realize where we are, I mean really, I'm 51, not old, not young, just some where in between. I have lots of ideas, guess I'll be the judge of the outcome, But I have some crazy dreams of stuff I think I'm capable of doing and staying safe at the same time. Just wondering, where are you??????
Taking a whole lot more risks in life just doing things. I figure what the hell if I screw it up it's my shit and I'll either live with it or fix it. Gutting 30% of my house and remodeling some aspect of every room at the same time except the two bathrooms. Yep, me and some pals, no "professionals".
It doesn't matter if you're talking cars or making mountains out of molehills but I understand EXACTLY what you're saying grits, and I have no answer, but I'm happy to ponder the question.
New business, new location, new attitude,same cars, same wife, same kids,....O... I'm sorry, the kitchen.
I'm 44, and I'm a hotrod builder. At least that's how I feel. Unfortunately, life has put a severe hold on my hotrod building. Now that's not a novel problem to have, I know. But, I do ponder (A LOT) about were I'm at, how I got here, how lucky I am to have family and home, and how pissed off I feel about not being able to build the hotrods in my head from the cars in my shop-RIGHT NOW! I don't ever want it to be about ego but I feel like I have alot to leave to the world in many ways including the hotrods in my head, if only the world would slow down and allow me to do so! As I reread this it sounds so petty to even me, but I feel like if I could just go off somewhere to scream off some of this pent up steam, I could once again relax and start calculating when I again will begin to live up to my hot rod building persona. Can someone just stop the world from rotating till that happens. I like boobies too, but I'm more of an butt admirer.
I have never hesitated to blindly fumble through what I believed to be possible. Sometimes I have succeeded, others I have failed, but I have always enjoyed the adventure.
you guys get to work on those cars and enjoy the good life you have ahead of you when you get old and slow you will look back and have regrets, if you have not tried your hardest to achieve all the things you wanted to do i had good health and skills and did a lot of stuff like motorcycle and car racing, lots of fabrication and other fun stuff and did a lot of it on a no$$ budget now am old and tired , life has changed along with my expectations YOU GUYS.get back to work and build some stuff that will still be amazing 35 years from now
I'm 40, one young son, one good wife, decent job, nice house, 2 harleys, 55 chevy project.....where am I ??? Sittin' pretty good...as long as the decent job holds out. I can't run out and buy everything I want or need to finish my car right away, but I can do the labor and buy a few parts every 2 weeks.....and I can build it in my head for free. I'm not doing what I love to make a living, but I can stand what I do, and I make a good living, so I just go with the flow. I think if a person sits back and analyzes their life too much, they may be headed for trouble. Maybe I just don't want to take a lot of chances right now, I would dearly love to pack up and head for the Black Hills in S. Dakota, but WE ( my family and I) have it pretty good here, even if we don't "love" it, so it's hard to make the leap, especially in the current economy. Don't know if this is the sort of post your after either, but that's about where I'm at.....
I hear ya Grits, I have crazy stuff in my head to. I'm up all night building in my head then a few hours of dreaming about it. When I'm in my shop working time goes by so fast and I never get enough done. This hot rod stuff is taking over my mind, wonder how I will feel once my first build is done?
Chris---you are right where you should be---head and shoulders above many people. Keep plugging away man.
hang in there Grits -where would we be without ideas or the "let's take that hill" guts...it's like my flathead motor for my 39 cpe when everyone says just small block it - you stupid......all the while a 454s going together for the shop truck...some things make sense and some would seem to make us senseless...but it's me that keeps me going..
I'm 62...and to quote a current song on the country charts: "God is great....beer is good...and people are crazy." that just about what it boils down to in the final analysis. I mostly choose to focus on the God is great part of it...the rest will eventually fall into place for most of us anyway, be it good or be it bad....Kharma.
