I am too freakin' old

Downeaster

Downeaster

Everything in XS
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to be working with my arms up over my head.

The original house was built sometime before The Great War. It was jacked up, set on a full basement and added on to in 1950 or so. At that time "lighting" in the basement consisted of about 4 ceramic Edison base fixtures.

Over the years, I've 'improved' and added on to the lighting - originally with fluorescents and more recently with LED shop lights. The last fluorescent died a few days back and that part of the basement got quite dim so it was time to replace that with an LED.

Typical mission creep, a simple "hang a shop light" job turned into pulling back 15 feet of ancient #12, replacing it with new(er) #16 since everything on that circuit is now LED, replacing one outlet, adding another and stapling everything more-or-less to code.

All of this working overhead on the 80 year old 2x12 floor joists. 3 hours vs. the 10 minutes originally planned. Ibuprofen with lunch methinks...
 
RC4MAN said:
What I dread is getting back up off the floor or ground when I have to get down to do something
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You soon learn to plan ahead on at least two levels:

1. Is there anything else I can do while I'm down here, and

2. What am I going to grab to hoist my crippled old ass off the floor?
 
10-4.com to all comments. Sometimes getting down (gracefully?) to floor level can be a challenge too. Sometimes gravity wins, plain and simple. Like DE, my most recent efforts have been in the basement of the original family home. Suffice to say, there is much to do. But will also offer the bucket used to transport tools to the lower level can sometimes serve to negate navigating stairway to the bathroom...........
 
wesleyonoel said:
But will also offer the bucket used to transport tools to the lower level can sometimes serve to negate navigating stairway to the bathroom...........
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There is a sump basin next to the basement door with a 4" drain to the ditch that runs beside the house. Between the ground water and the clothes washer, it runs pretty much continuously.

Just sayin'...:whistle:
 
bosco659 said:
Just woke up from my afternoon nap - yep I’m officially old!
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I served my last tour in the Navy right here in Downeast Maine 1988-1990. Work was 3 miles from our house (why I extended for one last tour...). I was in the habit of coming home for lunch and grabbing a 15 minute nap on the couch before returning to work.

Been a HUGE fan of naps ever since. They have expanded in duration to some extent, and on occasion I run into a situation that requires a two-nap day...
 
Downeaster said:
to be working with my arms up over my head.

The original house was built sometime before The Great War. It was jacked up, set on a full basement and added on to in 1950 or so. At that time "lighting" in the basement consisted of about 4 ceramic Edison base fixtures.

Over the years, I've 'improved' and added on to the lighting - originally with fluorescents and more recently with LED shop lights. The last fluorescent died a few days back and that part of the basement got quite dim so it was time to replace that with an LED.

Typical mission creep, a simple "hang a shop light" job turned into pulling back 15 feet of ancient #12, replacing it with new(er) #16 since everything on that circuit is now LED, replacing one outlet, adding another and stapling everything more-or-less to code.

All of this working overhead on the 80 year old 2x12 floor joists. 3 hours vs. the 10 minutes originally planned. Ibuprofen with lunch methinks...
Click to expand...

Here you go again with your pessimistic "Old Fart" posts about physical deterioration. Oh, what a drag.
So, you sold your XS650 because you were tired of working on it..... sad.

And while most of the rest of the "older world" is focused on health, vitality, optimism and making the best of our lives.

You know, Maine has a "Death With Dignity Act" (2019); you can just end it all pretty easily. No more need to complain on and on about your aches and pains.



.
 
YamadudeXS650C said:
Here you go again with your pessimistic "Old Fart" posts about physical deterioration. Oh, what a drag.
So, you sold your XS650 because you were tired of working on it..... sad.

And while most of the rest of the "older world" is focused on health, vitality, optimism and making the best of our lives.

You know, Maine has a "Death With Dignity Act" (2019); you can just end it all pretty easily. No more need to complain on and on about your aches and pains.



