Generation Gap?

As I finally (fully) retired last month, after 40 years…20 of those running my own biz, been going through all of the endless files to trash. I tried to keep up with some file purging over the years (I’ve found I did a shitty job - but will cut me some slack being a one guy operation); but THIS time it’s different. There’s nothing to save unlike before thinking I should save this or that for possible future use. Nada…to da trash…ALL of it. Still, it’s a strange feeling.

Anyway, I’m dumping the hundreds of old biz cards of people I worked with or for, lol, the ******** and the wonderful people. As I take a brief glance at the cards, memories of these people fly in…some were standouts being just good people and others, well some could be, just that my association with them wasn’t so much. I try to subscribe to the old saying “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” It was time for me to hang it up as so many I had worked with had retired, replaced by people my kid’s age. Some that I had worked with for years still working, a few years away from retiring, were sad to hear I was retiring. Some like a long relationship more than others. I’m in the group liking a long built-up relationship. There’s a bond there that evolves with time and proven trust. In fact, the reason I delayed fully retiring was at the request of my oldest client asking me to stay with his company another six-months until he was retiring. Meeting the guy who replaced him, wow, apples and oranges...glad my association with da new guy was brief.

Well, I remember as a young guy working with people a few decades older (though not always) making a connection with them was difficult/awkward. The proverbial table has turned on me. I felt it trying to make a connection to some people half my age who replaced those who retired. Generation gap? Suppose so…some gave me the feeling I was ancient, having nothing to contribute to their new line of thinking, some fresh out of college or a year or so out. Funny how it goes huh? Those of us in the geezer range, we made mistakes learning from them that only time to make them provides…and the next gen’s will have to do the same without someone having been there/done that letting them know they’re about to make one and don’t wanna hear it...lol.

Congratulations Ron! Enjoy. You'll likely find you don't know how you had time to work at a job.

Reflections of the years past, as long as you have some fond memories it's all worth it! Congratulations on your retirement, enjoy you earned it! 440'

peabodyracin said:

Congratulations Ron! Enjoy. You'll likely find you don't know how you had time to work at a job.

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Thank you much! I had some advantages retiring in phases closing out my biz and have taken on/completed some projects I’d have likely pushed off along the way working full time. God willing, geez, the list is long to do. Still, the normal day job routine for decades has been weird to fully acclimate to. Ya, know the routine voice, email messages, and meeting dates that now are just GONE! Well, we have chapters in our lives…if you’re lucky enough to live long enough to open the next one. lol

Firstly, congratulations on taking the big step to retirement. Having your own business can be very rewarding both financially and emotionally but can be exhausting.

I am at that point in life as well, but I absolutely love my current job as a lead engineer. My group has guys from 25 years old to the mid fifties and I feel like I am still relatable but you never know.

I enjoyed reading your post and wish you all the best in retirement!!

Congrats! Enjoy the time! Visit with family and friends as much as possible!

Ron you will have the time now to work out why your rebuilt 318 poly isn't performing....

Good luck on your retirement!

Good luck on retiring !!

Congrats on retirement.

I have found the reason the younger generation does not always measure up to our old standards is because how the parents raised them and the schools taught them. I think Clint Eastwood said that in a movie....or maybe not.

Congrats Ron, I'm at that same point but right now looking at 2023 .
I completely agree and understand the generation gap.
It all just rolls on, I'm sure my dad felt the same way about us punks born in the 50s lol.

Ron, you made it, congrats!!! I'm 65 and retired at 52. I look back and talk to people that I use to work with and they miss my old school honesty and I'll be there guarantee. People today are not the same. What we thought of as a life time job , these kids today are just passing through on a five year or so turn around. I'm sure you'll be missed!! Enjoy and live long!!

Thanks much for the retirement send offs! Two HS buds retired recently as well and we get together working on our cars, going to shows, etc. My projects include building a garage I’ve been thinking of doing for years and could I have picked a worse time? Decided to resto my ’05 Dakota – new fenders and box after checking prices on newer trucks. I really like the Dakota; a Laramie well optioned with AWD and 83k on it. AWD is great in slippery weather. My daughters have got me into a few projects including building a kitchen table and just finished a monster workbench.

Following in my dad’s steps after he retired; he was a huge help (or we helped him) being a handy sort – did remodeling in my brother and my houses and restored a car. That was a ride my mother bought and was handed down through the family until it was a barely drivable rust bucket. No way I’d have finished it without my dad’s wisdom and talents running into what seemed like impossible repairs. Great memories. I’ve posted these before; but since I’m thinking of this here is a photo about a week after we started on it and just about finished before striping. Started a semi-clone 442 then sold it before doing more finding a CA '63 Fury I couldn't pass up.

