I have had a job since I was 12 years old, Spent much of my adult life in the military and then joined the civilian workforce and worked my way up the management chain until the Peter Principle caught up with me. Director of OHSA in KY, Production Manager in a couple of different facilities and then General Manager of an Auto Parts store. Owned and maintained a small Hot Shot Transport entity. Have been retired for almost two years now, moved to Mississippi for a number of reasons, the economic and tax reasons being high on the priority list. Bought and completely remodeled/added on to the house we bought, finished that a few months back, trimmed back the forest that surrounded three sides of my property, cleared the fence lines and now, I'm looking for anything to do to keep me busy.

Here's my problem, I'm bored as hell. Retirement is great if, all you want to do is sit on yer ass and watch tv or play on this damn computer but, it gets old. Looking at buying the property behind my own but, the owner doesn't want to sell it quite yet, sentimental reasons. He's elderly and is holding on to it for his daughter. She doesn't want it but won't tell him that so, now I feel like a vulture waiting for him to die so I can buy it and clean it up. I hate Pine Trees. He's in a full time rest care home due to a stroke. It's a sad situation for him.

I still have all the trucks/trailers/equipment to transport all kinds of things but, really feel the need to be around to help the wife out, she's kind of clumsy and her dog has tripped her twice this year resulting in her getting hurt. I'd shoot the dog but, that would lead to other issues.

Due to the Pandemic, we don't go out much and other than delivery drivers, don't see many folks. I'm bored as hell. Being retired means, you've got a lot of time to do things but, don't have the income to really do all the things you would like to. Have addressed most of the things in my bucket list but, I'm not quite ready to die.

I joined the local EAA flying club but, they are all fixed winged guys and I get bored there, not a single one can hover.
Thought about getting back into the farming/ranching mode but, really don't have enough property (at this time) to do anything.

So, what do you retired guys do?

Rams

[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 01-27-2021).]

quote Originally posted by Hudini: You have any hobbies? Like to build stuff? Artistic or paint by numbers?

Have looked at several different things in the hobby line. Either not that interested or, costs way too much to get into.
Ride my Valkyrie quite a bit but, you can only go so much and so far. Used to like to build furniture (woodworking). But, no longer have the tools and they ain't cheap for good quality tools.

This thread, was started pretty much out of boredom. That should tell the readers of this thread something.
Was talking to one of those delivery driver's the other day, he said they were desperate for drivers.
I laughing said, well tell your boss to give me a shout.

I'll be damned if his boss didn't call me the next day. Considering my options. It's something to do and bring in a few bucks.
His boss told me he was having a terrible time hiring, many can't pass the background check/drug screen and those that can don't want to work.

Interesting conundrum. Thinking about it.

quote Originally posted by OldsFiero: I owned and operated my own auto repair/transmission shop for 44 years and retired this past Sept. I moved some of my trans equipment to my shop at home. I spent the first couple of months cleaning and setting up the shop better. I'm only building some competition and street rod transmissions for cash paying customers. After years of 12-14 hour days, I like being able to pick and choose what I'm going to do. I have a fairly well equipped wood shop also, and will be doing more woodworking. For the first time in my life, I was able to hunt the entire whitetail rut last fall. I've always been a project guy and as long as I can afford to, I can dream up enough of those to keep me busy(not to mention the several unfinished ones that are years old). I can also do some of the chores at a slower pace. I takes more than a few minutes to saw up the winter fuel supply and now that I'm heating the garage full time, the wood consumption has gone up a few face cord. We will see what summer brings. Hoping to do more fishing and maybe cruise around more. I don't do much social media, but maybe I'll spend more time here. Well, it's getting late. I guess I should fire up Whitey Ford and go plow the driveway. Good luck to you Rams. Marc

Sounds like you've got a plan. I thought I had one but, since I don't have a shop any longer and the prospects of getting one are remote, I'm at a loss for that kind of project. Mostly due to the way my property lays and of course, new shop buildings aren't cheap to build.
But, I am trying to buy the ladies shop next door. She only uses it to throw crap into the trash guys won't take. She's gonna have to do something in the near future, it's pretty well packed. It's about 20'X30' (a guess) and not really what I want but, it'll do. But, again she has an emotional attachment to the building cause grandpa built it.

Can't stand the fishing thing, just not my thing. Getting old sucks. But it beats the obvious alternative.

Rams

[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 01-27-2021).]

[This message has been edited by williegoat (edited 01-27-2021).]

Get yourself a 3d printer. Its a hell of a frustrating learning curve for the first few weeks-month but after that there are literally a gazillion models out there and hobbies to get into. Plus people will pay for some of the stuff so at worst its a free hobby and at best a sideline business that (mostly) runs itself since the printing is hands-off. Everything from gun parts to gaming pieces to home décor to tools and usefull items. Past month I have even started to teach myself 3d modeling and am starting into original designs.

If you get into the modeling, once you are good enough you can sell your designs on a bunch of different websites. Total cost to get started is under 500 bucks with a decent-but-not-top-notch printer.



Early version of a custom AR type frame for a Ruger I've been working on. ALL the bells and whistles built-in...and since its not a "Replica" or "near identical" its not included in TruDumbs gun ban and legal in Canada. Just to play it safe I'll print it in Grey and Blue or something since nobody EVER built an AR in those colors.

The whole thing is addictive once you get into it. Hell, even the pegboard tool mounts on my workstation, I didnt buy them I printed custom ones for exactly what I need to fit exactly what I have.

This isnt exaclty "retirement" for me either, its just a case of the goobernment decided to go and close about 60% of my contracts right now since they were "non-essential business". Once things open up again things will pick back up. But, I have the time, may as well do something productive with it.

[This message has been edited by MidEngineManiac (edited 01-27-2021).]