WHAT DO U GUYS DO?

frank_f15 · Mar 26, 2004

WELL here it is late march, going into april, and here in western NY, the snow is mostly gone, the temp is moderating (50 t0 60 deg some days) but it is SO DAMM WET, can't rake the yard, can't use the tractor, can't get the GT out to do anything. am starting to get the shakes wanting to get out there, now bear in mind this is the first spring i have gone into being retired, have more time to do what i want but can't get out there. what do u guys do to slack the thirst for working outdoors when u can't.i suppose i am going to get flooded with pics(i hope) of u southern or western guys, cutting your grass /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif i need sunshine and and dry ground! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif just venting.

MossRoad · Mar 26, 2004

I like to spend the time giving advice on killing groundhawgs, drilling ROPs, reading about spot-lit helicopters and such... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Or, I clean the basement, work on computers, play chess with the 11 year old, play Polly Fashion with the 6 year old, tease the cat, watch the history channel, experiment in the kitchen, go out to the garage and look at the tractor... stuff like that. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I took up the laundry, half the meals and all the grocery shopping, too.

Bob_Skurka · Mar 26, 2004

You guys are really painting a pretty ugly picture of retirement for me!!! I'm only 43, but the wife is looking for me to retire sometime around age 50. I'm thinking it is more likely I will die of old age at my office desk . . . especially if I have to look forward to doing 1/2 the laundry, and other chores that I currently try to avoid. As for what I do, I am the president of a distribution company that sells about 5000+ differnent products to Gas Stations, C-Store, etc across northern Indiana and Illinois. My job has me living in front of a computer which is why I post so often on TBN.

Buck · Mar 26, 2004

WHAT DO U GUYS DO? Get my tractor stuck and make ruts.

Egon · Mar 26, 2004

Never fear, after the first shock of no workplace give it a little time and a whole new workplace will develop. The hours will be longer, coffee breaks limited, pay poor and the boss will be very demanding. Time off may be limited. You may even wish you were back at work so you could get some rest.

Egon. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Bird · Mar 26, 2004

( what do u guys do )

Well, down here in the warm south, I mowed the yard (in spite of little sprinkles of rain now and then). Just a very small yard, but still had to stop and empty the grass catcher 12 times (yard hadn't been mowed since last Saturday). Oh . . ., and I went and bought a big beef brisket that I'll barbecue on the grill tomorrow, rain or shine. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Dozernut · Mar 26, 2004

Great time to be in the shop woodworking!

frank_f15 · Mar 26, 2004

OH! did not mean to imply i did not like being retired . i love it. just i need to be outside now and the weather won't let me. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Old_Hickory · Mar 26, 2004

You need to get that belly mower off of that thing and get some R-1 tires if you are going to play in the mud.

BigAl · Mar 27, 2004

Retired ? I have never been busier ! I try to spend time in Panama in the winter working with the locals ,teaching building trades . Summer will find me in Idaho fixing the old ranch that always needs a ton of work . Spring is in California fixing broken stuff so I can do it all again over the coming year . You have to have a working plan when you retire . Otherwise the wife will make your plans for you ! That may not be a good thing . I can't imagine sitting around retired !
Big Al

California · Mar 27, 2004

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 · Mar 27, 2004

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 · Mar 27, 2004

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 · Mar 27, 2004

I'm only 43, but the wife is looking for me to retire sometime around age 50. 

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 · Mar 27, 2004

whats the matter OH? dont you like a challenge?

RobS · Mar 27, 2004

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 · Mar 27, 2004

Moss, mine just turned 9.

frank_f15 · Mar 27, 2004

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