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**jhngardner367** · 02-02-2012, 12:31 AM

I had to make a hard decision,this week. I turned 60 on Jan.27,and I've had 4 heart attacks,in the last 7 months.So,after running my business for the last 12 years,I'm gonna close it down. I'll still putter around,with my projects,but there will only be one commercial project,from now on. That will be my auger mount. I want to finish that project,not just for me,but for someone I consider a dear,close friend. Hopefully,he can take it to the next level. I'll still be on the forum...I got it in my blood,now,like an addiction.LOL! It just takes too much of my energy to crawl around on,under,and over these machines. Lord,it's a PITA,gettin'old!

**tractor beam** · 02-02-2012, 11:58 AM

Sorry to hear about the heart attacks. I'm hoping that you're taking a hard line on preventing another. My wife is 66 and has finally gotten to be a part of medicare, after being shunned by the insurance industry for years because she wasn't profitable.

**jhngardner367** · 02-02-2012, 12:38 PM

In our younger years,we tend not to think of aging. We seem to have the idea that it won't happen to us. Even after the first "incident",I refused to slow down.Now,after surgery on the mitral valve,I tire easily,and it's starting to hit home. Still,we tend to not think of our elderly.Most insurance companies only think of the bottom line,and limit coverage,co-pays,etc. Obama wants everyone to have insurance,and while it's a good idea,most people don't have the money to do so,without giving up other areas,such as food,shelter, etc. It needs fixing. That's why Social Security was created.To help provide for care of the elderly.Now,it's taxed,and leaves little to help people.

jc56 · 02-02-2012, 01:48 PM

Wow man...sorry to hear about your health issues,but you know what,I noticed some "lol's" in your post....that's great man!So many don't laugh...don't smile...don't enjoy life.I won't bore you with life and my issues,but I am 56 years old and have been un-employed for a year and a half and my wife and I laugh and love and it's been great!!I truely feel that everything happens for a reason.I'll find something when it is supposed to be.But what I am saying is to relax and embrace the change that has been put upon you...it's the way it is supposed to be for now.....or that's what I think anyway.I wish you all the best man!!!jc

**jhngardner367** · 02-02-2012, 08:27 PM

Thanks,jc56.Iknow what you mean. Istarted my little shop 12 years ago,when the place I worked at took everyone off hourly,and put them on commision. I went from $500 wk,to $400 mo.,and the boss still wanted us there 40=hrs. We ALL left. One thing that makes my life better,is that I've been married to a truly wonderful woman for the last 20 years.

Cublover · 02-02-2012, 10:04 PM

When we start having health problems, we start to think about our mortality. I too will be 60 this year. Till I was 45, I only went to a doctor to get stuff sewed back on!
My back is shot, but I take advantage of my 'good' days. I used to have one 'bad' day per week. Now, I have 4. I would try to get disability, but then I would have to worry about someone seeing me do what I LOVE on a 'good' day.
Do what you can and post pics! Those young guys need us to get through their problems.

Thomas · 02-03-2012, 07:26 AM

Indeed a plateful,take it slow and easy and keep those spirits up.

jc56 · 02-03-2012, 01:45 PM

Over my time off,I have really got back in touch with myself and my wife and my place and my pets.....other than being short on cash..lol...everything else has really been great.I've got most...lol...of my "honey dos" done and really have had time to catch up on stuff in general.I've done several things in my life but the common thread thru all of them was that I always worked a lot of hours.My personal life always came second.I am 56 ,so I figure I've only got 6 years to work anyway,so I am looking for something I enjoy doing and shorter hours.Something else that has happened over my time off is that the wife and I have lost a bunch or weight and got a little healthier.I am 53 pounds down and the wife is 63 pounds down...hummm....that's in almost a year.So we are really happy about that

Ok,I've talked enough.Later.jc

**farmertim** · 02-03-2012, 03:47 PM

I read with great interest the stories of retirement. When my late father was retired he always told me he didn't have time to do this or that....
I realized that he was not planning his time and there was a lot of time wasted.
I plan to be just like John Gardner and JC56 and get as much as I can out of my retirement. Health issues always throw a curve ball but we need to weave our lives to include all the important stuff in and try to relax along the way...

I wish good fortune to all those reaching or past retirement and he you all enjoy it as much as I plan to.

**tractor beam** · 02-03-2012, 04:18 PM

I'm semi retired right now and loving it, but it's still officially 17 years away............

**Country Boy** · 02-03-2012, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhngardner367

I had to make a hard decision,this week. I turned 60 on Jan.27,and I've had 4 heart attacks,in the last 7 months.So,after running my business for the last 12 years,I'm gonna close it down. I'll still putter around,with my projects,but there will only be one commercial project,from now on. That will be my auger mount. I want to finish that project,not just for me,but for someone I consider a dear,close friend. Hopefully,he can take it to the next level. I'll still be on the forum...I got it in my blood,now,like an addiction.LOL! It just takes too much of my energy to crawl around on,under,and over these machines. Lord,it's a PITA,gettin'old!

Wow, I truly hope that you enjoy life in retirement. I know a lot of guys that retired after working hard their entire life and they hated it. Keep yourself active, but don't over-do. My dad is afraid to retire because he has ran our farm since he was 18 and now, almost 50 years later, he doesn't want to "sit down and die" as he said once. Too many people I knew retired, sat around watching TV, and died shortly thereafter from a heart attack/stroke/blood clot/etc.

I wish you the best of luck and I hope to keep hearing from you here on the forums. You sound like a guy I could sit down and talk all day with.

**jhngardner367** · 02-03-2012, 06:06 PM

Gosh,fellas,I'm only retirin' from my shop..NOT LIFE!!LOL! I'm still gonna work on my "projects".Just not gonna worry about HAVING to go to the shop.Less stress,that way. I'm just about finished with my Goldwing,and wife & I are gonna do some cruisin',this summer.

Cublover · 02-03-2012, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhngardner367

Gosh,fellas,I'm only retirin' from my shop..NOT LIFE!!LOL! I'm still gonna work on my "projects".Just not gonna worry about HAVING to go to the shop.Less stress,that way. I'm just about finished with my Goldwing,and wife & I are gonna do some cruisin',this summer.

I just got home.11:15 pm. I started my day at 8:00 am driving a van hauling people to dialysis, then sat at my desk for a couple hours on the phones. Most of the dialysis patients are younger than ME!
Punched out and headed to the truck for a 1 hour 'power nap', punched back in and ran the college shuttle for 8 hours.
One load, I had 17 on. (there are 28 seats), next stop 31 got on, then 3, then 2, then 1. The ones in front of the white line had to sit on the floor and steps.
I told the kids that I was going to have to tie some of them across the hood like deer!
I was running the 4 ways cause the bus wouldn't do over 34 mph up the mountain!
I know all about those 'long hours'!

jc56 · 02-04-2012, 12:54 AM

Hey Cublover.Sounds like you know all about man.Those long hours will wear on ya.I didn't really know how much till I got away from them.You know I know a little about your area up there....interstate 68...hummmmmm......exit 41 or something like that......40 mph speed limit on the interstate thru Cumberland.I ran 68 about twice a week for about 5 years.I can tell ya some stories.....some involve snow and some involve fog.......man 68 thru Maryland can really be something.Over at Keisers Ridge...in that area....in the winter time...MAN!!!!!I don't miss that.Better go.Later.jc

Cublover · 02-04-2012, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jc56

Hey Cublover.Sounds like you know all about man.Those long hours will wear on ya.I didn't really know how much till I got away from them.You know I know a little about your area up there....interstate 68...hummmmmm......exit 41 or something like that......40 mph speed limit on the interstate thru Cumberland.I ran 68 about twice a week for about 5 years.I can tell ya some stories.....some involve snow and some involve fog.......man 68 thru Maryland can really be something.Over at Keisers Ridge...in that area....in the winter time...MAN!!!!!I don't miss that.Better go.Later.jc

Still running on the caffine needed to haul those kids!

thanks to La Ninia, we have not had any real snow this year.
Usually the first sign of spring is when the guardrails start coming back up!

jbrumberg · 02-05-2012, 08:07 AM

"When we start having health problems, we start to think about our mortality. I too will be 60 this year."

I could not agree more.

I "died" 5 years ago on an ER table. I am still at odds with myself at times as to whether or not it was anoxia or a spiritual event. All I can say is that I have been forever changed. After a very intrusive 3 weeks in ICU/CCU they discovered that I had an autoimmune disorder. The treatment has had its costs, but I am still able to do almost all the things I used to be able to do to some degree and/or capacity. I do have to regulate my life around shots, pills, bloodwork, doctors appointments, and energy cycles.

I will share this. 30+ years in the human services- I finally was able to work myself into the aforementionned situation. I was never that "poster boy" corporate/beaurocratic toady. I did not work for my funding sources- I worked for the recipiants of those purported service providers. The long hours and weeks finally caught up to me. I am a much better person for it.

Retirement forced or not is a major life transition. It is not always easy or pretty.

Good luck to all of us. We are all on this strange and wonderful trip together.

**kau** · 02-05-2012, 10:14 AM

I wish you the best in your retirement. To my understanding you do more work for free.

I'm sorry about your health, I hope you get better.

jc56 · 02-05-2012, 01:32 PM

Hey JB.I really glad to hear you made it!!I know a guy that went to the hospital to have a kidney stone removed and had a reaction to the anthesia and died.He came back too......but sorry to say,he hasn't changed...still way overweight...probably 200 pounds over,still over working too.He's like 58 or 59 years old.I had maligment cancer 24 years ago.....and really changed me as far enjoying life.I still worked way too much,but I guys' gotta eat right?Good luck to ya my friend!!!jc

CRussell · 02-05-2012, 03:22 PM

jhngardner367, sorry to hear about your health problems but glad to hear you still have the energy to enjoy life in retirement. Enjoy life, ride your bike, laugh with family,and enjoy your tractors. (Maybe not in that order.) So many of us forget to do that. When it comes to the projects and you need a hand I am about a hour away. Chris.

jbrumberg · 02-05-2012, 03:37 PM

" I'm still gonna work on my "projects"."- jhngardner, 2012

Amen brother. When one stops moving they start dying. Keep on moving jhngardner and jc56, and everyone else for that matter.

It's unfortunate that one only really learns to appreciate what is real after life changing event(s). And it's often hard to learn how.

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