Kind of depressing

larry@stinescorner

Well-known Member
Im on light duty after the biopsy.Yesterday the wife and my daughter and I went to a flea market,just to get out and walk around some.Its a really nice flea market,we all like it and havent been to this one in a long while. I have been lectured lately on slowing down and downsizing.As we were walking around I saw a perfect vise for my little shop in PA.It was a medium sized vise,,american made,,it was fastened to a heavy square steel plate ,which made it moveabale if you wanted to use it in a different spot.The guy said I was going to ask 20,,which maybe meant less.I walked around thinking about it,,,and said to my self,,,the heck with it,,its not worth arguing about,,,besides,,,(I dont know for sure if I was in shape to carry it back to the truck)Honestly though.,I think Im losing the battle,dont feel like arguing anymore,Im ready to give in and start selling off some stuff.,
 
You remind me, we were at a flea market where I saw a nice large copper kettle for a good price. I already have 2 copper kettles for use on the wood stove, but one was a leaker. As I looked at this one I said aloud to my wife, this is a good price, and out of the corner of my eye I saw another customer kind of perk up. I decided to "think about it", then came back soon afterward. The kettle was gone. Later I paid more to have the leaker repaired than this nicer one cost. Should have carried it around while I thought about it.
 
I know how you feel Larry. I had minor surgery earlier this year that kept me in the house 3 weeks. That was over 2 months ago and I still can't hold out long enough to complete even small tasks. There's projects i started before the surgery that I wish I hadn't started because now I don't feel like finishing them. I'm in Texas where triple digit heat indexs aren't helping either. Thinking about selling all my stuff and takeing it easy in the Rockies.
 
My guess is that the worry and forced idleness is taking its toll on you. Once healed up and the biopsy results are in you can get back to work and will feel a lot better.
 
Don't give up Larry. After my stroke I felt the same way. Doc had me on light duty.Just about went nuts while I was on it. Got off of it. Started doing things again. Small at first and slowly built up.Been two years now can't do it all. But I am getting there.
 
Larry I had a heart attack at 54 I was on light duty for a month then the first year I was tired ax ND run down no stamina.I think as lot of other was the blood thinner medicine .trying to take care of 140 acres was a challenge in it self trying to make hay and everything else that comes with it.then there was everyone telling me you can't do it anymore you have to sell the farm and move to town.well I wasn't about to I kept chugging along after a year I sta5 feeling better I'm 60 now I still work 70 hours a week 75 miles away I have two stends in my arteries but over all 5 years later I feel pretty darn good can't work all day and half the night anymore but I don't w
Want to do that anyway so take a day at a time it will get better.I'm glad I was patient because it paid off so hang in there it will German better for you.
RICK


.
 
Larry, hang in there. Know how you are feeling. 5 years ago when I got histo and Dr. hadn't figured out what I had, I thought it was time to do the same thing. I got will up to date, tried giving my two children some of my toys. I even put some operating capital in a safe place for my kids because when I go, the bank will freeze things for a while. I even pay property taxes in advance.

I even try to get my kids to move away from sub divisions, HOA, move to country so they can put up a pole barn or large garage.

I have two complete sets of woodworking tools, one for each place. For the most part I have two or more things of the same tools. I try to make my kids think ahead, they have to do something when I'm gone.

Hang in there. My brother had cancer, but he always had a positive attitude. He would say, Everyday is a gift form God and I'm going to live to be 100. He only made it to 65.
geo.
 
I really feel strange,,there are books on my shelf I Should read,paperwork I Should do;;I Just mope around and do nothing,,,dont understand what is happening to me,and not proud of it.
 
I hear that down size slow down crap all the time. What I have found is the old body will slow you down but I am not going to let it effect my mind. When my body says no my mind starts working on a way to do it with less body. I have always told people, "don't force it, get a bigger hammer". A longer cheater pipe!

Todays the 4th of July. Time for me to take the walker out to the tractor then head out to rake a patch of hay. Get it baled this afternoon. I can't lift a bale onto the wagon more the twice but can roll them into and out of the loader bucket.

I keep the word depression out of my minds actions. It can be done Larry.
 
Larry, I wouldn't consider giving in and selling some stuff and downsizing is LOOSING ANY BATTLE. I consider it as
re-evaluating and re-balancing ones priorities based on age, health and stage in life. Such can give you more time and more "stuff" for the things you like most, while cleaning up clutter for something you hardly ever engage in. AND IT CAN REDUCE STRESS STRAIN AND ANXIETY leading to better health, but whatever you do STAY ACTIVE............

Being retired myself and kids raised n long gone, no more "farming" other then bush hogging and keeping the place clean and neat with no more cattle to "mow" the grass gives us more time to travel in the RV seeing the National Parks (America's Best Idea) and visiting kids and grandkids, attending antique tractor shows and bluegrass festivals all across the great USA.

