WHAT DO U GUYS DO?

[California]

Retired, and what to do in the winter? Tinker in the shop!

This winter I renovated a neglected but fundamentally solid 20 year old American Yanmar tractor. This thing is so simple it's like a big Lionel Train.

As I had hoped, all it needed was simple maintenance to put in good working condition. I freed up a stuck brake, and replaced the Thermostart ('glow plug'), battery, alternator, fuel filter, and the stale fuel. I ballasted the tires to counterbalance the loader, and did an annual maintenance. It was gratifying to see or hear a noticeable improvement with each step.

It still looks thrashed but now it purrs. I think it is ready now for another 20 years use. I consider my time well spent.

 

[JDgreen227]

Frank,

Here I have been retired a year and a half and many days I wonder how I ever managed to get anything done for me while I was working full time. When the rain stops I go out and continue picking up the rocks popping up around the foundation of the new addition or work on hanging gutters and downspouts, if the yard isn't pure mud I use the JD and loader to clean up the tree debris from the winter storms.
Took my chainsaw over to my new neighbor's lot the other day and cut up wood for him for about 2 hours.

I am still working on finishing my new home office, another week of painting, wiring, and putting all my junk away and it will be ready to use. And when I get spare time ( /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif) I do housework, laundry, etc. becuz my spouse is spending most of her time with her ailing father.

What I dislike about spring is the constant rain and mud that seems to last forever. You are not alone in wanting to get busy with the outdoor projects...let's see, I have to reroof part of the house, build a 10X20 deck, pour a concrete slab for the hot tub and also pour a sidewalk to the existing deck, and my spouse has plans for putting in a pond out back.

I am in no hurry to start those jobs....by the time I get them done there will just be more to be done.

 

[alan40]

Well up here in Fairfield Vt. we're making maple syrup. Boiling sap, feeding fires, filtering and bottling. Hopfully not all at the same time. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Keeping the family out of the maple candy. I've made two batch's and it just disappears of the shelf. I ask my two year old he says, Not me!!!! Of course the maple on his checks give him away. His mother is no better then she blames me because she has to get on the treadmill. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I tried to get her to fire the evaporator but it didn't work. I had it about 90 degrees in the sugar house last night. She came out in the chair and roasted. She loved every minute of it. Of course can't complain she's pretty darn good to look at. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Life is busy and good!!! Besides that being a stay at home Dad is the same old drill. Laundry,cleaning,cooking and watching Buster and Frank with a two year old.
Have a great day.

 

[MossRoad]

<font color="blue"> I'm only 43, but the wife is looking for me to retire sometime around age 50. </font>

Bob, I'm only 43, too /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I have retirement plans, but with a 6 and 11 year old, they aren't for a few years, yet! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I enjoy the laundry and grocery shopping. When I do the shopping, we have stuff in the pantry that I like! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[rdln]

whats the matter OH? dont you like a challenge?

 

[RobS]

You must be several weeks behind us Frank. I was going through the same thing a while back. Not sure how I survived it but I did. We're still a little soggy in the ground here but I did get that retaining wall built. Wanted to move some dirt today but too wet. Would have just made a huge mess. We got our camper out of winter storage today so that's a sure sign of nicer weather. First outing in two weeks, can't wait.

About all I can suggest is do some preventative maintenance work on your machines so when that nicer weather does hit you'll have no reason to not be out enjoying it /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Moss, mine just turned 9.

 

[frank_f15]

yep i think we are a few weeks behind u guys, if its not raing tomorrow i will get the gt and lawnmower from the other garage and start to do maintaince on them then have buch of stuff i need to take to the other garage for storage, i do have a buch of trees down so i do need to start cutting them up, would be easier if i could get the tractor out to them , but way to wet. and as somemention eariler, i also don't know how i got anything done when i was working? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif but i do find i have more time to play with my cameras and mess more with my photos and play more on the computer.LIFE IS GRAND /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif