Who are the old farts around here (and willing to admit it)

I was fortunate to retire from the state of Colorado (ran construction for the local college) at age 54 and then worked part-time while drawing my retirement check for the next 8-1/2 years. Worked out because my wife was an RN at the local hospital so we could afford health insurance thru her job.

My first SUV was a very capable 1989 Isuzu Trooper which became my daughter's High school vehicle and she learned to drive a stick shift. I have had an SUV ever since but my first 4Runner was a 2015 TP that I bought new. Then in 2023 my daughter needed something to replace her 2002 Honda CRV with 180,000 miles on it - it was pretty beat up and starting to leak oil on the garage floor. So I suggested that she get something like a Highlander Hybrid but she said no, she wanted a 4Runner like ours which was eight years old and only had 60,000 miles on it, had always been kept in a heated garage, and had never been in an accident.

So after thinking about it I told my daughter and son-in law that we were in a better financial position to buy a new car and then they could buy the 2015 from us. Took me five months wait listed at four different dealers but we finally got a lunar rock 2023 ORP and my daughter loves her new to her 4Runner Unfortunately though my new 4Runner is a garage queen / pavement princess because for the last four years I have been the 24/7/365 caregiver for my wife with dementia (age 76) so at age 72 I really can't do anything anymore but no one ever said that life is fair

 

You're a good man amoung men and her life is more than fair because of it.

 

Where do you take a dump when you dry camp like that? Shower?

 

21 plus years United States Air Force, 18 years LEO and current GS12 Veteran Affairs dude. Do the math...

 

Thank you for your kind words. I didn't really need to buy another 4Runner because the 2015 had so few miles on it but it feels good to get my daughter into a bigger safer vehicle with hands-free phone, backup camera, and Bluetooth audio . My 2023 is basically the same vehicle but as an older driver I have come to appreciate all the Safety Sense features like blind spot mirrors, adaptive cruise control, backup warnings, emergency braking, etc. and I really like having Apple CarPlay for longer trips

 

Behind that tree there.

 

Went to our cabin to beat the heat and get a little work done.
Old steps:


New steps:


Next up, scrape the whole porch and paint.
Also have to decide about a railing/handrail.

 

We ran into some rock on our Christmas tree farm. I just keep writing checks !

 

New sink and RO this weekend.
Part of me is sorry I went back to work because now this kind of stuff has to happen on the weekends again. But that double dipping sure looks good in the bank account. Besides, until my wife can retire, we can't really do the fun stuff we want to do.

 

71 this year and finally pulling the plug after 40 years with the current employer.

 

Good on ya. I only managed 38 years. Enjoy your well earned time.

 

That looks awesome. How does the 4R do towing something like this? Do you travel off-road with this set-up and how does the 4R handle steep hills?

 

I will, thank you.

 

Really happy for you and I wish you all the best.

I get working that long, especially if you enjoy the work. But I’m turning 65 in January and plan to retire ASAP. That was already rattling around in my head when I ran across a recent post. It neatly summed up everything I’ve learned about the precious nature of life from my experience working 4 fatal airline disasters: Cemeteries are full of people who thought they had more time.

That hit me like a cold shower. I should add that it’s really a semi-retirement since I plan to continue my ad hoc contract work and consulting, and to write a sequel to my novel Unexpected Ruff Air.

 

Thanks. It could tow better up mountains. I got a tune which helped. Getting to places no one can is great thing. I air down all 6 tires and off we go.

 

Thanks for your service

 

68’ , trout bum

 

67

 

What yall consider old....im 47 but feel like I'm 107 when I wake up in the morning

 

I know how to use the Dewey Decimal system. Does that count?

 

And the card catalogue.

 

69 and still counting. The counting briefly stopped twice many years ago. But, still going strong and very grateful that it just wasn't my time to go.

 

Sounds like there is a story there. Glad you're here to join us and welcome.

 

There is and involves a tractor trailer rig. So you can use your imagination about that and will all be correct.
And thank you ! Been hangin around for quite a while and just decided to jump in.

 

Thanks for jumping in, and glad you are here.

 

Well, made it another day I want every penny of my SS

 

I know how to use, and still own, a slide rule.

Thank goodness our kids don't have to. Electric calculators for the win.

 

I fondly remember gas being $0.17/gallon...

 

That's a tool that I have not thought about for decades! Never owned one, but used them to figure weight and balance on a B-52 bomber.

 

0.19.5 , during the gas wars, then the 72’ oil embargo