I find as I get older I need far less "stuff" and as the old saying goes, ..."A man who owns little is little owned" and were not a slave to all our posesions, "toys" and their constant maintenance, insurance and upkeep. This our "summer of clean up", we have taken truck loads to the Dump, Salvation Army, Church, Auctions etc AND DOES THAT FEEL AND LOOK GOOD WOOOOOOOO HOOOOOO. If you havent used or even seen something in 30 years, I figure I can live without it, but Im sure tomorrow I will need something I just threw away lol.

Sure, if your still actively farming or if youre younger you still need a lot of stuff, but thats NOT to say sit in the rocker and waste away, you can actualy be MORE active but just doing the things you like best and doing less of what was drudgery grrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I figure once a man has everything paid for, his estate and legal affiars in good order, enough money to care for him or his wife once hes gone, his lifes "work" is mostly done so now enjoy lifes "FUN" and that can be done without too much "stuff" and clutter and junk HOWEVER keep whatever "stuff" you need to do what you like and have your hobbies and stay active and healthy as the good Lord sees fit, turn it over to him, "let go and let God" sure reduces stress, worry, anxiety and concern.

NOW, before anyone "flames" or has a calf, this is a mater of "personal choice", different strokes for different folks, do as yall choose is the way to go, what works for me will NOT work for others, were all different and it would be a darn boring world of old fuddy duddys if all were like me lol.

Happy Fourth, God Bless the USA, thanks Veterans for keeping us safe and free

Old John T Christian Conservative Fuddy Duddy and so happy and proud of it
 
Larry, I understand how you feel. I have overdone it all my life and am paying for it now.
Back, hips, feet, hands, shoulder let me know I am getting old. I have decided to not fix up the old steam engine and boiler I picked up a few years ago. I know I will never run my sawmill again.
BUT, I am going to keep gardening and canning and working in my shop all I can.
Am going to cut firewood as long as I can.
I have had times after illness and surgeries that I had to slow down.
When I can't do some of those things, I have an old Craftsman wood lathe that I am going to play with.
I know that if I quit trying to work, I will sit down and die.
Cheer up. It is natural to feel down after medical procedures.
Feel free to email me if you are having a really bad day. People have told me for years that I have a gift of helping solve problems.
Richard
 
I still love to walk around garage sales, and I look at craigslist most days, but I try not to buy anything, but sometimes I can;t resist. Last year when I was unsure about my future I went through some of my better tools and put suggested sale prices on them so my family doesn't give them away when I pass. Recently when I took our recycle in there was a pretty good looking bicycle leaning against the metal dumpster, so I took it home! All it needed was a new tube in the front and it's good to go. Not sure what I will do with it, just couldn't resist.
That's about the only thing I was told not to do after my biopsy, was ride a bicycle for a week. I have more prostrate test later this month and possibly another biopsy.
 
It IS depression. You said 'I've been lectured to lately". I'm sure the 'lecturers' mean well; likely see it as advice. As an old construction worker I'm paying the price with skin cancer and the ongoing treatments and three years ago at my first physical (Medicare) it was found I had a fast moving form of Prostate cancer. Two months later, I had it removed-too far along for chemo and radiation. That put me in a depressed mood and I got to waking up at night with 'panic' attacks. The doctor prescribed me with a medicine to take only as needed. In the last year, I've only taken it ONCE. You should talk to your doctor; I put on a good front until I couldn't deal with it any more.
 
I'm always downsizing that way you can buy more junk later when you change your mind. Usually I get rid of stuff that I haven't used in years like why have hangers when there is a perfectly good dresser to throw things on.
Coming back from surgery a couple years ago was different as had cattle and mutt . Had to take care of the critters and built from there by the end of the week going with the chainsaw. This last surgery was harder I only had myself to take care of until I realized how hard that can be even getting dressed was a challenge and it was the right side no less. I had surgery on Monday and friends took care of me until Tuesday it probably would have been better to stay longer but I'm not one to ask for help.
Wensday morning went for a small walk and picked rocks out of the field I made only 15 minutes that time eventually I got to half hour twice a day each day each day a little further in the field . Some days it's easy to get down and start feeling pain and worry about bills and going back to work I think that was the weight gain and blood pressure it's way to easy to sit in a chair and eat donuts.
I also like you don't believe in doing something for just exercise you have to be useful doing something with a purpose being a good provider for your family I always remember the story of an old farmer going to town to visit his daughter a guy jogs by the farmer asked why he did that she said for exercise size he said why don't he get a job. My dad worked into his 90 ' s maybe the oldest alter boy on record .
It's hard I know to redirect your life I always wanted to farm and had to fight to get that and I probably paid a higher price then most. I was looking forward to retirement and running this farm on my own and starting to realize that dream may never happen but maybe I can still have a small part of that dream and that will have to be enough but I can look back and see what I did most people would think impossible and look forward to still building this farm in a little different direction that maybe will be somebody's dream. Yes I'm getting rid of some of my stuff ripping out old pasture fences had to go buy some tools for that but this will never be a dairy farm and will in the future be probably cash crop. In the meantime keep the faith and if you know someone that is looking for a surge bucket let me know as soon as I get it cleaned up. Side thought maybe find a wife that likes to milk.
 