.
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That's totally uncalled for, Yamadude. We entertain ourselves in various ways here on the forum.... and this is old fart entertainment.

Your comment borders on a personal attack. You know better dude. That's what's sad here...
 
Jim said:
That's totally uncalled for, Yamadude. We entertain ourselves in various ways here on the forum.... and this is old fart entertainment.

Your comment borders on a personal attack. You know better dude. That's what's sad here...
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Old Fart thinking is an attack on youthfulness. It can lead to pessimism and depression.
We need to fight off our society's tendency to think of older people as being useless and decrepit.

"Ageism" is a stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination against people based on their age, affecting both older and younger populations. It manifests through internalized, interpersonal, and institutional forms, impacting health, employment, and social inclusion. Addressing it requires intergenerational solidarity, policy change, and educational initiatives to change harmful narratives.

Thinking about oneself as being an Old Fart is a harmful narrative.

Sometimes, we can be our own worst enemy.


.
 
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YamadudeXS650C said:
Old Fart thinking is an attack on youthfulness. It can lead to pessimism and depression.
We need to fight off our society's tendency to think of older people as being useless and decrepit.

"Ageism" is a stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination against people based on their age, affecting both older and younger populations. It manifests through internalized, interpersonal, and institutional forms, impacting health, employment, and social inclusion. Addressing it requires intergenerational solidarity, policy change, and educational initiatives to change harmful narratives.

Thinking about oneself as being an Old Fart is a harmful narrative.


.
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Can you say humor?
A joke?
Entertainment?

Not sure why, but it looks like you took this as a serious comment on ageing. It's not, it's DE's attempt at humor. And we all know that laughing is good for the body, as well as the soul. You should try it.
 
I've been trying to save the vintage 1955 faucet in the time capsule basement of my Grandparents house. This translates to a LOT of time under the sink, in the cabinet, trying to sweat pipes together. Just getting into position takes planning. Add a hot micro-torch, dropping balls of molten metal, and it's a challenge for this 60 year old body. Oh, and NONE of the water valves fully shut off- I've got 3 closed and still get a drip- makes soldering a challenge.
 
Downeaster said:
the 10 minutes originally planned.
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Ahhhhh the 10min job. Thats customer speak for, "I don't want to pay any more than $10.

An example of the 10 min job from a chippys, (Australian speak for a carpenter), perspective.

Customer rings up with a broken door latch, (handle), and says could you look at it, it is only a 10 min job.....the job is in Bingle Bay, 13 KLM's north of me, 26klm round trip, ( petrol $2.55 per litre) 2.6 litres of fuel used. All 60kph + down to 50kph, (2 klm), then 30kph, (500meteres), through a small community then around a twisty coastal Rd for 4 KLM at 40-50kph.
Trip takes about
15min.
30min round trip.

Check latch/handle... Needs replacing.

Hardware shop is 8klm away. 20min round trip. No I don't carry new door handles around with me. If they send me a pic of existing I can pick up one on the way through. Still takes time to stop and buy,
10 min if they are not busy,
15 min or so if they are.

Set up tools for the job, drills, bits, chisels nailbag ECT
3 min

Remove and replace handle and strike plate.
5min.

Clean any rubbish pack up.
5min.

That is 1 hour at min

That is assuming there were no complications, like really old door and the new latch could be swapped straight in. Possible different set up that needed alterating, door still in good condition, striker plate the same shape.
Any one of these could extend the job by
20min to
2 hours or more
If the door is delaminating or needs replacing.

Without any problems the job has taken 1 hour at min with nothing to impede the perfect job......and we know that perfect jobs are the norm not exception...👀

Now the $10 job has cost $70, (that's if they can find a chippy for $70) + materials, then they tell you how they don't have much money, live in a budget, the dogs vet bil was $300 and they were only in there for 20 min, but they needed the door fixed before they went in holiday to Bali for a week so the house is secure....all the time trying to negotiate a cheaper rate and saying
"I didn't think it would cost this much".

Ahhhhh customers
 
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