While some may measure their wealth by what type of car they drive or how much money they have in their bank accounts, there are others who feel they are rich simply by their ability to keep their heads above financial waters in these somewhat trying times.

One such person is 40-something-year-old Bruce Andrew, who lost his job with the Corporation of Hamilton several years ago.

“It was a Christmas Eve and me and some work buddies went for a drink—my bosses felt that I had drank the most and I lost my job there and then,” he recently told The Royal Gazette.<$>

While he admitted that he felt he was unfairly dismissed, Bruce said instead of moping about his sudden termination, he decided to turn apples into applesauce.

“I had been washing cars for years on the side, so I decided to do that full time. When I was younger I always used to clean my sister’s car and whenever I cleaned someone else’s I always cleaned it to a standard that I would want for my own,” he explained.

Bruce also took the decision to work on his own instead of hiring people to work alongside him: “I felt to myself that it would be better to do it on my own. Having a crew would bring more headaches.

“I figured if I did it by myself, I would be responsible if anything went wrong.”

Bruce said he had no doubt that people would give him a chance to prove his abilities and he was ready for the challenge.

“I was let go by the Corporation on a Wednesday and started cleaning cars full-time the next day,” he recounted. “I decided to base my business in the City Hall parking lot because that’s where a lot of people parked daily. I enjoyed a good relationship with (then-Secretary) Roger Sherratt, so everything fell into place.”

Bruce said his business took off immediately, so much that he limited himself to cleaning a maximum of seven cars a day.

“Back then I charged $20 to clean the outside only and $30 to do the inside as well,” Bruce said. “Once people started putting the word out, I developed a loyal clientele.”

The Rastafarian said he always took his trade seriously, arriving at the parking lot daily at six in the morning so that he could ensure that his work area was spotless.

“When people saw how clean I was, they trusted that I would keep their cars the same,” he told The Royal Gazette.<$>

Over the years, Bruce said he has witnessed many changes, and even gave up his lucrative spot as an influx of car washers began to threaten his credibility. He subsequently moved to the smaller parking lot, located on the Victoria Street side of City Hall.

“I never regretted my decision to move. I was satisfied with what I had and I never saw a decline in my patrons,” Bruce said.

While he revealed that he was able to save some monies for his future, he still had rent to pay, which ate up much of his income, a plight that affects many Bermudians in virtually every industry.

Although he still washes cars, Bruce recently took the decision to look for another job and works part-time for the Department of Works and Engineering as a solo sweeper, a position which will become full-time in the near future.

“I had to start thinking about my future and pension,” he conceded.

As he said that he will probably never give up his trade as a car cleaner, Bruce admitted that he most likely will have to work until he is at least 65 in order to survive as a senior citizen.

“My mother always told me, ‘If you want to eat, you must work.’ I have to continue to keep the faith,” he concluded.