I have referred to this site for a couple of years now but just joined. I am a 71 year old retired guy. Been collecting saws and cutting my own firewood since about 1975 and ran saws prior to that. I have a bunch of old McCullochs (pre chain brakes) and 5 0-series Stihl flat tops. I do as much of my own repair work as possible. I also took up climbing 10 years back, but don't do much of that now, sad to say.
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- Thread starter jimalseed
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Welcome! A mechanic that works at my cousins shop has a tree business with his dad. The dad is 78 and still climbing!
I bought a bucket truck and a chipper from a man that well into his 80's and still doing some work. I wish we all could be like that.
Welcome
j-jock
ArboristSite Operative
Welcome to the forum. I'm 80 this year. The climbing days are over, although I still do some falling. I don't burn firewood anymore, the bone marrow cancer, (controlled, but not in remission), has done weird things to my body, one of them being having a bad reaction to smoke, even a small amount.
Jock, I'm sorry to hear that the smoke bothers you. My son has ALL (Leukemia), but we heat with wood, and so does he.
He had a bone marrow transplant a little over 5 years ago.
He got the T cells from his brother, but has been battling Graft vs Host disease for a while.
I'm glad to hear that yours's is under control.
I wish you the best,
CB
Welcome to the site @jimalseed!
j-jock
ArboristSite Operative
During my 35+ years with this disease, I have been through the wringer, and was almost toast in early 2000. In 2000, my specialist put me on a drug called interferon, and the turnaround was a miracle. My condition improved so remarkably, that by 2005 I was almost symptom free. The side effects from the interferon were onerous, but it was easier to live with them, knowing that the drug was keeping me alive.
Cheers,
Bob
Just sold a few loads of split firewood to a firm that deals with the general public, who I have an aversion to dealing with, so though I may not make so much money I keep my sanity!
Anyway they came with two sixteen ton capacity trailers and one tractor driver was moving around on top of the loose firewood like a ballet dancer, levelling it off before sheeting it. Many of you here will know it is not easy keeping your balance on top of a heap of loose firewood. He did not look a day over sixty without a line on his face and quite fit so I asked him how old he was and he said eighty four! This was confirmed by his grandson the other driver.
I asked him his secret and he said he lives alone but split from his wife over forty years ago, but they are still friends and still go out for coffee together, they just couldn't stand living together
Hats off to all you seniors here who keep yourselves busy in the fresh air! You are really living when you are out there, facing the weather, loving the wildlife and the company.
Anyway they came with two sixteen ton capacity trailers and one tractor driver was moving around on top of the loose firewood like a ballet dancer, levelling it off before sheeting it. Many of you here will know it is not easy keeping your balance on top of a heap of loose firewood. He did not look a day over sixty without a line on his face and quite fit so I asked him how old he was and he said eighty four! This was confirmed by his grandson the other driver.
I asked him his secret and he said he lives alone but split from his wife over forty years ago, but they are still friends and still go out for coffee together, they just couldn't stand living together
Hats off to all you seniors here who keep yourselves busy in the fresh air! You are really living when you are out there, facing the weather, loving the wildlife and the company.
j-jock
ArboristSite Operative
Wow, that's impressive, but I am not going to use that example as something to shoot for, because I am a lousy dancer. But you're right, the secret, is having something to live for, doing it for yourself, and never giving up. A simple solution, but not necessarily easy.
About 20 years ago, I knew a guy whose face had him looking like he was in his 60s, and his physique would have had you thinking he was in his 40s. He was actually in his early 80s, and his secret to life, was that he felled, cut, chopped and sold firewood, as his retirement hobby. It also reminds me of a woman my wife used to tap dance with, that was in her 90s. Her face showed the wear, but she could move like a young woman. It has to have something to do with keeping active.
I broke 3 ribs this winter, and got pneumonia, bronchitis, and pleurisy. I am back to doing the physical work again, but as I get older, the recovery gets longer and more difficult.
That in itself is one of the hardest things to accept sometimes. Patience has to outlast anxiety, then the injury can become a memory.
It was a setback, a bump in the road, but not something that has beat you. Persevere and you will prevail. There is power in positive thinking.
I say keep moving, it's harder to hit a moving target!
Thanks for sharing your story.
All the best to you,
CB
j-jock
ArboristSite Operative
Thanks
Just found this quote
In fact, some studies have linked retirement to a decline in health. One ongoing study found that retired people, especially those in the first year of retirement, are about 40 percent more likely to experience a heart attack or stroke than those who keep working.22 Feb 2023
In fact, some studies have linked retirement to a decline in health. One ongoing study found that retired people, especially those in the first year of retirement, are about 40 percent more likely to experience a heart attack or stroke than those who keep working.22 Feb 2023
I can believe it. You have to have some purpose in retirement, as well as the motivation to keep to regular habits including things that keep your mind active.
Tony Mayhew
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I personally can't think of anything that keeps me more active ( except splitting my firewood!) Then enjoying trying to get all 136 of my chainsaws all running before the good Lord comes a knocking telling me my time is up and you passed the test! And you will know this depending on if your hair is gray