Best post I've seen on here in a long time, John T. You'll never know how many of us aging guys who have always been slaves to our "stuff" found wisdom in it. Now if I could just convince SWMBO. . .
 
My wife keeps trying to put me on lighter duty, but I enjoy the work. One thing I am doing is getting rid of some of my manual operations by using equipment that makes it physically easier to keep going. My neighbor has a 47 HP hydrostatic that he does not use and is glad I get use out of it. I am finding that is very handy and am not using my old iron as much.
 
Same for me Billy and da.bees. I start early and work four hours a day at most. The heat and humidity here in NE Texas put me in the shade by afternoon.
 
Larry I would tell you I do not understand but I do and so far I have not my limits put limit on me other then the way I do things. That vise would be just another way to make doing what you do easier to do you would just have to have your daughter carry it out for you. LOL
 
Just a suggestion; I'm not choosing sides or trying to tell you what to do. If you feel that you should do something lighter, maybe you should try selling the masonry material, tools and supplies that you know well. I've known a couple of guys who did that and it worked out well for them.
 
Funny you used those words, I was at a bluegrss festival in New York once and ranted about how free it was to RV travel and go where and when we wanted and a nice young thirty something gent said I WANT TO BE JUST LIKE YOU WHEN I GROW UP LOL

A happy and contended John T
 
As the old codgers in our adult RV park always say HAPPY WIFE HAPPY LIFE but if BOTH arent on the same page concerning life and financial philosophy HEY IT AINT GONNA WORK. Dave Ramsey always says money problems or different approcahes to finance and budget is the biggest cause of divorce, I was lucky as my "first wife" I call her and I are on the same page.

John T
 
You need to do what I do agree with HER and then go do what I want anyway.At least thats what she says I do.(LOL)Have to say my wife is very supportive of the tings I do.
 
Thats the great part of being pretty well set and not oweing a bunch of $$$ to anyone is to get up every morning and know I can do just what I want that day.Not to say I don't some things
I'd just as soon not do like forking out the hen house but that's part of raising the chickens I want to raise,plan to keep doing something until I drop dead.
 
Don't do it Larry. I took a bunch of junk equipment to the scrap yard a few years ago when prices were high. figured at my age,I'd never miss that junk. Wrong. I don't know how many times I've wanted something that I got rid of. Saddle the heirs with the job of getting rid of the stuff.
 
Larry just a few months back you posted pictures of the brush clearing you did along the edge of a field, that wasn't just a small task. Every week you post pictures of your garden,a garden isn't easy work, you did great work on that little house a while back. I don't know you and don't believe I have ever chatted here with you, but I always read and enjoy your posts and great pictures. I am 67 and plan to retire at 70 I hope after I retire I can stay as active as you. keep on loving it all. Don
 
Yep told my wife to call an auctioneer right after she gets me planted and whats left after the auction call my buddy at the junkyard he'll take care of the rest.Said she's keeping the tractors and equipment we use in the garden.
 
(quoted from post at 05:21:13 07/04/16) Larry I had a heart attack at 54 I was on light duty for a month then the first year I was tired ax ND run down no stamina.I think as lot of other was the blood thinner medicine .trying to take care of 140 acres was a challenge in it self trying to make hay and everything else that comes with it.then there was everyone telling me you can't do it anymore you have to sell the farm and move to town.well I wasn't about to I kept chugging along after a year I sta5 feeling better I'm 60 now I still work 70 hours a week 75 miles away I have two stends in my arteries but over all 5 years later I feel pretty darn good can't work all day and half the night anymore but I don't w
Want to do that anyway so take a day at a time it will get better.I'm glad I was patient because it paid off so hang in there it will German better for you.
RICK


.

I had spinal surgery at 32( two deteriorated discs removed, part of two herniated discs removed and had two areas of spinal stenosis where the bone was removed to relieve nerve pressure) then had a heart attack at 40 and had two stents put in. Later that same year after I started feeling a little more normal I had a car accident and was laid up for a couple of weeks. Then at 46 I had spinal surgery again( part of herniated disc removed) I was laid up almost four months that time but, that slowed me down more than any of the rest of it did, I'm 48 now and don't have the strength and stamina I had before the last surgery but, I'm trying.
I don't want to slow down until I'm in the ground.
 
to bad not closer give one mine have several from farming days auctions vises were always give aways 1 to 5.00 get you anything you wanted for vices. today don't have clue of values.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top