we are getting too old

[enjenjo]

My fancy TIG welder buddy has retired. Both my prime body men painters have retired. My favorite salvage yard has closed, the owners have both hung it up and it's for sale. My alternate is closed as the owner is in jail for an extended vacation.

Inflation is killing us, the parts I use have gone up 30% in the las four months. Shipping is out of sight. I have had to increase my prices to the point it is hard to sell my products.

I am about to give up.

[Bruce Dorsi]

Here's your chance, Frank, to:

TIG weld
paint cars
buy the salvage yard
stay out of jail
lower your prices

AND

Enjoy your free time!   

[enjenjo]

LOL I think the best thing to do is stay out of jail

[WZ JUNK]

I try to keep busy and not let the changes in our lives get me down, but sometimes it is tough.  The situation is hard to understand and hard to deal with.   I vowed that when things opened up after the pandemic, I would search out old friends and spend more time doing things I enjoy.  I went to a hot rod breakfast this morning and I drove a truck that get 6 to 8 mpg and requires the expensive high octane fuel.(Expensive for someone living on a school teacher retirement)  I put $30 of gas in it to get me home.  I am going to put more fuel in it later this afternoon and drive about 30 miles each way to a cruise night.   Someday is here now.   I did not plan it would work out this way, and I do like it, but this is what we have.  I hope someone has some good advice on this topic.

On a lighter note, I am glad I woke up alive this morning.

[kb426]

The other day, I told my wife "I woke up excited to be me. I have things planned to do that I can't wait to get to." She gave me something of a look but I'm used to it.
I'm going to share a thought that I use in life that has little to do with this thread. IMHO, I see 2 kinds of people, the 1st being the person that creates their own happiness. Their accomplishments and self motivated daily operations make them satisfied and happy. The 2nd type is the person that their happiness is caused by the people that surround them. If they have the correct people, they are happy, if they have the wrong bunch, they are unhappy. I realize that's an over simplification but most car people always have something they are working on or a show to go to that causes some excitement and some happiness. My 90 year old friend that I had breakfast with for decades had a philosophy that I found to make sense. He said that he never spent energy on anything that he couldn't possibly change the outcome off. He watched politics but didn't get upset. He was a farmer but didn't let the weather upset him. He had a logical approach to life that served him well. He retired early and was able to handle it well. Physical, emotional and financial. His life had some pain but he didn't let it take him down.

[WZ JUNK]

Good thoughts.  I think the idea of not worring about things we can not change is good, but it is hard to do.

I like being positive, and I like to be around people who are upbeat.  I get frustrated when someone is always negative.  Lately I have purposely chose to avoid people with negative attitudes.  Sometimes I will not talk to myself

[Crosley.In.AZ]

I sold nearly everything automotive, tools, machines and the house.  Wife wanted to travel some, wanted a small winter home in metro Phoenix AZ area so we could get away from the heat. She has always supported my habits and hobbies.  So now I am trying to support her.

I still have many tools in storage.  Likely will buy more.    I plan on another house and shop of some type.  Not sure yet.  Been thinking about messing with some Cushman scooters.  I owned 2 Cushman Eagle scooters in 1967.. They were ruff. never got them running because AZ changed the legal age for scooters from 14 to 16 yrs old.

Yeah I agree with alot of what Frank said here.

[jaybee]

It's a tough time right now, that's for sure. A lot of negative. Then again, historically there's been good and bad, ebb and flow. On the whole, however, things have always gotten better more than they've gotten worse.

[idrivejunk]

[58 Yeoman]

The company workers that installed our front door, both garage doors and a bay window must've watched this film.  Smiling, friendly and did a great job and cleaned up any mess and hauled away the junk.  We've got that same company installing all the windows in our house, starting yesterday.  The same worker that installed the front door and bay window is doing this job, and he is really particular and good.  He and his helper got two windows in yesterday, then said he was leaving early to go to the lumber yard to get the extension trim he needs for the inside of the windows.  I've said it before, that if I was building a house, this is the guy I would like to do the job.

Thanks for posting that, Matt.