6.5 forever
Silver $$ Contributor
Climbing into my middle 70's. This thread is a good pause to evaluate and appreciate.
Message for Members -- Live Life to the Fullest
- Thread starter Forum Boss
- Start date
bluealtered
Silver $$ Contributor
Thank you forum boss, you are 100% right. Our toys are just that, toys. i learned at very early age that we are here for a very short time and that nothing we can ever own will last forever. Go do what you can and help others do the same along the way.
Gary in MD
Gold $$ Contributor
Very good advice and timely also. I just retired a year ago and the wife is retiring tomorrow, it’s time to get on with the next chapter of life and make the most of it.
Thanks
Gary
Thanks
Gary
This is a very timely post. Going part time this year has made for a much more enjoyable outlook on life. Pretty easy to adapt to all the 4 day weekends! It is very easy to work your life away. One thing all the money in the world will not buy back is time. Use yours wisely.
Paul
Paul
I've been to seven funerals for the guys that I worked with. It's a depressing eye opener. One of the guys who retired long before me used to say, "I've never met a retiree who said that he retired too early". Good point.
My brother, who is 18 months older than me always asks, "How many good years do we have left." He is committed to doing as many fun things as we can while we still have the ability to do them. I hunt but he doesn't hunt, doesn't even eat meat, but he isn't an anti-hunter. He travels with me all around the country and occasionally outside of the country while I hunt.
Over on another forum (LRH) I started a thread called "Thinning the Herd". It is another take on things we need to consider as the aging process takes hold of us.
Be well everyone and have a great New Year !!
My brother, who is 18 months older than me always asks, "How many good years do we have left." He is committed to doing as many fun things as we can while we still have the ability to do them. I hunt but he doesn't hunt, doesn't even eat meat, but he isn't an anti-hunter. He travels with me all around the country and occasionally outside of the country while I hunt.
Over on another forum (LRH) I started a thread called "Thinning the Herd". It is another take on things we need to consider as the aging process takes hold of us.
Be well everyone and have a great New Year !!
I appreciate the thread, I'm a Mental Health clinician, worked for a very long time in crisis intervention, I hear a lot of regret and anger from folks contemplating or have attempted suicide, and you hit on quite a few.
I'd love to throw out a thought, and that is "What do we do when we realize things are not where we want them to be?"
A lot of folks sadly double down on what isn't or hasn't worked for them, "Hey is there anyone we can call?" is what I often say, and folks will often make a comment about their rotten kids, or the wicked harpy of an ex.
I get relationships are real complex, and a lot of folks should never have been together, but at the same time we're the only constant variable in every interaction we have ever had. If something isn't making us happy, examine it, and look at maybe what we can do to make it more like we might enjoy, or what we might love.
There is a lot of stuff out there that gets us engaged for all the wrong reasons, anger, fear, resentment, and I get its a marketable thing, enraged people are engaged people and are easy to take advantage of.
We all need different things, but like the OP, its good to look at the cost of a thing and see if that really makes our live more like we might truly desire because there really aren't any do-overs.
I'd love to throw out a thought, and that is "What do we do when we realize things are not where we want them to be?"
A lot of folks sadly double down on what isn't or hasn't worked for them, "Hey is there anyone we can call?" is what I often say, and folks will often make a comment about their rotten kids, or the wicked harpy of an ex.
I get relationships are real complex, and a lot of folks should never have been together, but at the same time we're the only constant variable in every interaction we have ever had. If something isn't making us happy, examine it, and look at maybe what we can do to make it more like we might enjoy, or what we might love.
There is a lot of stuff out there that gets us engaged for all the wrong reasons, anger, fear, resentment, and I get its a marketable thing, enraged people are engaged people and are easy to take advantage of.
We all need different things, but like the OP, its good to look at the cost of a thing and see if that really makes our live more like we might truly desire because there really aren't any do-overs.
While I agree with you on this, there's a point where you sacrifice family time for money that may not be needed. I worked like a dog for 40 years. I virtually never took off. I worked every holiday and every weekend while my peers burned up their accruals and spent more time with their families. In the end, I mustered out with a boatload of cash and have a larger pension then most of my colleagues. But the time lost with family and friends can never be recuperated and I have more income in retirement than I need.
I put in my papers three times but took them back twice. All I could see was my ever-increasing pension and retirement payout if I stayed just a few more years. Yeah - I did enjoy my work but it was at the expense of sacrificing quality time with family and friends. Choosing a time to retire should be about your future quality of life and financial planning is only part of that equation.
84 and I've lived a dream! Worked for the Feds, so was able to retire at 55. I've had so much fun wish I'd done it at 40! Always lived beneath our means and tried to never borrow money, wife was a banker. Never missed one of our son's football games. When our youngest got on the team bus the first time he said "Dad this is the first game you haven't taken me to". I had to sit there a few minutes.
I can honestly say I lived all 5 points. Always thought my personal life was more important than the job. Made some people unhappy and don't regret it. Consider myself a Conservative Constitutional Libertarian and am outspoken and opinionated. Married to my best friend for 64 years. Been burying friends, so realize I am not immortal. Got lots of rebuilt parts but walk the dog every morning and try to live each day like it is my last. One regret, I didn't get my college degree and that disappointed my Mom and Dad.
I can honestly say I lived all 5 points. Always thought my personal life was more important than the job. Made some people unhappy and don't regret it. Consider myself a Conservative Constitutional Libertarian and am outspoken and opinionated. Married to my best friend for 64 years. Been burying friends, so realize I am not immortal. Got lots of rebuilt parts but walk the dog every morning and try to live each day like it is my last. One regret, I didn't get my college degree and that disappointed my Mom and Dad.
