Soon to be Tractor-less

[airbiscuit]

Maybe this will help with the withdrawal ...

 

[RobS]

So much wrong with that pedal-tractor. I could build one much better! Of course, it would be green...

Yeah, the things we'll miss the most will be the peace, quiet and privacy. Definitely the biggest tradeoff. On the other hand, looking forward to being able to take off any time, for any amount of time to visit any where we want! Kind of a pre-retirement thing.

I'm keeping all of my mechanics tools but have already gotten rid of all my wood working equipment. Just wasn't using it any longer. In addition to garage type work, I'll have some sort of "man-cave" but geared more towards hobby interests on a smaller scale.

Ultimately, for a real retirement, I'd like to ditch the land-based living altogether and live on a sailboat. I have a lot of work to do though, to convince the wife!

 

[shooterdon]

Good luck to you Rob!

Having hobbies to fill your new found spare time will be important to keeping your sanity and "engaged" in life. We are all wired differently and it is important to find what works for you and your family.

I am in my late sixties and engaged to a younger gal. She will be moving here to the middle of nowhere in a few months, and seems to be looking forward to it. She says she loves the place....we shall see. But she knows going into this I AM NOT MOVING!!!! I may be selfish, wanting my own lifestyle, but I worked decades to get here. It is what I want while I can still handle the work. When the time comes, I will need to leave...know that...just being realistic.

Again, good luck!!!

 

[rgr33]

Good luck in your lifestyle change Rob. It will be different, living on a city lot, that is for sure.
I have lived in the country for many decades, and the last couple of years, I dread going into town. Seems like I spend all my time just waiting for people to get out of my way so I can go about my business.

Hope things go well for you in the future, and that you will stick around here and add your 2 cents now and then.

 

[airbiscuit]

Before you leave, tell us how you liked your John Deere 790.

 

[Imold]

Good luck on your change of lifestyle. We are leaving 30 years of this view everyday to our own secluded 12.7 acres with a stream in two-three years.

 

[MossRoad]

It's been a journey!

My wife and I both grew up on rural property, but not farms. In 1999 we purchased 10 acres and built a home where we have raised our 2 boys. Of course, part of my justification for the property was the need for a tractor!

Much time has passed, oldest son is putting his masters degree to work in Indy and youngest is about ready to return for his junior year at U of M. We've been wanting to downsize for a while now and after 3 years, our house is finally sold! And the buyers want the tractor so we made a deal on it and all the attachments. It's been a blast but there are so many things we want to do and all of the property maintenance just seems to get in the way.

We're scrambling to find a smaller home, on a small lot (likely subdivision), and closer to my work (currently commuting an hour each way). I'll miss the fun parts of tractoring but can't say I'll miss the 5-6 hour mowing sessions. In fact, hoping to be able to pay a local kid to mow our new lawn and not have to mess with it a bit!

It's fascinating how our interests change over time. I'm excited for the future and thankful for all of our experiences to date. And like Bird, I'll stick around here as it's still one of the best communities on the 'net!

Here's one example of what we intend to fill our time with: View attachment 618590

First Coke changes it's formula.... now this!

 

[Jstpssng]

First Coke changes it's formula.... now this!

Hopefully the OP's transition will be smoother than your example. (Although I've long held that "New Coke" wasn't as much of a boondoggle as believed. They never did go back to the old recipe,... and I haven't had a Coke since.)

 

[RobS]

First Coke changes it's formula.... now this!

I know, right?!? Still not far, if I ever need a tractor fix, I'll give you a call. We'll be in Goshen!

 

[RobS]

Before you leave, tell us how you liked your John Deere 790.

Funny you mention that. I was just thinking the other day, that tractor has been the most reliable piece of equipment I've ever owned! Had a fuse blow early in it's life which threw me for a loop but other than that, it's been nothing but regular oil and filter changes. I think it's over 600 hours now, mostly mowing grass and moving snow. I scored the backhoe a couple of years after I bought the tractor and it's just a blast. Hasn't seen a lot of use recently but nothing beats it for stirring up the compost pile! #overkill

 

[lilranch2001]

I am at the other side of the spectrum. Will turn 69 in a few weeks. Got my first tractor last year and traded up this year to a "real" machine.

Have 20 acres and mow 2 with a Husky rider. Might get a zero turn to replace it down the road. Enjoy my tractor time....grading, clearing land, and doing chores. Looking forward to blowing snow with my new pull blower. Had twenty loggers cords delivered last week so need to get them processed and put the new grapple to work. Wood should last 3 years or so.

Being retired makes a difference. The tractor work keeps me occupied.

No desire to ever leave my little slice of heaven.

:thumbsup:

 

[Gem99ultra]

Strange how the more things change, the more they stay the same... I grew up in the city. Regular little house on a regular little lot. Concrete everywhere except a postage size place they called a "lawn". Neighbors on all sides, some so close that you could spit and hit their window. You could hear every conversation they had, and those were usually depressing. ahhhh - the good city life! Great pay, raised a family, nice new cars, and lots of free time to relax (NOT).

