OT - Retired!

Ed S.

Well-known Member
Location
Middle Tennessee
Welp, after 18 years with my (now former) employer, I turned in my laptop and badge today and am officially retired! I was a 'mid-career' hire and my second day at work was 9-11, will never forget that! We're planning to relocate to TN so we can be close to our divorced son and two grandkids (currently 4.5 and 2.5).

Our new (substantially downsized) place is on one acre that backs up to a 140 acre farm, so we'll have cows to look at, but won't have to do any chores! Unfortunately, that means all my farm kit won't be needed, and in fact, I've already sold off most of my haying equipment (still have a couple of $400 hay racks if anyone needs one in Central IL).

I'll transport the tractors down and once I finish using them to build a 30x40 shop, will put the Boomer 8N up for sale - it'll bring a far better price in horse country than around here. I've not decided on the '50 8N yet, as it won't really have any useful work to do on one acre. We'll see once we get down there and settled in.

Any advice you retired guys can give (besides stay out from under my wife's feet)? :wink:

es
 
(quoted from post at 21:12:48 01/31/20) Welp, after 18 years with my (now former) employer, I turned in my laptop and badge today and am officially retired! I was a 'mid-career' hire and my second day at work was 9-11, will never forget that! We're planning to relocate to TN so we can be close to our divorced son and two grandkids (currently 4.5 and 2.5).

Our new (substantially downsized) place is on one acre that backs up to a 140 acre farm, so we'll have cows to look at, but won't have to do any chores! Unfortunately, that means all my farm kit won't be needed, and in fact, I've already sold off most of my haying equipment (still have a couple of $400 hay racks if anyone needs one in Central IL).

I'll transport the tractors down and once I finish using them to build a 30x40 shop, will put the Boomer 8N up for sale - it'll bring a far better price in horse country than around here. I've not decided on the '50 8N yet, as it won't really have any useful work to do on one acre. We'll see once we get down there and settled in.

Any advice you retired guys can give (besides stay out from under my wife's feet)? :wink:

es

Congratulations!! That "twilight zone" feeling will go away in a month or so and you will settle in to the new routine. Relax and enjoy the new life. Sounds like you will have plenty to keep you busy during the transition.

TLH
 
I retired 10 months ago after 38 years with the same company. I have had no trouble staying busy. It's not hard to do. But I miss.the routine of a job. I dont want to work for some mouth breathing kid. So I a m starting my own excavation and dirt hauling service. Been busy getting all the equipment ready for springs work. I already have half a dozen jobs lined up.. I just cant sit that still.
 

Good for you... I am working on it almost there... I don't have anyplace I can go so will just stay here and pick what jobs I would like to do : )...
 
Congratulations Ed! Best wishes for the next chapter in life! :)
I'll miss your pictures from the flat land.
Maybe you can send us some of TN. It's a beautiful state too.
 
Congratulations on your retirement! I am not at that point yet but I don't plan on being without some type of tractor. We enjoy tractor rides to much.
 
Congratulations on the big decision. I did that several years ago. I was working full time and trying to farm. I couldn't do either the justice they deserved. I had 160 acres and moved to 26 acres and built a new house and barn. Then due to life changes I sold the 26 acres and bought a nice place with 6 acres. If I want to pet a cow or horse I can walk to the neighbors. I'm not moving again, my next place will be a 6 inch posthole. Somebody else can clean this place up and move it.

I still have my 8N and mow grass and garden with it. You are going to miss that Boomer. Keep a copy of all those nice pictures of your two slick Fords.
 
Congrats, Ed!!! Remember that a PROPER retirement is one where you're so dang BUSY you will wonder how you ever had time to Work! Enjoy and Welcome!!
 
Been retired 1 1/2 years now wife retired last August. My Dad always said it would be a period of adjustment...he was right as usual. We are in the
process of getting this place ready to sell for an eventual move to SE Minnesota to be closer to our daughter, son in law, and two grandsons, 8&10. The
big toys other than the boat are sold (41 JD B and 49 IH KB5). Looking forward to downsizing. The big 70 coming in a couple weeks, time to kick back.
Enjoy your retirement!
 
I think you are probably the type of guy that likes to keep busy so you are going to love it. Lifestyle is now unstructured and time is mostly yours now, that is the good part. Folks that think that they can now spend all their time fishing or golfing or hunting will probably find out that that wont be enough as you also have to beep busy during off days. Indoor hobbies that fill your days, especially during the winter, are important. You'll probably wonder how you ever managed to work full time and still get things done.
 
Congratulations I think you will get used to it and learn to like it, I did. I think you should keep the 8n to tinker on and if you have any snow in that area a rear blade does a great job clearing a driveway. Have fun.
 
Congratulations sir!!, retired four years last Christmas, you?ll wonder how you had time for a job before long! Just turned 60, loving every day of it!
 
I retired 12 years ago. Tip Don?t take on too many projects. I?ll be 120
years old by the time I finish all of my projects. Enjoy your retirement
 
I am 70 and have been retired for eight years and love it. you are at the point in life where you can now do what you want. go for it !!!
 
