General question : Retired or not?

LBrown59 · Jul 17, 2009

RalphVa said:
I retired at 56 in 1999. Took a little while to get involved with stuff and to get my tractor. First had to sell our 6 BR/BA place in Baton Rouge. Took 2 years to do that. They wouldn't let me take Master Gardener training there until I retired ("wouldn't have time; they said.") Then I retired, and I didn't have time and had no idea when the house would sell.

Finally moved to central Virginia on 8.5 acres. Started off with a Gravely and a bunch of implements, all man eaters. Bought a JD 4010 in fall of 2004. Life much easier since. Immediately put it to work spreading 22 tons of gravel over trails leading down the hill to keep me from sliding down the hill.

Now, I'm master gardening (editor), master naturalisting (editor), streamwatching, sec/treas of homeowners assoc, drive/maintain church van. Do my own gardening on this place and maintain trails across 3 or 4 neighbors' properties. I supply our church and bowling buddies with veggies. They're starting to come in.

Ralph

Do you like VA better than you Did LA?

BigD23 · Jul 18, 2009

Still have a few years to go...Been an elevator constructor for over 34 years...Daily conversation for guys my age is always "where did the time go...?" It's been an excellent career, but when the right time comes along, I'm gone.

Don

LBrown59 · Jul 18, 2009

BigD23 said:
Still have a few years to go...Been an elevator constructor for over 34 years...Daily conversation for guys my age is always "where did the time go...?"

It's been an excellent career, but when the right time comes along, I'm gone.

Don

But like any career /occupation this one has had it's share of ups and downs no doubt---

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MacLawn · Jul 18, 2009

newbury, this is a great discussion! I read all the posts. I will be 61 in January, been working since I was 12 (paper route), and haven't stopped since. Also spent some time in Viet Nam, but that wasn't real work, right? I have been self-employed for over 30 years in ministry, and won't really ever retire from that work, but I still cannot do what I used to for sure. About 35 years ago, we bought

BigD23 · Jul 18, 2009

LBrown59 said:
But like any career /occupation this one has had it's share of ups and downs no doubt---

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I'll have to remember that one LB...It's So original.

EastTexFrank · Jul 19, 2009

Retired at the beginning of 2000 at 52. Spent a year working around the house but missed the oilfield. Started consulting for about 4 months a year and did that for about 4 years before finally giving it up altogether. I decided I liked retirement more than I liked work. The only thing I can say is retire before you are too old to enjoy it.

Retirement doesn't mean that you sit around the house all day watching TV, stagnating and waiting for the grim reaper to make a house call. I'm busy all the time running my tractors at the house or at the farm, volunteer work, gardening or just piddling. What retirement means to me is that I can wake up in the morning, look out the window and say, "To heck with it, I'm going fishing or to the gun club to burn up some ammo, etc." Come to think of it, I haven't done either in a while. Maybe tomorrow .... but I have to spray the pasture and cut the yard so maybe Monday. Oh wait, Monday I have Rotary at lunch and then I said I'd lift and tote stuff for a buddy who has a project. Tuesday I have to cut 5 acres for the local library. Wednesday I'm mowing at the farm. When I come to think of it, retirement is a lot like work only it pays a lot less and there's no time off. I'd recommend it to anybody.

PSDStu · Jul 19, 2009

EastTexFrank said:
Retired at the beginning of 2000 at 52. Spent a year working around the house but missed the oilfield. Started consulting for about 4 months a year and did that for about 4 years before finally giving it up altogether. I decided I liked retirement more than I liked work. The only thing I can say is retire before you are too old to enjoy it.

Retirement doesn't mean that you sit around the house all day watching TV, stagnating and waiting for the grim reaper to make a house call. I'm busy all the time running my tractors at the house or at the farm, volunteer work, gardening or just piddling. What retirement means to me is that I can wake up in the morning, look out the window and say, "To heck with it, I'm going fishing or to the gun club to burn up some ammo, etc." Come to think of it, I haven't done either in a while. Maybe tomorrow .... but I have to spray the pasture and cut the yard so maybe Monday. Oh wait, Monday I have Rotary at lunch and then I said I'd lift and tote stuff for a buddy who has a project. Tuesday I have to cut 5 acres for the local library. Wednesday I'm mowing at the farm. When I come to think of it, retirement is a lot like work only it pays a lot less and there's no time off. I'd recommend it to anybody.

East Texas Frank I think has nailed it!

I retired from the US Navy in 2002 after 32 years, then worked another 4 years for Uncle Sam as GS-12 in Ship Repair. My wife and I then moved to the Panhandle of Florida where her family was from and bought some land.

I wasn't looking to work.....but lucked out finding a job as a Caretaker/Land Manager for a well to do older widow lady who happens to be our neighbor and has close to 200 acres of land which I take care of........mowing, bush hogging, maintaining 2 large ponds, some timber work and just general clean up of her property.

It's a great job, and keeps me busy.

Stu

Bigturk · Jul 19, 2009

I'm not retired yet but have my plans in the works. At 47 I have only worked for 2 companies in the past 27 years. Sadly I don't own a tractor either. I am planning to purchase a Kioti/Bobcat in the 40hp range with a Cab next year. I will look to make some extra cash doing snow removal, driveway grading, etc. I figure it will be wise to pay for my new toys before I retire, so I better get started.

I am moving back to my home town next year and plan to spend a little of my Home equity on a new tractor. I am very fortunate in that my wife fully supports my plans.

Waiting until next year to purchase my first tractor will be very difficult, but I will have lots to read here on TBN.

Ozark Hollow · Jul 20, 2009

I just turned 50 in April. I was disability retired from the Army in 1998, for a seizure disorder and several other things caused by chemical exposure during the first Gulf War.

For the first 4 years of my retirement, quite frankly I was depressed a lot but wouldn't admit it to myself. I had a little place in MI with 10 acres, but the neighbors were way too close. Honestly, it was like living in a suburb that was 20 miles from the nearest town. Plus I was 100+ miles from any VA health care. Finally one cold dark winter I took a hard look at things and decided I needed to move.

I found an abandoned farm in MO listed on the internet, and drove down to have a look. The place was a disaster, but I fell in love and have never looked back. Taking care of this place, planting trees and cleaning and fixing it up is a full time job that makes me very happy.

And now I have a tractor too!

BigD23 · Jul 20, 2009

Ozark Hollow said:
I just turned 50 in April. I was disability retired from the Army in 1998, for a seizure disorder and several other things caused by chemical exposure during the first Gulf War.

For the first 4 years of my retirement, quite frankly I was depressed a lot but wouldn't admit it to myself. I had a little place in MI with 10 acres, but the neighbors were way too close. Honestly, it was like living in a suburb that was 20 miles from the nearest town. Plus I was 100+ miles from any VA health care. Finally one cold dark winter I took a hard look at things and decided I needed to move.

I found an abandoned farm in MO listed on the internet, and drove down to have a look. The place was a disaster, but I fell in love and have never looked back. Taking care of this place, planting trees and cleaning and fixing it up is a full time job that makes me very happy.

And now I have a tractor too!

Welcome Home Ozark and Thank You.

Don