Hung in there with the city life for 70 years. Sure - that was where the good paying jobs were. And it took every penny to maintain the living standard. The simple truth is that it takes all you make to stay the same. On the downside, even if you move to an area that has great neighbors, great streets, light traffic, and a hundred TV channels to gaze at all day and night - that will soon all change. The neighbors all seem to migrate to another place, and their old house becomes either rental property that's rarely maintained, or by those that are looking for an opportunity to either impose on what's yours, or simply steal it.
The crime rate never goes down. It only goes up - and often it has a direct impact on you or your belongings.

After retiring, I found a nice place in the country, nearby town of <500, one red light, and 15 acres to do whatever I wanted to do. I can have a big yard to mow, or a little yard, or heck - even no yard if I wish. I don't have a HOA telling me what color I can paint my house, or how many storage sheds I can have. Traffic? Yeah, when there are more than 2 cars ahead of me at the only red light, I get nervous about the 'traffic jam'. That's a little different than sitting in a line of cars a half mile long just to get past one intersection.

There are no Big Box stores within 30 miles any direction of my place. No problem - with Next Day or Two Day delivery of anything I want or need, the only thing that has changed is my schedule. There's always something to do or needs to be done. That's why my 'schedule' is flexible... I can either schedule anything to be done immediately, or tomorrow, or even never if I choose. I'm my own boss with no peer pressure to do a thing, other than my own desire. I don't farm and I don't have a garden. And don't plan to either. I do need my tractor though; if I decide to dig a hole - fine. Or if I decide to fill that hole back up - fine.

Correct that last comment - I don't NEED a tractor, I simply WANT my tractor. Its more fun than the hundreds of cars and motorcycles that I've owned. We have plenty of wildlife to watch and interact with, and thousands of trees. I call that nature at its best. A breath of fresh air doesn't come with an acetic order from someone's nearby factory.

BUT - different stokes for different folks. Often those that grew up in the country yearn for moving to the city, and vice versa. Change is the choice for everyone. So, I wish you Best of Luck with your change.

 

[lilranch2001]

Great post Gem!

 

[Gary Fowler]

In my case it may be a tad different. I've been out here so long and am so set in my ways. I don't think I could change to fit into an "urban" environment any longer. Also - I DON'T WANT to fit into an urban environment. You can't make an old dog do new tricks. Square pegs don't fit in round holes -

I visit my son in Spokane. I get an uncomfortable feeling when I look out his windows and can see other houses. Everything is so close and packed in.

Just not my lifestyle any more........

I too have the same feeling as Oosik and Gem99ultra. I truly hate the hustle and bustle and bumper to bumper traffic we get when I visit the kids and grandkids in the Houston Texas area. I lived there for 35 years but now have no desire to return. I will take the country life for as long as possible. If it gets to where I cant manage my property, I will just let it go back to nature just like it was when I bought it. I can reduce the lawn area and hire it mowed if needed and still have the peace and quiet of the country.
I spent the first 24 years of my life on a farm, then the next 36 years in the big cities of the USA and the last 10 on my country estate . I sure dont miss the big city at all.

 

[MossRoad]

I know, right?!? Still not far, if I ever need a tractor fix, I'll give you a call. We'll be in Goshen!

Nice! Up and coming downtown, pumpkin vine, Bonnyville.... you know the drill. :laughing:

 

[MossRoad]

You ever been to any of the Acres Land Trust properties? There's a bunch of them. Usually some nice walking trails. Can't remember any bike trails, but they are great for hikes, numerous around NE Indiana. Some are small, but we've been hitting a couple in a day in our travels between here and Fort Wayne.

Preserves Map | ACRES Land TrustACRES Land Trust

 

[lilranch2001]

I have been to 40-50% of the Acres preserves.
Hanging Rock over the Wabash is by far my favorite, but then I was visiting it 30 years before it was offered to Acres.

Last time I went, I was by myself and decided not to try to get to the top, since I was alone and if I fell, no one would probably find me any time soon.....

 

[gsganzer]

I've enjoyed the projects around my place over the years, but now I'm ready to start relaxing instead of always working on something. We've spent the last year completing our "Big projects", like horse stalls, outdoor patio/kitchen, fencing, driveway paving etc. We're now transitioning to "maintain and relax" and enjoying the fruits of our labor.

I enjoy working on things, I'm just tiring of the full scale demolition, construction type stuff that disrupts everything and is an eyesore while in progress. I'll now just work on "piddle" type shop projects or yard maintenance chores.

 

[gsganzer]

I've enjoyed the projects around my place over the years, but now I'm ready to start relaxing instead of always working on something. We've spent the last year completing our "Big projects", like horse stalls, outdoor patio/kitchen, fencing, driveway paving etc. We're now transitioning to "maintain and relax" and enjoying the fruits of our labor.

I enjoy working on things, I'm just tiring of the full scale demolition, construction type stuff that disrupts everything and is an eyesore while in progress. I'll now just work on "piddle" type shop projects or yard maintenance chores.

 

[MossRoad]

I have been to 40-50% of the Acres preserves.
Hanging Rock over the Wabash is by far my favorite, but then I was visiting it 30 years before it was offered to Acres.

Last time I went, I was by myself and decided not to try to get to the top, since I was alone and if I fell, no one would probably find me any time soon.....

We were there last summer. Never knew there were any rock formation in northern Indiana before that. Thought the glaciers got em all. I'd like to get a closer look at the big four cut in Wabash, but it's on private property.