Man those were the days. 80-84. They tapered off quick when we got drivers licenses and subsequently summer jobs. Day long fishing trips rolled into evenings at the gravel pits. And yes, there were tire fires.
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That is why I loved my job pulling parts at a junk yard. I made more in 3-4 hours then working all day at something hourly. I didn't even really have a "boss" the guy I worked for was named I shit you not, Muskrat. I don't even know his real first name.
I'd show up and there'd be a list of parts to pull and what vehicles had them. I'd pull the parts and leave them in bins and if it took me an hour I was paid per part. I got paid on Saturdays in cash, if he wasn't there he'd leave the money in a drawer under some stuff for me.
I think this is partly why I was always into some sort of entrepreneurial thing throughout my life. Once you have that type of work environment you know it is possible so you keep seeking it and better.
Oh and cash money no taxes!
I grew up in surrounded by wheat farms. We put in some long days during the summer. They didn't leave much time at the end of the day to get into much trouble but we always found an afternoon here or there to hit the lake for some waterskiing. Long days left us summer rich to keep us in beer and gas through the winter until spring work started again.
For me it was cleaning stalls at $10(80’s dollars) each at the barn where I learned to ride, then my pick of the horses that needed work after I was done. No wonder I could run a mile in decent time with no other exercise than that. I could also eat a whole large pizza by myself - the rare times I got one- and not gain weight. Bonus feature was learning to be able to stay on most any horse no matter how rank it was.