Grits, I'm glad you asked the question. I'm about your age, and time seems to be flying by faster and faster. rarerodder...I feel the same as you, in regards to the cars I want to finish, but haven't yet. I'm gettin' a little bit pissed too! Hahahaha!!! I have bought myself a little grief by instead of just wanting to build one car, I insist on having a small freakin' fleet. My '29 roadster for bombin' around, '37 Chevy coupe for tearin' up the streets, '47 Hudson coupe for goin' to church and such, '53 Chevy pickup for just drivin and haulin stuff, (and wowing the local farmers) They are all in various states of completion, but I'm gettin' there. The Hudson is the nicest one as of now. This year has been a bit of a bummer, 'cause non of 'em are presently roadworthy. (I broke a pison in the Hudson) I can't do it all at once, and often, I've seriously considered gettin' rid of 'em all so that I can build the roadster that I've dreamed about since I was a kid. The original idea was to enjoy the roadster as a young man...woops...too late! Hahahahaha!!! But I think I'll continue on as I've been. It'll come. Part of the problem has been the loss of my career as a machine-tool designer. As soon as they went digital, they started sending the work over-seas. Idiots. So now, I'm training to become a nurse, believe it or not. I'll be working again soon as a Certified Nurse Aide until I become a registered nurse. I can do that 'til I'm 65-70 if I stay healthy. My wife Sandy, has been so supportive in regards to my hobby and career-change...I love her dearly. My girlfriend previous to Sandy informed me that I was "allowed" to have only one special car...then eventually dumped me. When Sandy and I got together, and she saw my '52 Chevy, she stuck her head into the car, and exclaimed, "Wow!...this car has character!"...and proceeded to pull me into the back seat for kisses! We've been together now for over 23 yrs., and I have a barnfull of cool old cars. We live on a huge farm in Michigan, and we both feel blessed. Life is good. The body aches sometimes, but I keep on pushin'. Our hearts and souls are still young. But I do feel "If I don't do it now, it's not gonna happen". The next couple of years are going to be very telling. We'll see. I tell all the younger folks that care to listen...to hurry up and do whatever you're gonna do, and I'm trying to take my own advice. Good wishes to everyone, and good luck to everything you guys do...inclunding you, Grits! - Rick
I am 47. My wife and i will have a empty nest with in a year or so. Our youngest of 4 girls will be graduationing for High school. I have a 42 45 H-D bobber that i pieced together its been runing a year . It took longer than i wanted it to but family came first and i enjoy rideing it every chance i get. I work with my Dad everyday we farm and run a few cows together aint going to get rich but keep the bills paid as long as my Wife keeps drawing a pay check . Have the remains of a 29 chevy roadster that i keep building in my head . Hope to start on it soon. But for now our health is good ,food on the table,roof over head and life is good. I am Thankfull
I just turned 48.....my Body that is couse' as far as I'm concerned I'm in my mid thirties.....but know exactly what your talking about Im on my third proyect in as many years....and like I like to put it "life keeps getting in the way" but what a sweet life it is....but the way I see it I wanna enjoy my cars while I still can....so I keep keeping on..... oh yea....and I like boobies too !!
I am 51, have 2 kids on their own [not supporting them ], and a great wife. She doesnt mind my cars, actually wants me to get my 56 F100 finished. Dont have alot of money but so far have my health. Figure the last check I will write will be to the undertaker and it will bounce after I'm planted.
willymakeit...Hahahahahahaha!!!!!!!! Your H.A.M.B. name is perfect for this thread! As my old buddy (79yrs old) and Ford guru Roy Montgomery says, "Every day on the right side of the grass is a good one." - Rick
Im 20 years old, so many ideas i could fill a book, got so sad looking over my 2" binder filled to the brim with car designs & parts list's I burned the whole thing. Keeping the 53' From breaking, retaining all its originality without updating or restoring is a full time job, But my REAL job takes all my time up and i get kinda down knowing when im working delivering other peoples parts, i could be working on my own car. But i got a lotta time to figure things out. I'm doing pretty well so far, dont plan on quitting anytime soon.
I third what 3 dub said... Doc (blasted)... thats not true cause i saw you staring at my boobies before Hehehehe Grits.. I would ponder this question more if I had your talent...
I'll be 59 in December, car projects haven't seen much progress in years, but I really never had any burning desire to finish any of them. Has anyone lived long enough to pay off the kids college bills? I guess it would be fun to take the Lyndwood down the quarter, or finish the '30 Roadster I found in 1962. Somehow watching all the HAMB builds is more fun than working on my own projects.
I am in Charlotte, NC. Same place I've been since I was 13. Taking care of my family, building and driving my cars, riding my Harley, but most important, counting my many blessings!
I laughed when the Dr. said I was approaching middle-age. Got hurt on my job and retired after they found a problem that would keep me from working my job. Hey I had almonst 30yrs in. I have 3 cars to fool around with..a couple are like money pits. You creative guys here make me wish I was as handy when I see some of your creations. I hope to get my 3 year re-build of my 47 Chevy done before the summer. I am like a kid can't wait to get it done. I'm in the market for a real old school car and get a lot of ideas here. Lots of ideas now it sure would be nice to hit the lottery.
I'll turn 64 next year, two years into "bonus time" after blowing out the Mitral Valve in my heart and getting an open heart valve repair. The doc said if I had waited a couple more days I probably wouldn't be here. No regrets where I'm at. Got a wonderful wife, (of 43 years in January) who goes along with my insanity and is signed up as "crew chief" on the HAMB gas rail we are building. Life is good and we are enjoying our retirement.......looking forward to the first passes with the HA/GR in 2010.
Life is short, do what makes you happy. You can't live forever and you can't take it with you. Sometimes you just gotta jump in there and do it without thinking about it too much.
The Jalopy Journal
