retired or tired? -- old and woreout or just old?

-
barbee6043

barbee6043

barbee 6043
FABO Gold Member
Joined
Jul 20, 2008
Messages
20,444
Reaction score
10,035
Location
Shepherd, Texas ( SE Tx)
I ain't complaining, at 74 I have fewer medical issues than many and I have outlived so many classmates, friends, and 3 or 4 cousins. But I get down and can hardly get back up. I've been hit head on by a 80 mph drunk, bucked off with broke vertebrae and neck, rode hard and put up way too wet, triple bypass 3 years ago. Doc just says I'm old and woreout! Someone please open up my head and examine my brain ( se if its still there!).
I've been building old Mopars 40 years, some guys on here longer and older than me! I know its time to try to sell down to maybe a couple of pretty much done drivers, but its hard to admit!!!! And NOT drag anything else home!!!!
I did the body and paint on 2 last year. Hard to admit this year everything is so hard!
I always had at least 2-3 and sometimes 6-8 old Mopars in various stages of worth and use! Over 40 years, it amounts to a few.
Right now, I have 4 Mopars and 1 AMC. Just one A body and it is a 62 2 door Lancer. I pulled the engine for rebuild. Or just need a good runner!
A 64 More door poly 318 more door Belvedere driver, 98% done.
A 64 Savoy roller, all body/paint done.
A 49 Dodge Wayfarer project that a guy restored 25 years ago and it sat, needs redone.
The 75 AMC Hornet is a 258, and nice car and driver. It ain't anything, but I like it.

I should get down to 2 that are mostly done.
Taking the wife out for supper..Mothers Day...Jack n the Box!! :lol::poke:
IMG_0064.JPG


IMG_0067.JPG


IMG_0071.JPG


IMG_0074.JPG


IMG_0078.JPG


IMG_0081.JPG


IMG_0082.JPG


IMG_0083.JPG
 
I'm 12 years younger than you are and have been building Mopars a little longer (about 45 years). I have four projects lined up. First is my "hobby" garage, a second extra wide two car garage attached to the house. Then is my '67 Barracuda 440/727 convertible and my son's '67 Dart 440/4sp convertible. After that I'll finish my wife's '68 340/727 GTS convertible. Then I will enjoy the cars.

I used to play around with Mopar FWD turbo cars (all TII). Finally sold them all off due to them taking too much time away from working on the '60s stuff. They were fun cars, especially the '89 LeBaron TII/5sp convertibles (they built 906 of these), yes plural as we had two of them.
 
Getting old is certainly not a linear curve. Just spending a few minutes on my side on the floor of the boat, trying to reach back under the splash well is a huge "lasting" pain!!!

Looks easy--and it was---when I was 20, 50, or 65 and not bad at 69-70, but now with broke ribs........I'll be 74 if I make it to June 8th............

img_1382-jpg.jpg
 
67Dart273 said:
Getting old is certainly not a linear curve. Just spending a few minutes on my side on the floor of the boat, trying to reach back under the splash well is a huge "lasting" pain!!!

Looks easy--and it was---when I was 20, 50, or 65 and not bad at 69-70, but now with broke ribs........I'll be 74 if I make it to June 8th............

View attachment 1715924392
Click to expand...
Just takes a little longer though I'm only sixty. Blocks of wood pieces of plywood and and pieces of foam stashed everywhere. Aluminum step benches, folding step stools. My latest is the dust pan with a handle. I too am pretty beat up but nothing recent like you. Busted ribs are the worst. Gotta keep moving.
 
