Bought a Kolar shotgun for trap shooting. Pretty much had my man cave set to go before I retired. When the weather is bad you can find me in there. And when the weather is beautiful, well, um, you can still find me in there unless I’m shooting trap.
Getting ready to retire, what did you treat yourself with?
- Thread starter LFP57
- Start date
The things I thought I'd like to do when I was young has changed to more realistic things the older I became, where I'd live and what I'd be living in.
I traveled much of the U.S. (except the Western coastal states)in both a car and on a motorcycle (still riding), put countless miles on dirt bikes, ATVs and snowmobiles. I've traveled to other countries a number of times and seen some amazing places. Here in Michigan, we're surrounded by water, so I've done the boat thing. I own property in the woods up North and have hunted/fished, etc.
Over the years, I've had many hobbies, I'd get interested in something, learn how to do it and then move onto something else. Some of these hobbies turned out to be a part of my job at work.
I purchased my first tractor (LX2610) at the beginning of Covid, I was trying to get some of the larger purchases out of the way before I retired and I'm glad to say that I'll be debt free when the day comes. I've spent much of my life trying to balance saving for retirement and still having a life. I know people that spent their entire life not going anywhere, saving all of their money for the day they retire and when the day comes, if the day comes, their health doesn't allow them to do anything. I'm very lucky, I'm still healthy and active.
Growing old is a privilege that many people never get to experience and many people here on this site has had some great experiences, far more than I've had. I was looking for that one thing, the icing on the cake for my life's work to treat myself.
We adopted a wonderful 2-1/2 YO girl last Spring. Started out as foster parents in September of 2020 when she was about 10 months old. Next moth we'll be married for 52 years, so the rest of our kids are quite a bit older
Had plans and funds set aside to get a new Tahoe, but chip shortage came and prices went up so I'll run the old Trailblazer till the prices go down.
Had plans and funds set aside to get a new Tahoe, but chip shortage came and prices went up so I'll run the old Trailblazer till the prices go down.
Beautiful dogs, sorry that you lost them, just like losing a child. We have two young ones 2 & 4 and they too, prefer our bed.
My wife and I wanted to adopt, but we were told that we were to old @ 50. Yea, I was thinking about purchasing my last vehicle, the one I have still has many miles remaining, a new engine/trans is still cheaper than a new car.We adopted a wonderful 2-1/2 YO girl last Spring. Started out as foster parents in September of 2020 when she was about 10 months old. Next moth we'll be married for 52 years, so the rest of our kids are quite a bit older
Had plans and funds set aside to get a new Tahoe, but chip shortage came and prices went up so I'll run the old Trailblazer till the prices go down.
I decided to thin the safe, have some that I haven't shot in years.
Sorry to hear about your brother! That's what I've tried to do my entire life, I have a good friend that has always taken care of himself, had a newborn girl and then found out he has stage four cancer at 55.
WV, what a beautiful state! My wife threw a fit when I purchased the tractor, now that I've been using it and she sees how handy it is, she enjoys operating it.
I treated myself to many good memories and experiences from before I retired...did a lot of things the "normal" guy just never has the opportunity to do.
Did buy a bunch of machine tools that I never ( almost) use really, because I thought I would never buy them after retirement... Seems I do more woodworking than metalworking.
The biggest treat I gave myself was retiring to begin with. Love doing what I want when I want...being a couch potato is not my nature.
Did buy a bunch of machine tools that I never ( almost) use really, because I thought I would never buy them after retirement... Seems I do more woodworking than metalworking.
The biggest treat I gave myself was retiring to begin with. Love doing what I want when I want...being a couch potato is not my nature.
We were told by one social worker that we were too old. Long story, but with any even remote blood relationship, it's viewed as a "kinship" and that helps.
Biker1mike
Well-known member
Equipment
B6200, Kubota 2030 Front Blade, King Cutter 60" finishing deck
Hang on for the fun. After three daughters I forgot how much fun raising a teenager can be. Oh, the life ending drama !We adopted a wonderful 2-1/2 YO girl last Spring. Started out as foster parents in September of 2020 when she was about 10 months old. Next moth we'll be married for 52 years, so the rest of our kids are quite a bit older
Had plans and funds set aside to get a new Tahoe, but chip shortage came and prices went up so I'll run the old Trailblazer till the prices go down.
Some days are unicorns and rainbows and the next day it is fire and brimstone.
It is a joy in the end
My gift was the joy of watching my retirement accounts go from “ok to retire” to “go back to work” levels. I start back January 1st.
I am not bitter though, I am healthy and young enough that it’s at least an option. The opportunity is there also which is nice considering all the layoffs and labor market contractions going on. So relieved I am not living in the UK at the moment.
God bless this Great Country.
I am not bitter though, I am healthy and young enough that it’s at least an option. The opportunity is there also which is nice considering all the layoffs and labor market contractions going on. So relieved I am not living in the UK at the moment.
God bless this Great Country.
fried1765
Well-known member
Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
Really, my L-47 was my retirement to myself, wanted a tractor I could start every day and not have 10,000hrs like my old JD. Hope I can put 10,000hrs on my Kubota.
pokey1416
Well-known member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
Grand L4060HSTC, BH92 Backhoe, HLA Snow Pusher, Dirt Dog Tiller, EA DiscHarrow
Negotiated a healthy raise so I’d defer my retirement for a year or so. Now I can buy a few more attachments for the “midlife crisis” I bought in 2020.
Our retirement gift to ourselves is 25 acres half wooded, half fields with a house and shop in the Mark Twain Ozarks. The tractor is a necessity to maintain the property. 
WhitleyStu
Active member
Premium Member
Equipment
B2601 LA435 FEL 60" MMM 60" Snow Blower FSP500 Spreader 5' Grahl Roller 40 spray
Having been an industrial mechanic for 47.8 years I went through all my hand and power tools and donated the well used ones to several young gents then bought myself some new tools for my retirement years. Also, bought a new floor jack and Vyper chair to make chores easier. The big retirement purchase, for the two of us, was a new Ram 1500 for our short trips.
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Every time someone posts a "strange name" of an item, I have to google it to figure out what it is. Sure looks like a very nice chair!
www.vyperindustrial.com
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I built a 30x40 garage when I was still working, had all kinds of plans for retirement. Then life went sideways and those plans with it. But thats life, sometimes it aint all rainbows and unicorns when you walk away for the last time.
I wish you well and those that still do what they love with the ones they love.
I wish you well and those that still do what they love with the ones they love.