Slow and steady, now It's about the fun of doing what you want. Don't burn yourself out thinking It's a job, remember you just left the job behind. You have a long time to do what you want, make it fun. Remember you're not on a clock anymore!!! I'm truly glad for you!!

Hey-O said:

Slow and steady, now It's about the fun of doing what you want. Don't burn yourself out thinking It's a job, remember you just left the job behind. You have a long time to do what you want, make it fun. Remember you're not on a clock anymore!!! I'm truly glad for you!!

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GREAT advice Hey-O...imagine you're speaking from experience. Yeah - I DO get into wanting to get stuff done to move to the next to-do. Thanks!

Yes I am speaking from experience. I work on projects and in the middle I stop and go swimming with my wife the rest of the day, then go out to eat and call it a day. There is always tomorrow for work, but you have to stop and smell the roses too.

Like to add some to da story I posted above. My mother always loved convertibles, she had a '57 T-Bird, '60 Bird, '65 GTO, and her last vert she bought was the '72 Cutlass. She liked the GTO body style as my brother had one (hot-rodded post car). Lol, she didn't keep it long as the power it had scared her. And she always had the bee-hive do's of da day not wanting to mess her hair up, so RARELY did she ever put the top down. Except the time she went into a store leaving the top down and a pouring rainstorm popped up while in the store! She was pissed! We took the seats and carpeting out to dry it out.

Yesterday my wife and I went looking for material for a project I'm working on, stopping for a pizza only to find out they can't get enough workers so they were closed. The store next door was a womens shop, so we went it. 400 dollars later, she was happy. She asked me, this one or this one, I say both. I get a kick out of her having fun too. It's retirement for both of us!! I'm get the material today, maybe!!! LOL

We never actually retire, we just grow up more, and move on to hopefully better, and more interesting things. Good luck dude!

Congratulations on retirement. It seems as though there are two types of retirees; those who want to finally kick back and enjoy all their newfound free time and those who don't know what to do with themselves who end up staring at the walls day in and day out.

My dad was of the latter mindset, but when I retire, my mindset will be of the former. After 43 years at my job (this November) I'm planning on cashing out and retiring next spring. Submit and I are on vacation this week in NH, which is the first weeklong vacation we've taken in 3 years, and it's been nice not worrying about business and just kicking back and taking things slow.

We're leaving going back home on Saturdy and the game plan is to go into the office that afternoon to play catch up without anyone or anything interrupting me. Yeah, it sucks, but it's also nice knowing that this will be the last time I'll have to do that.

Richard Cranium said:

Congratulations on retirement. It seems as though there are two types of retirees; those who want to finally kick back and enjoy all their newfound free time and those who don't know what to do with themselves who end up staring at the walls day in and day out.

My dad was of the latter mindset, but when I retire, my mindset will be of the former. After 43 years at my job (this November) I'm planning on cashing out and retiring next spring. Submit and I are on vacation this week in NH, which is the first weeklong vacation we've taken in 3 years, and it's been nice not worrying about business and just kicking back and taking things slow.

We're leaving going back home on Saturdy and the game plan is to go into the office that afternoon to play catch up without anyone or anything interrupting me. Yeah, it sucks, but it's also nice knowing that this will be the last time I'll have to do that.

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Good for you!! There were many years I worked through my vacation when it was just Theresa and I, there was always tomorrow. The only people that have ever told me they didn't want to retire or yes, I need just one more year, actually couldn't, like time was never going to catch up to them. Retirement is the best part of work, you can't have one without the other. Ten dollars from work and one for retirement. After a while it's time to go home. I woke up at 4:20 everyday and still to this day I can't just sleep through with at least looking at the clock around that time, no I don't get up, but after all these years you would think that part of it would pass. The best part is all my plans are subject to change and no one is affected, now nothing is as important as Theresa and I. My daughters getting married in October and I don't pay for weddings. I wrote her a check, slid it across the table and told her to do whatever she wanted to do with the money. Now, it's a family only wedding, honeymoon and pay off her new car. The two have been busy plotting against me, Theresa and my daughter, as if I actually care! It is nice not worrying about work and all the time spent away from the really important things in life. Enjoy the second half of the game and again congrats, I know you deserve it.