"Any advice you retired guys can give (besides stay out from under my wife's feet)?"

That's the best reason for keeping a tractor! I have 3/4 acre to maintain & "need" my 2N, Jubilee, 2110 & 3000 to do it! The more old tractors you have the more things to do in the shop! I retired 10 1/2 years ago & keep VERY busy either fixing/updating/tinkering, helping neighbors, or volunteering at my church.
 
All the best in your next adventure of life Ed S. (IL)..........:)

The definition of retirement is wat you make of it.....:)

I've been retired 8 + years........life is great.........:)

And my 2-N runs every Sunday May > October cutting the Grass in the local Cemetery......

Bob...
 
(quoted from post at 06:25:41 02/01/20) What part of TN are you moving to? I'm in the west end of the
state.

Our son works for Dave Ramsey in Franklin; we'll be about an hour SW - close enough to help, but far enough away that he won't feel like we're breathing down his neck. :p

Good comments from everyone else, too - I'll have no shortage of projects/hobbies once we get moved! I have a pair of early '60s VWs that have been stalled restorations for many years. Once they're done, we're planning to take a Route 66 trip with our younger son and his wife.

Also have that unfinished Nieuport 11 fighter replica project, and have already looked up the local EAA Chapter to get plugged in there.

A more important project to my way of thinking is scanning the thousands of print photos and slides we made before we went digital. Thinking ahead to the inevitable, I don't want my boys to inherit boxes and hard drives full of tens of thousands of family photos - they'd never look at them. I plan to curate topically down to a manageable number and make nice coffee-table books that they'd be proud to display and look through every so often.

At any rate, I'll be hanging around here for some time yet!

es
 
A more important project to my way of thinking is scanning the thousands of print photos and slides we made before we went digital. Thinking ahead to the inevitable, I don't want my boys to inherit boxes and hard drives full of tens of thousands of family photos - they'd never look at them. I plan to curate topically down to a manageable number and make nice coffee-table books that they'd be proud to display and look through every so often.

BTDT. took about three winters. lost photos are a tragedy.
 
(quoted from post at 10:24:46 02/01/20)BTDT. took about three winters. lost photos are a tragedy.

It's about preserving the family history and heritage for me. I've given this a lot of thought, and figure that after two or three generations, old photos have no meaning beyond the name on the back because there were no shared experiences (died before the viewer was born, etc.).

I've already processed the shoebox of black-and-whites I got from my Mom's estate, and had maybe 50 photos of folks I don't know and that are not identified on the back. They are meaningless to me beyond guessing them to be extended family or friends of my Mom's.

I want to "tell a story" with my coffee table photo books so hopefully they'll get passed down for many generations.

es
 
I retired from " inside work" in 2006 and been farming ever since!

I " rediscovered" Model A Fords in retirement. They keep me busy in the winter.
 
Congratulations, Ed, and may you enjoy many hours pursuing WWII aviation history and maybe getting some flying time in!

My grandfather and his crewmates on SS-184 rescued downed airmen during the battles for Guam and Saipan.

I'm gonna cast a vote that you keep the N!

Colin, MN
 
Congrats and best wishes on the beginning of the best years. The most
important thing is to keep active. I am only three years in retirement, but
the common denominator I see for long health is getting up and doing
things. Walking, cutting firewood, woodworking, gardenings, building hot
rods,etc all seem to keep folks young. It will take awhile for you to learn
to say "that's enough for today" though. lol
 
Congratulaions, Ed. Retirement is a new adventure. I'm still experimenting (13 years come April). We
are married 54 years last month and I still have projects on the "honey do" list. Do what makes you
happy. Enjoy the grandkids. A regular comment at McD is, "I'm going to finish what I didn't get done
yesterday...nothing".
 
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Ed;
Knowing what you stated to me, when you were here, about what you were working toward with your farm, and retirement.....I want you to know that Les and I, are wishing nothing but the best for you and family.
I know you have a lot of hard work and $$$'s in the farm life!!!
I'm hoping that you have thought all this over in your usual good thinking!!!

SO, here is to you and family, for a good transfer to retirement life.

Just remember.......Once you retire.....your whole life will change, and you will find out......there is not enough hrs. in the day, to get what you want accomplished!!! Don't get in a big hurry....take your time....and enjoy life!!!

BTDT!!! TWICE!!!
Time really flies by, when yer havin' fun!!!! :lol:

BTW:.... Les and I are hitting the big 60yrs. of matrimony, the 4th of March this yr........AND she says I still get under her feet, and in her way!!! That's just the way it goes......Woman always goes her way and according to Woman thinking.......Men should always follow her!!! :? :shock: :p

Gary & Leslie B.
 
Congratulations! Dont be so quick to sell the tractors. I bet you can stay busy bush hogging, grading driveways, etc. Just a little advertising and then word of mouth. Its a good way to bring in shopping money.
 

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