Had breakfast this morning with an old union freight hauler.

[Duncanpup]

We worked together at Preston 151 they went under in 99. He’s a great guy he’s 61 I’m 57 and he ended up at ABF i ended up at UPS as road drivers. And in talking we both talked of friends still living and gone some of those guys were absolute characters we talked of the old days to think I have old days to talk about now.

I used to listen to the old timers talk when I started they were WW2 Korea Vietnam vets good solid teamsters. My friend and i he asked if I’m ready retire I said no he’s putting his retirement papers in.

I said I’m working for healthcare is reason I wanna keep 18 & 19 covered while in college. And I’m working maybe to the end this contract will see I wanna keep my health got a new rowing machine I told him I don’t run anymore my knees he smiled. I said I wouldn’t mind working into next contract since Liz is gone.

So I said yea maybe to hope 65 -66 thought of wondering around house alone frightens me so yea maybe into next contract if I’m on right side of the grass.

His retirement hobby he’s gonna raise goats and bunnies I plan on fishing hopefully trout fishing south Eastern Europe Albania to Kazakhstan trout to Mongolia go after Taimen fish I told him. it’s always a pleasure to see old friends.

Just a ramble alone at house today.

[Easterncedar]

1. I always enjoy reading your posts

Just want to say, after my first year of retirement, it can be purely wonderful. I could use a little more wandering around the house alone, to be honest. Having the time to call my own is richness all around.

[multigraincracker]

2. I had planned to never have kids.

Because of that and staying out of debt, I retired from Union job 21 years ago at age 52.
The last 4 or 5 years I made a ton of money doing piece work, loading rail cars with new cars. Very dangerous work.

Met the love of my life and married her a few months ago. Now have a couple of step children, 11 step grand kids and 2 step great grand daughters.

Never know what’s next.

[Easterncedar]

3. I am surprisingly a Nana

My dear departed sweetheart left me 6 years ago. His lovely adult children have sweetly promoted me to nana for their children, and keep in touch although we live far apart. An unexpectedly sweet turn after the grief.

[Easterncedar]

5. Never mind!

I accidentally reposted. And it was hardly worth saying once.

[MLAA]

4. It's a real rites of passage when you actually become one of the old guys.

When I started my first real, full time job there was an old dude named Jack that I was assigned to. There were 4 new grads and each were assigned to a mentor. I lucked out as Jack was a cool old guy who knew everything, was extremely smart but was also very laid back. You would hear ‘go ask Jack’ several times a day in the hallways. He had saved up enough vacation days to take every Friday off at that point. He had been a bachelor most of his life until just a few years earlier he married and was now in a whole new world. Anyway, one day when I was about 50 and had worked for that same large company for nearly 30 years I realized I was now Jack. It was a sobering moment but also an important milestone. I did my best to carry on Jack’s legacy.