dang hot Houston freeways...etc etc retirement -- added before/after tire pix

[lucydad]

All,

Rode the V7R up to MPH.  Dang hot, crowded and slow Houston freeways made it miserable: 59, then I-10.  Ugh.  New rear tire going on, should pick her up Saturday, and be good to go for longer rides.  Will post before (blocked, thin center) and new tire comparison tomorrow. Straight flat riding ratio to curves here is at least 10:1, maybe 20:1. Will it ever cool off?  92F and winds?  Really?  Got dehydrated in the stop and go.

Retirement so far has been busy busy:  new insurance registrations (3), financial account set up, careful record keeping of all the data, still need to do Rx switch over and find at least one new doctor (does not take this insurance).  Retirement so far has been like turning the rudder on a Zeppelin with engines full power, but buffeting winds and the crew is a bit clumsy.  We will get to a new course eventually.  Maybe, perhaps could be made some communication progress with jerk company that did our upstairs AC leak repair.  Ms. LD has been wound up tight and difficult since I came home from Colorado. Main cause has been the jerk manager, and working too many hours.

So when do the relaxed, unplanned, spontaneous retirement days start?  Guess I need to be patient.  All the time on my computer has gotten old, especially with the tricky medical/finance registration stuff. 

Poodles are happy though.  And I go to bed after watching some of the Tonight Show, and sleep to at least 7 AM, no rush out the door onto a freeway to a crap, boring job will a bunch of toxic people stressed with the latest oil crash.

[pehayes]

Rode the V7R up to MPH.  Dang hot, crowded and slow Houston freeways made it miserable:

So when do the relaxed, unplanned, spontaneous retirement days start?

1-wouldn't it have been a lot nicer to lane filter through all that?  Move to California.

2-relaxed retirement????  I'm starting to look for a job so I can have a vacation.  One event or activity after another.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[rboe]

I slept in until a fitness thing got going on Facebook. Now I'm up at 5am walking 4-5 miles with the dogs. Dogs love it!

[Bill Hagan]

1-wouldn't it have been a lot nicer to lane filter through all that?  Move to California.

2-relaxed retirement????  I'm starting to look for a job so I can have a vacation.  One event or activity after another.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

Exactly ... as to # 2, anyway. 

Bill

[Lannis]

One thing you can start thinking about is moving to a place you'd rather live.   When you're working, you live where the work is.   BUT...

When you're retired, you can live WHEREVER YOU WANT TO!
 
It's one of the main benefits!   Don't put up with the crowds and climate down there if you don't have to .....

Lannis

[krglorioso]

1-wouldn't it have been a lot nicer to lane filter through all that?  Move to California.

2-relaxed retirement????  I'm starting to look for a job so I can have a vacation.  One event or activity after another.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

Now, now, Patrick...Suggestin g a Texan should move to California is an insult equivalent to suggesting a Marine should join the Army.  Having served in the Marines and being a property owner in TX and CA, I am qualified to make the analogy.

Ralph

[Sasquatch Jim]

  I'm retired and I don't have any of those problems.  Of course I don't have the adventure of riding on black ice anymore but I'm
 willing to sacrifice that and the pleasure of long slow traffic lines to put up with 75 degree ocean water and young women that wear scanty clothing .
  I do sort of like it here.

[Guzzistajohn]

Oh pa-leeeeeze, you're retired already! Count you're blessings! Start enjoying yourself! Isn't that what you worked for?

[ChuckH]

So when do the relaxed, unplanned, spontaneous retirement days start?...

In our experience, those things never really do occur.  What happens is the void left by not needing to go to work is filled by other activities.  Getting in a regular exercise program so you and Mrs LD can be healthy, enjoy the life you're in and possibly live longer -- probably/certainly becoming more involved with the kids/grandkids activities/programs -- picking up a bit more responsibility at church, since you're now retired and have all that time on your hands -- possibly volunteering at a local food bank or Salvation Army (ringing the bell at Christmas time is fun) -- etc, etc.