What’s the average age of the people on this forum? Unrelated I understand, but I’ve always wondered. Seems to be on the older side, maybe 55+ on average.
Kittitas George
Gold $$ Contributor
I've been retired for 23.5 years, done lots of interesting and fun things for the last 60 years. I learned something 2 weeks ago I wish I'd learned when I was very young. I attended a talk by an American Indian Elder. He spoke of how and where they lived before colonization. They didn't have a word for 'hate', it was an unknown concept. The flask is half full. Make it a 'Happy New Year" for you, your family and friends.
NorCalMikie
Gold $$ Contributor
Everything you do makes you who you are!! Looking at 82, married to the same Lady for 59 years. Don't go anywhere without her. Her remark one day? We grew up together. She has put up with me all these years and don't plan on making any changes any time soon. My health? Maybe 99%. Good enough to get in trouble if I don't watch what I'am doing.
Had medical conditions that needed taking care of. Figured someone was trying to tell me something so when the boss called and asked if I was coming back to work, I said NO!! Have gone back a time or two to push a pencil and hold down the fort for him so he could go on vacation.
Got to see a lot of folks that I hadn't seen in a long time.
Spent the last 8 or 10 years taking care of my sister and finally being the Executor of her will. Me, the little brother ALWAYS got a ration of crap from my BIG sister. Finally got even by spending close to$200K of HER $$$ for her board and care. She was treated very well. Then another couple of years getting rid of her house and STUFF!! She had a good job, got paid well and spent every bit of it on stuff. GOOD STUFF!! She DID have a good life but it could have been better if she had taken care of herself.
Got enough $$$ to keep me and mine going till we're long gone.
If I/We wake up tomorrow morning, we'll do tomorrow. If not, we KNOW where we're going so no worries and NO regrets. Somebody else will have to deal with MY STUFF!!
Did just cut a check for just shy of $20K for a new roof and gutters. No more roof climbing for me and no more thinking about a leaking roof. Couldn't change it into Travelers Check and take it with me so I spent some of it on a roof. Merry Christmas to US. Still got $$$$ left.
Don't get out and do the things I use to, but I still roll out around 3:30 or so every morning and get on here to see how the other folks think.
Only going around one time (unless you're Shirley MacLane) so do what makes you happy. Your Happiness is up to YOU.
My job now is taking care of my BETTER half.
If Momma's happy.....
I DO know one thing. If you have someone you think about, PICK UP THE PHONE A CALL THEM!! You turn around and in nothing flat, they're GONE!!
Had medical conditions that needed taking care of. Figured someone was trying to tell me something so when the boss called and asked if I was coming back to work, I said NO!! Have gone back a time or two to push a pencil and hold down the fort for him so he could go on vacation.
Got to see a lot of folks that I hadn't seen in a long time.
Spent the last 8 or 10 years taking care of my sister and finally being the Executor of her will. Me, the little brother ALWAYS got a ration of crap from my BIG sister. Finally got even by spending close to$200K of HER $$$ for her board and care. She was treated very well. Then another couple of years getting rid of her house and STUFF!! She had a good job, got paid well and spent every bit of it on stuff. GOOD STUFF!! She DID have a good life but it could have been better if she had taken care of herself.Got enough $$$ to keep me and mine going till we're long gone.
If I/We wake up tomorrow morning, we'll do tomorrow. If not, we KNOW where we're going so no worries and NO regrets. Somebody else will have to deal with MY STUFF!!
Did just cut a check for just shy of $20K for a new roof and gutters. No more roof climbing for me and no more thinking about a leaking roof. Couldn't change it into Travelers Check and take it with me so I spent some of it on a roof. Merry Christmas to US. Still got $$$$ left.
Don't get out and do the things I use to, but I still roll out around 3:30 or so every morning and get on here to see how the other folks think.
Only going around one time (unless you're Shirley MacLane) so do what makes you happy. Your Happiness is up to YOU.
My job now is taking care of my BETTER half.
If Momma's happy.....
I DO know one thing. If you have someone you think about, PICK UP THE PHONE A CALL THEM!! You turn around and in nothing flat, they're GONE!!
DirtySteve
Gold $$ Contributor
This thread doesn’t apply to gunsmiths. They need to continue working.. 
Last edited by a moderator:
I don't apologize for working my ass off for what I deemed important. But apologizes won't cover what I missed w my family over the years. Although not stacked up on cash, I own a thriving company that my oldest son runs now. There are tasks that I am still the only qualified person for, but that Achilles tendon will go away in another year or so of training.
Now I actually take off a few days at a time. Took my first real vacation last year for 17 whole days. I'd never been off for more than 3 prior to that other than a 3 week battle with Covid. Still have that deposit every Friday like clockwork.
I do admit feeling a sense of loss at not being missed when I take off instead of being proud of finally getting the damn business to run itself. Hard to explain but I am slowly getting over that.
Food for thought to back up the forum boss......ever see a UHaul behind a Hearst? Me either.
BTW....thanks to Forum Boss. That was a great read.
Now I actually take off a few days at a time. Took my first real vacation last year for 17 whole days. I'd never been off for more than 3 prior to that other than a 3 week battle with Covid. Still have that deposit every Friday like clockwork.
I do admit feeling a sense of loss at not being missed when I take off instead of being proud of finally getting the damn business to run itself. Hard to explain but I am slowly getting over that.
Food for thought to back up the forum boss......ever see a UHaul behind a Hearst? Me either.
BTW....thanks to Forum Boss. That was a great read.
And most of us do; at least to a certain extent. WHThis thread doesn’t apply to gunsmiths. They need to continue working..
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