It's just not as much fun anymore

[bluealtered]

It happens to all of us. It seems that one morning you wake up and that strong young man is gone, ... and there is an old man where he used to be. I have reached that point in life and since my loving wife doesn't want my toys, (guns) I have been slowly selling them off.
Buying, selling and trading guns used to be fun and maybe for some it still is. For me it's become a pain in the back side. Jumping through all the hoops anymore just to do so just pi$$'s me off no end. I'm down to just a few left and will get it done, but it just makes me mad that we have let our country go this far to the loony left. I'll stop here before I tell everbody how I really feel about it.

 

[D Coots]

States go Woke and take the good people along for the ride.

 

[209jones]

Yup, reach a point where you really don't need all the stuff you've acquired, idea of a smaller place with less work gets more appealing, whole bunch of stuff around the joint, you may as well sell, as you aren't using it, and won't have room in the new place for it. I don't like the process of selling stuff either, be it guns, tools , trailers, it is a PITA.

 

[BlueWater]

It happens to all of us. It seems that one morning you wake up and that strong young man is gone, ... and there is an old man where he used to be. I have reached that point in life ...

Grab a ticket and join the line around the building.

Been here awhile, at that stage. There is a small list of activities that I've had to set aside (over the years) as the body became incapable of tolerating them. (Old injuries, now age compounding things.) Replacing those activities with things I can do and still enjoy. Nicely, shooting a rifle at targets while sitting at a bench is still one of them. Though, prone on the berm ain't happenin', these days. Hauling around all the gear into the wilds isn't on the list anymore either, but I'm very thankful a couple of guns for self-defense and a couple for target shooting still works.

May we all go out with our "boots on" while doing what we love.

 

[338 Mollett]

I understand how you feel ! But some thing has sparked some life in this old body and that is to help others especially for the worst case scenario . With your experience other people still need you I hope this brings back that itch .

 

[rjtfroggy]

Injury and age has left me in this situation. Although I still have the desire to hunt I just don't have the physical ability to do so.
As has been said before " getting old aint for sissies".

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Keep a couple, if Israel can call up 350,000 reserves, America may need you.

 

[Knotwild]

Depressing

 

[hogpatrol]

Been selling a few guns and a few more are going on the market. I look at it this way, it's time for someone else to have fun with them.

 

[K22]

Don't be so hard on yourself, getting old for a previously active person is a very difficult transition. The realization that you just can't do what you love to do anymore, at least to the extent and manner you did it in the past is something a lot of us go through. I know, I am there, and I feel your pain and frustration brother.

As far as the current state of the world, I use to get all upset and the blood pressure would soar watching CNN, Fox News, and a host of conversative talk show hosts. You might imagine my culture shock; I grew up in the 50's. I stopped watching and listening to all that crap about 2 years ago after my wife passed away. Now, I just focus on what I have to get done today and don't think or worry about the future. Being a Christian has also helped. I try to accomplish one positive thing a day. It is easy, no, hell no. Is it a silver bullet fix, no, hell no. But I try to embrace the concept we were taught in the Army - adapt and overcome.

As far as the shooting sports, you may have to adjust and modify but you can still stay active, have fun and enjoy yourself. My first love was hunting, all kinds, but I just physically can't do much of it anymore. I have been transitioning to more range shooting. I started a new activity, informal precision rimfire shooting. I purchased a relatively inexpensive 22 rifle, Tikka T1X, and been having fun shooting for score at the range. I am not going to win any matches; I shoot against myself and enjoy measuring my performance. Ditto for precision pistol shooting.

Downsizing as one gets older is something many of us have gone through. I've been doing for the last 2 years or so. Getting rid of guns and "stuff" that I no longer have a need for, consolidating calibers to economize reloading component inventories, etc. Looking back at my 50+ years in the shooting sports, it wasn't the number of guns I owned that brought me joy, it was using them hunting, range shooting, or competition shooting. A wise man once told me that it is not material possessions that fulfill one's live, it's events and people.

 

[BigBolt]

I will be 69 in a few months, so far, I am one luck SOB. I served 21 years in the USCG, have been blowen up lost my hearing for several weeks and on a hearing disability, been shot, was in a Navy Helo crash, fell 40 feet from a tower, did some drug OPS non COTUS disarmed mines and booby traps, fought a major ship fire, was in the sand box for several months in 91 for WMD. So, I have used 7 of my 9 lives. I still get up in the morning with no pain just a little slower than I use to be. Walk 1.5 miles every day one day it will all end but until them I just enjoy every day.

 

[rebs]

Kind of in the same boat so to speak. At 77 years with open heart surgery at age 52, chronic bronchitis, wore out knees and with afib and irregular heart beat I can't find a doctor that will do knee replacement on me. Can't walk too far because of pain in my knees so hunting is over with. I do get to the range and sit at a bench and target shoot and compete in matches with the help of my stepson and fellow friends and shooters. It seems the golden years have turned into pewter

 

[CharlieNC]

Soon I will struggle through my annual pheasant hunt with former work colleagues, with a lot of blocking on my part. But I may continue to attend in the future just for the social reunion. Currently phasing out fclass for 22BR, and will not miss loading either. It's a bit depressing to accept the body cannot do what the brain wishes, as memories become more precious.

 

[Doug Casner]

I know what you mean. I dont hunt much anymore. Still deer hunt a little. I dont know what Id do if I killed one Couldnt field dress one being crippled. Like to shoot off the bench find the right loads to make em shoot. Havent lost that yet. Still fun. Doug

 

[Forum Boss]

Big Bolt posted: "Walk 1.5 miles every day one day it will all end but until them I just enjoy every day."

