General question : Retired or not?

[newbury]

From another thread:

I do want to try this project rather than hiring someone, I am retired and bought the tractor to play with this type of project in mind.

How many of us are doing this as "retired"?
I'm almost there and looking forward.
I know it's a big difference from holding down a 50 hr/week job and having to squeeze "seat time" in on the odd hour, or having "seat time" as a business.
/edit - retired = OOF - Official Old F@rt

Well I started this thread not as a gathering of stories but more as a gauge of:
Use my tractor full time as a business to support me and my family
or
Use my tractor when I can squeeze in seat time as stated
or
I am retired and I use my tractor whenever I feel like it and the needs arise.

The latter implies time is not of a great essence, and the user can wait a few days for parts, plus maybe take it to a dealer easier, etc.

But keep those stories coming!

Mine has just changed and SWMBO told me she does not want to move for another 3 or so years so she wants to keep me working.

 

[Stargazer]

Well I plan on pulling the pin on my lead parachute April 2,2010 at age 55 1/4 with 30 years in IPERS (iowa pub employ retire system). I could go in Dec with about a 2% reduction for not having the rule of 30. Factoring into this is July 2001 a virus attacked my heart so spent a week in club med with congestive heart failure/Idopathicdialatedcariomyathothy(sp?). As a result my ejection fraction (measure of heart pump) is mid to highr 30% normal being around 60%. As long as I live to get 1 check (June) my wife is guanarteed the same amount for rest her life and she can retire at 571/2(2.5 yrs) Heat/humidty knock me for loop and extreme cold does same. But Hey I am beating the odds of 90% death in 5 yrs. Buy stock in Walgreens drug store pharmacy people love me $$$$$$.

 

[Mike Costello]

John and Mike, your stories are an inspiration. You guys and your families are a credit to the human spirit and making the best of what fate hands you. Good for you both! God bless you and your families.

Jinman--Thanks for the kind words!

Newbury--I guess your original post caused an outpouring of retirement thoughts and ideas. Its amazing to hear what everyone's idea of retirement is and how they plan to achieve it!
Back to your basic OP--I haven't had my L4400 long enough to really plan any uses for it except to get things done around the farm. I did help out a neighbor with my tractor (no money involved) just to be neighborly. When we got hit with those 80mph winds, I used my tractor to open the road for everyone else because it was the right thing to do for everyone's safety who lived on the road. Have I thought about making money with my equipment? Yes, but I would have to think long and hard about the risks before I crossed that bridge. So, for now I'll just be happy learning the farming life! Mike.

 

[Guywire]

I retired last Sept after 35+ years of being paid to tell cops where to go. I was 61 yrs old. Wife had retired from 35 yrs of teaching last June (I had to wait for her to retire first as I'm a rotten "househusband"). Bought my first (new) tractor in mid Oct. Wife had a stroke two weeks later (she recovered just fine, only lingering disability is dizziness when she moves her head).

We built our house on our five acres in the early 80's, but I never found the time/energy/money to clear the eucalyptus trees other than just around the house. Since retirement, I now have the time & energy and have started. Got my second (old, used) tractor (with a backhoe) in May to make it even easier.

Life is good.

Roy

 

[RalphVa]

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

 

[sunspot]

RalphVa
My wife retired in Feb and took and passed the Master Gardening course.

I plan on following before the end of this year. We are both 58 and put in 30 years with Ma Bell.

 

[Marshal9]

I retired Dec 08 after protecting and serving the public for over 27 years. Also retired from the National Guard after 20 plus years. The wife and family are happy as we now get ready to build a new home that we have been dreaming of. Still have some road work to do, along with getting the property ready for the build. Our plan was and has been to dream for tomorrow but live for today. It's hard to believe the time has gone by so fast and our dream is starting to take shape.

 

[johnk]

Good luck in all your endeavors and keep us posted.

 

[mcd176]

I am 35 years old now and will be able to retire at age 50 from my sheriffs office, our retirement is self funded from all of the sheriffs offices in the state, I also have a seperate IRA started so I should be ok, My wife doesnt like the idea of me being retired at 50 since she wont be able to retire untill 65 but in my line of work you are forced out at 55.

-Mike

 

[Bird]

Mike, I once read a study that said police officers who retired at age 50 die on average at age 53; scared me so bad I retired 10 days before turning 49. Of course that was 20 years ago. It used to be that we had to be 50 years old to draw a pension, but they had changed it so we could draw a pension sooner if we were willing to take a little reduction, so I did. I was 35 when I was promoted to Captain. So I wish you luck.

 

[LBrown59]

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]

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]

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---

---

 

[MacLawn]

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]

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

---

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

 

[EastTexFrank]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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