of frustration over our Fiat love our little Spider and never miss a ride in it. Currently we are building a new shooting park and gunsmith shop which has been sucking up all of my time. My wife has a Masters in Psychology and works with Autistic children which is why she just looks at me and smiles. We really appreciate the fact so many people from other countries post up in English so we can get their perspective on things and hear about their daily lives and Fiats of course. I would love to build a high output Fiat Spider track car when I finally have the time. We have a great new race track that I pass on the way to the range and would love to run it with the right car.

[CajunMike]

Nice topic, Spiddy. Although Im not a frequenter of this forum, primarily because my spider sits in the garage waiting for the go ahead from my "banker" to begin restoration, I do read up and enjoy reading posts and participating when I can. Hopefully, Ill begin my restoration soon and i look forward to posting the progress. Personally, I have a 6 yo son and enjoy time with him and my wife of 11 years. Im a CPA by profession but work in private industry for a healthcare company as a corporate controller. I love golfing and hunting but opportunites are few and far between for that these days. My main interest for the last 5 years or so has been wristwatch collecting/discussing, more specifically Omega mechanical wristwatches. Im a member of several wristwatch related discussion forums and have several watches.

Ok, so whats exciting about watch collecting? Not much really, its more of a nerdy passion, but differences over the years between manufacturers and calibers is kinda like cars. Some are collectible, some are not. They need servicing every few years and are prone to failure at a whim. Some keep good time, some don't and there are frequent analogies made between cars and watches on the forums. Prices for mechanical watches range from an astounding $300k+ for something like limited edition, multiple complication Vacheron Constantin's to under $100 for vintage Bulovas, so there is something for everyone. Most people don't even realize the complexity involved in mechanical wristwatches other than they keep time. Some of the more complex pieces have over 200 parts crammed into a 35-45mm diameter, 7-15mm thick wristwatch, that on a full wind can have a resting power reserve of 60 hours and can function virtually limitless if worn regularly, operated solely by the motion of you wrist. Oh, if we could only develop a car with such a function.

Most mechanical timepiecs can keep time within a minute a day and the more advanced "chronometer" grade watches keep time at +6/-4 seconds. I personally have a chronometer grade Omega that keeps time at less than a second a day variance. Just phenomenal. Its like a quartz watch but without the battery. I could go on and on and bore the hell out of all of you that have made it this far. Suffice it to say that watches have been my Fiat for the last several years.

[ga.spyder]

My turn to pipe in.I was born and raised in SoFla,and lived there until 2000.I was a factory sales rep ,and hated waking up in the morning and going to work.We visited some friends in the N.E. Georgia mountains ,and we were hooked.The hustle,bustle,overcrowded schools in Fla gave way to a county of 30000 people,the whole county being in a National Forest.Talk about culture shock.
I have an 18 y.o. son ,Geoff and a 16 y.o. daughter ,Heather.The absolute model children!Smart,talented,good looking....thank God they take after their mom.My wife,Rosemarie, and I have been married 22 years,and she is the most understanding patient woman in the world. She has several degrees in nursing and supervises the L&D Dept. at a major hospital.
My passion for many years has been bass fishing.I have won numerous tournaments,and even considered turning pro at one time,I have always been passionate about cars.I raced a HProd Midget and autocrossed a RX7.I have owned many different sports and muscle cars.I got into off road and even competitive rock crawling,before finding the Fiat.
I fell into a great deal with a super guy up here,and we have been building houses and doing remodeling.We are very hands on ,so I strap on the tool belt and work every day.Wouldnt trade it for my previous profession,which paid way more money! We are active in our church,band boosters,QB club,etc.... This is one of the best topics in a long time on this forum,you realize how diverse a group this really is.
C

[htchevyii]

Well, thanks everybody, it's prooved extremely interesting - although I was disappointed to find I'm the only nurd on this forum into model railroads.
Me? I'm married (33 years) with 2 ankle snappers; Ben, 29. Ex England squad 10 pin bowler, now runs a Bowling centre near Oxford. And Felicity, 27, busy working in a major store in Aylesbury. And boy, do I ever love them both They come out to Spain whenever they can, not sure if it's to see us or get the sun.
In my former life I was a graphic designer with my own business which covered marketing, exhibition design and conference and event organising. Retired at the grand old age of 52 back in 2001 and moved here where we run our holiday (vacation) villa letting business. If it's of interest, go to http://www.hazydayz.net
That's it, not going to bore you any further.

So, do FiatSpider.com members get the complementry use of a Spider? That would be a great way of talking your wife into letting you get another! It's a business expense!

[Gunsmith]

Trey, I believe you have an excellent idea there. We all build on some extra space to our homes and buy another Spider. Then we can all travel to each others places and enjoy! This would make a great business expense, I'll start looking for that second Spider now. Now we just need to get some planes......

[mdrburchette]

I don't have any planes but I already have the extra room and a couple Fiats to choose from.

[sptcoupe]

I'm with Denise. Got the room and three FIATS here in the Dallas area. Short notice works for us.