My uncle (RIP), who served in the Navy in WWII (and served with JFK in Tulagi) walked 2 miles EVERY day after age 62. He lived to be 100, and was quite mobile until age 95 or so.

Part of his secret was a loving wife (they had been married 78 years when she died at 98), and he was pretty thin his whole life and never smoked or used hard liquor.

Once I get my injured foot to heal I hope to start walking for exercise again. I'm doing a stationary bike now. Here's X-ray 4 months after 6/9/2023 injury. 14 Screws plus bone fusion. Started driving again this month.

 

[nakneker]

Me and my wife take care of my Dad, he lives with us and her parents live a half mile away, we help take care of them as well. My Dad is 80, my Wife’s Dad is 92. Both men have been active all their life and now the affects of their lifestyle is starting to show. My Dad has always rode motorcycles and enjoyed guns and reloading, he also loves to learn and read. His biggest issue is his addiction to sugar, which is now showing itself as diabetes. He stopped riding motorcycles 3 years, ago, stopped taking walks, stopped being physically active and spends most of his time reading and learning new things on the internet. The affect of not doing those simple physical habits has had a disastrous impact on the quality of life he enjoys.

My wife’s Dad remained independent until the last couple of months. Still raises a garden, works on his barn and corrals, feeds the life stock, uses his tractor daily….. unfortunately he can’t do that anymore and his quality of life is declining rapidly. Both men are showing early signs of dementia, hard to watch. My wife’s Dad is In better shape mentally and physically at 92 than my Dad who is 12 years younger.

I’m 56, the lesson for me has been simple. Stay active both physically and mentally. I had major back surgery 6 years ago and I’ve worked really hard to regain some of the abilities I had before surgery. I cut out the sugar after watching its effects on Dad, I walk everyday, sometimes a mile or two and sometimes 4-5 miles. I stay active mentally too, I read more books than I use to, I watch less TV and I’ve pretty much cut the media out like a cancer, stress levels are benefitting. Whatever I can do to keep the old man out I will try and incorporate into my life. My business keeps me busy and will continue to keep me busy for the next 3-4 years.

The desire to hunt, reload, fish, shoot is still strong but I watched a lot of guys give it up with time and I hope I can keep doing those things all my life. The body ages, the mind ages and we don’t know what’s coming but everyday I wake up is another gift and I try and use those gifts better as times goes on.

I also have a tremendous amount of respect for those who deal with old age no matter what their situation is. We live longer now days, the golden years can be a challenge. Hopefully we always respect The guys and gals with some grey hair, a hitch in their step, a bend in their back. We never know what someone else has been though or is going through, empathy goes a long ways and is harder and harder to find now days.

 

[SEM]

Not the way I needed to start this day, But yes to the above old and broken SUCKS, I have for sale ............ I just wish my kids were as interested as I am in my toys

 

[Rat Rifle]

Big Bolt posted: "Walk 1.5 miles every day one day it will all end but until them I just enjoy every day."

My uncle (RIP), who served in the Navy in WWII (and served with JFK in Tulagi) walked 2 miles EVERY day after age 62. He lived to be 100, and was quite mobile until age 95 or so.

Part of his secret was a loving wife (they had been married 78 years when she died at 98), and he was pretty thin his whole life and never smoked or used hard liquor.

Once I get my injured foot to heal I hope to start walking for exercise again. I'm doing a stationary bike now. Here's X-ray 4 months after 6/9/2023 injury. 14 Screws plus bone fusion. Started driving again this month.


View attachment 1483523

Don’t let that Paw get cold Boss !

And Your right,”NEVER STOP MOVING” !

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Depressing

It doesn't need to "Be" depressing, I've hunted Big Game for 60 consecutive years, now ( 15 to 75 y/o and the Last Elk I shot, was at,.. 74 y/o ) I still like to get out shooting,.. Targets and Steel Gongs with, my son and grandsons. I have given most of, my hunting Rifles to the 4 oldest, g-sons and enjoy shooting with, them. I've just "Refocused" my objectives to, watching THEM begin,.. Hunting / shooting !
I can't hike up, the tiny, "Eyebrow", rocky Trails, up the Sides of a Mountain, for Elk anymore, so my 14 y/o g-s got my .270 WSM, "Lefty Tikka" for, his First Elk hunt, this year. ( My Son, had a Brake put on it for, him)
Watching Him, "Ring Steel" at 300+ Yards was, "Reward" enough for, me !
Giving away my Elk Rifle and KNOWING "that part" of My life was OVER, was one of the toughest thing's,..
I've done,.. BUT, I'm getting "used to it", now,.. by watching my Grandson,.. shoot it !

 

[Big Mc]

It happens to all of us. It seems that one morning you wake up and that strong young man is gone, ... and there is an old man where he used to be. I have reached that point in life and since my loving wife doesn't want my toys, (guns) I have been slowly selling them off.
Buying, selling and trading guns used to be fun and maybe for some it still is. For me it's become a pain in the back side. Jumping through all the hoops anymore just to do so just pi$$'s me off no end. I'm down to just a few left and will get it done, but it just makes me mad that we have let our country go this far to the loony left. I'll stop here before I tell everbody how I really feel about it.

I made the switch a few years back. You don,t have to clean a target. Tommy Mc. I am now 77 years old. and still shoot twice a week. Plan to do this for a LOOONG Time.Tommy Mc