This is exactly the mantra of my 82 year old FIL who lives 11 houses down from me. He was a CPA for big oil who retired at 50. Living in Boulder for almost three decades he took up hiking and became the leader of several local hiking groups. He went from 25 years of 6 days a week, 10-12 hour days, living on Pepto Bismol to a master of the Rockies. He's still taking hiking trips today - albeit not near as frequently.
In some way I'm fortunate that my line of work (as well as some of my personal interests) have kept me relatively fit. But at 55 the higher mileage is definitely starting to set in. I can definitely say that my alcohol and weed habit is my biggest obstacle these days. Can't not take that seriously at this point.
Oh c'mon man, f'n primadonna HVAC guys, you guys got it a helluva lot lighter than a lot of guys on a jobsite. In your position, get a couple of sawed off short young guys to run duct work in attics(or crawlspaces), a well organized vehicle and a good hand truck, you got it made. You, specifically, what're you gonna get, a paper cut? Heh, I'm just kidding you. I've tried to steer two of my nephews towards that line of work, it's a good line of work.
A lot of things I could say about the whole thing, your post, getting older, etc, but don't reckon I'll go too long. Just say what's on my mind...I've been known to view this whole forum thing as an outlet at times, therapy...
An old friend died, last Friday. Older brother of my best friend as a kid. Younger brother died 2010, 46 years old I think. Alcohol. A legend. I think about him nearly everyday. I've never met anyone like him, a real character. The things he would say, if I had thought about it at the time a million songs could've been written just from the turns of phrase. Should have jotted it down. The stories...
He got up with this woman, I'm not sure if he knew she was married or not. Husband comes home, Gary quickly exits backdoor to make a getaway, a garbage truck is going by, so he jumps in the back, and away he went. One time sideswiped a parked car in a narrow street in the old neighbor, drunk, I'm sure. His vehicle disabled, he reaches under the seat for a fresh bottle, waiting for the
authorities to arrive. Had weed on him that he didn't get rid of, told the officer, "thats some good shit, you ought to keep that for yourself".
For some reason the weed never made it to court, good lawyer he probably had on speed dial argued the law couldnt provw he drank the liquor before of after the accident. He got off. I did have the good sense to realize at some point I couldn't hang with him anymore. I love the guy, but couldn't go down that road.
I don't think older brother ever got over it, Gary's death. That and the death of his older sister, heart attack I think. Suffered an injury some years back, which led to pain killers. I don't know how/why he died, I'm a bit out of the loop, my guess fentanyl. Successful guy, started working for a soft drink company back when we were all still squirts, worked there for years, owned several properties. Marriage to one of my old girlfriends, had a little girl, grown now I suppose. Marriage didn't end well from what I understand. Last I saw him me and one of my older brothers were driving through the old neighborhood and there he was out on the front porch, so we stopped by for a visit. Didn't seem the same guy. We were talking or touching on how about how nearly all of the guys from the old neighborhood are dead. Well, more than half, well over. He says, "Well, Gary is dead. ______(older sister), she's dead. I reckon I'm next, haha. Just kidding." I don't think he was. What a waste. Me and my two older brothers, averages, lucky to still be here. Middle brother had cancer two years ago, hopefully cancer gone for good. It all makes you think, though.
Anybody seen our good friend TAE around? I don't recall seeing him lately. TAE's a good guy. Seems life hasn't knocked the flowers from his hair...what hair he has left. Ha!
I'm an asshole.
Some say life is short. I would say at times life is long. Until it's not. I guess it's a little like swinging that mini sledge tearing down...scuse, dismantling that old barn. Suffered a few broken/split boards, shit happens, but the good far outweighs the bad. Only regret not wearing ear protection. Keep banging away at it, and salvage what you can. In the meantime don't forget to take a moment to look and see the beauty all around you. In the end, the good stacked neatly, for the rest just burn that shit.
Then again, what the hell do I know.
Yeah, went long, again.