I'll be 69 shortly and the only complaint is that Pepsi/Coke is finally taking my teeth. I got Eight ovum currently under various stages of disappearing. Well that and my wife is no longer interested in me in the sexual way, but um, that's not really my problem.....lol. I can live without it.
One thing I noticed about 8 years ago is that I cannot sleep on my back anymore. As soon as I pass out, something at the back of my throat falls, and chokes off my airway from my nose, and then I have to breath thru my mouth. I hate waking up with a dry mouth, so, I have learned to sleep either; sitting up lol, or on my side and roll-over at 3AM.
As for strength, stamina, and flexibility; I got plenty; The week in which we got the wind and rain, (About two weeks ago) Garbage and Recycle was cancelled; so the following week I got a double shift each day. I chucked a total of 4000kgs or 8800 pounds of trash over some 10 hours. All that resulted in, was that I got real hungry.
I guess I've had a life of ease, cuz nothing is wore out yet..... But, I'm only 69 so I guess we'll see what happens.
But I gotta admit, getting motivated to go do something is getting harder; it be like; "what's the point". It looks like the g-ment is gonna take it all away soon anyway, and they might be able to figure out how to tax every breath we take here shortly, so ; why even bother doing anything. And besides all that, my 80th birthday is coming at me like a runaway locomotive. Very very few of my ancestors made it that far, and none were particularly strong or healthy when they got there...... so what the heck, right? If I live to be 80, I will still be three years short of owning my house, lol. Been making payments since shortly after I got married, in 1977, not on the same house mindyou, lol.
Lord Sparky said:
I want to say something positive about old age, but I can’t think of one thing.
Click to expand...
Here's something just for you. The grandkids go home in late afternoon, and Halleluyah! it gets quiet again..
Plus;
Life without sex is sortof liberating;
I can do nearly whatever I want to, nearly whenever I want to do it, and if that is to "as you say", do nothing, well honey, kmhazz.
 
Yah.... getting old sucks. Im 78, and have slowed down. Parts, and things weigh a lot more than they use to, LOL can't pic em up, or move em like I use to. Hope I can hang on long enough to finish my 66 B-Cuda I don't think my boys are intrested in cars, like we were in the ole days.
Dave
 
I'll be 73 in July. I still do most of the things I used to do (except run; can't do that). It just takes me longer to do it, and I don't last as long in my endeavors as I used to. I have to stop and rest more often. But, I'm convinced that if I just "lay my burden down", I won't pick it up again, ever. I don't want that, so I keep on pluggin' away at it.
 
charliec said:
I'll be 73 in July. I still do most of the things I used to do (except run; can't do that). It just takes me longer to do it, and I don't last as long in my endeavors as I used to. I have to stop and rest more often. But, I'm convinced that if I just "lay my burden down", I won't pick it up again, ever. I don't want that, so I keep on pluggin' away at it.
Click to expand...
!!!THIS!!!
 
I'll be 64 in June. Was a bodyman for 20 years. I got out and do Facilities Maintenance. My back is junk, knees are bone on bone now, arthritis everywhere. I lost my son in December and now playing with my 2 Darts isn't the same. Been thinking of selling them both but don't have the heart to do it yet . At 74 you got me beat if I make it that far .

Resized_20210703_103633.jpeg
 
I guess you could say "I'm luckier then many". Just turned 80 last month. No serious medical problems (some heart issues controlled with meds). But I know what you mean when saying "slowing down". Takes me longer to get anything done, and don't have the strength/dexterity as I used to have. I am in the process of slowly selling off most of my stash of parts, and cars that I will never finish.
 
About 4 winters ago I put up a lot of fence. Then the next Aug. I was draggin, and then in the hospital in the middle of the Harvey flood getting a triple bypass. Thats a story in its self.
It was hard to climb on a horses, and started my last colt about then. Now I can hardly throw that 4 pound saddle on one and it takes a mounting block to get on. I've had quarter horses all my life, and its hard to be without one. I tell my wife I need to sell them, and she screams NO!
I keep working at life. I just get a little (lot) tired'er a little quick'er!
 
barbee6043 said:
I ain't complaining, at 74 I have fewer medical issues than many and I have outlived so many classmates, friends, and 3 or 4 cousins. But I get down and can hardly get back up. I've been hit head on by a 80 mph drunk, bucked off with broke vertebrae and neck, rode hard and put up way too wet, triple bypass 3 years ago. Doc just says I'm old and woreout! Someone please open up my head and examine my brain ( se if its still there!).
I've been building old Mopars 40 years, some guys on here longer and older than me! I know its time to try to sell down to maybe a couple of pretty much done drivers, but its hard to admit!!!! And NOT drag anything else home!!!!
I did the body and paint on 2 last year. Hard to admit this year everything is so hard!
I always had at least 2-3 and sometimes 6-8 old Mopars in various stages of worth and use! Over 40 years, it amounts to a few.
Right now, I have 4 Mopars and 1 AMC. Just one A body and it is a 62 2 door Lancer. I pulled the engine for rebuild. Or just need a good runner!
A 64 More door poly 318 more door Belvedere driver, 98% done.
A 64 Savoy roller, all body/paint done.
A 49 Dodge Wayfarer project that a guy restored 25 years ago and it sat, needs redone.
The 75 AMC Hornet is a 258, and nice car and driver. It ain't anything, but I like it.

I should get down to 2 that are mostly done.
Taking the wife out for supper..Mothers Day...Jack n the Box!! :lol::poke:
Click to expand...

I've been selling off my hoard of stuff slowly. I told everyone I'm not working on any new projects. I am leaving Wed to get my last one, an original 68 Fastback 383 Formula S from South Dakota. Paint and bodywork done. I want to enjoy the rest of my life, what's left of it. I'm 67 and am very lucky, still don't take any meds and can do most everything I always could. It does take longer and sometimes takes more effort. I have looked around and have things I'll never get to and I'm tired of tripping over stuff. How many good years do we have? Who knows? That said I can't imagine not having an A body to drive or piddle with. It is nice being retired. When I feel tired I just go upstairs, put on the stereo, and take a nap. I always liked those Hornets with the straight 6. It is a sweet little motor.
 
66fs said:
I've been selling off my hoard of stuff slowly. I told everyone I'm not working on any new projects. I am leaving Wed to get my last one, an original 68 Fastback 383 Formula S from South Dakota. Paint and bodywork done. I want to enjoy the rest of my life, what's left of it. I'm 67 and am very lucky, still don't take any meds and can do most everything I always could. It does take longer and sometimes takes more effort. I have looked around and have things I'll never get to and I'm tired of tripping over stuff. How many good years do we have? Who knows? That said I can't imagine not having an A body to drive or piddle with. It is nice being retired. When I feel tired I just go upstairs, put on the stereo, and take a nap. I always liked those Hornets with the straight 6. It is a sweet little motor.
Click to expand...

The most fun I ever ad a flying out to Oakland Ca about maybe '95? and bought a rally nicely done 67 383 4 speed Cud and drove it back to Mo. It cost me a $100 plane ticket ( midnight flight), and $6700. I go an extra 4 speed and set of headers in the deal.
7 years ago I was going full throttle. I say value each day and enjoy the time God has given you.
II have never had an AMCand seldom saw any back in the 37 yearsI lived in Mo. I always have likd the AMX and Javelins. I came across a 69 Javelin local a couple months ago. It was cheap at $1500 for a good roller but not hen I figured what it would take to get the missing grill, hood, seats, doors panels, engine, trans etc!!!! Besides I need to get down to 2 GOOD drivers!!!!! It is hard to wean my addiction to chasing projects and building them. I'm wore out!
I picked up the Hornet after I watched the kid ( probably mid late 20s) have it for sale overpriced for months up in Dallas. He was about to get engaged and had to buy a ring(poor smook!). I had told him if it does not sell as it was overpriced for Tx. to give ma a call. He did .
It has a couple of small rusty spots. I will fix those next fall (98 degrees yesterday!) and shoot it. Runs/drives nice, water pump starting to make some noise. Its a good old mans car! I'd love to drop a 360 in it!!!!:lol::poke::realcrazy::rofl::BangHead:
But I degress!
 
Im 64, Yeah I know, Im a youngster.
Lucky, Im in Good Health. My problem is that I still think as if I am in my 30's, that I can do Almost anything ! Bumping into things when I was young, I flinched, no problem. Now, its painful and I bruise. Just crawling under and back out from under my Dart is an affair. I have to roll Over onto my stomach, get on my knees, use one lege at a time to stand up. I have sworn off anymore Complete car rebuild.. it will be turn key. If I really like the car, i would consider doing an engine, trans, or Rear axle.
As they say, "youre not a Spring chicken anymore" and. " the old gay mare Ain't what she used to be"
 
^^^I told the wife to use the cherry picker to get my *** back up, if she had to!!! Then she said,I better at least pour some concrete so she can roll it!!!!!!
 
Just overhauled my rear chuck in my 2004 Tundra. Then changed gears in my Dart. Both on jack stands no lift by myself. Getting tougher lifting them in place with no jack .lol
 
I’m not old enough to complain compared to those who have posted, so I will simply congratulate you all for hanging on there.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top