Don't worry.  It's like pulling your finger out of a cup of water -- the void fills in faster than you can ever imagine.

Have fun, enjoy.  It's a great time.

[John Ulrich]

December 23rd is my last day.   My weeks will consist of 6 Saturdays and 1 Sunday.  Lots to do.  I might even find time after 4 years to put together my bacon slicer.

[lucydad]

Lannis, all:

Quiet Saturday morning, and a cool/dry front blew through.  Picking V7R up this morning with new, and not thin/blocked rear tire.

As far as location, I tried with Ms. LD to convince her to move to: 1) ABQ, NM area (hell no), 2) Hill Country, TX (nope, nope) and so we are building a retirement house here in Sugar Land, TX.  It is framing/windows/roofing now.  New house will be a grand hacienda, with 3 car garage, and extra garage has large bump out for motorcycle parking.  Someday if a daughter gets married, and has children, we will see on moving, but no way to some parts of the country.

Lane filtering in Houston, during Friday afternoon rush hour?  No thanks, I will leave that to the younger, more aggressive riders.  Guzzi did just fine, and I was patient and we got there safely although I needed all the high end to nearly 7000 rpm to merge onto a I-10 side road due to fast and nasty traffic that did not want to let me in.  Ride home this morning will be a lot more fun.

I have lots of plans.  Right now I am in transition away from the work schedule and focused on the Twilight Zone needs.  In a few weeks I will get past this bridge and move to long desired activities. 

thanks to all

[lucydad]

All,

Ok here are photo comparisons of old and new Pirelli sport demon tires on my V7R.  I got about 6500 miles out of this tire.  Blocking really crapped out the cornering--choppy and a bit bothersome.  The new tire makes a huge difference, the Little Goose is back to her old self:  very sharp handling once again. The STRX will no longer snicker so much.  V7R now ready for longer, and safer rides.



New one courtesy Mike at MPH:

[jbell]

Lucydad, well first, congratulations.  The relaxed, easy days???  As soon as you shake off that work ethic, you'll be okay.  With so much free time staring you in the face, it feels just wrong not to be doing something and so you find yourself doing every project you put off all those years and then filling in the free time with volunteering, special interest groups and/or another job.  After a bit, you'll cut back down to a manageable level.....Jack, retired three years with two part time jobs, VFW, Submarine Vets, Patriot Guard Riders, a full day of volunteer work once a week and a new grandson.  It's all a matter of balance and you'll figure out what's right for you.  I especially enjoy it when a young clerk/cashier tells me to have a great day and I lean over the counter and whisper, "They're all great when you're retired."  Then wait for that wistful look in their eyes and say, "It just takes 50 years of hard work to get here."  Their expression is priceless.

[lucydad]

Jack,

I really appreciate you sharing your experience and wisdom.  Retirement is a new world for me.  And yes I have SO MANY projects I want to do, places to ride, camping, fixing, involvement in organizations, and more time with friends.  I will find my own rhythm with time.  I think it will take a few months, at least to not feel in catch-up mode with so much of my life postponed and sucked into the work demands.

[azguzzirep]

I still have a few years to go, 9, but I am planning!

First, many Guzzi rides through Europe (when my wife let's me escape the garden)

I also would like to become a chemical engineer, spending some free time converting beer and whiskey into urine.

Tom

[oldbike54]

I still have a few years to go, 9, but I am planning!

First, many Guzzi rides through Europe (when my wife let's me escape the garden)

I also would like to become a chemical engineer, spending some free time converting beer and whiskey into urine.

Tom

 An "Alchemist" as it were 

  Dusty

[Lannis]

Lannis, all:

Quiet Saturday morning, and a cool/dry front blew through.  Picking V7R up this morning with new, and not thin/blocked rear tire.

As far as location, I tried with Ms. LD to convince her to move to: 1) ABQ, NM area (hell no), 2) Hill Country, TX (nope, nope) and so we are building a retirement house here in Sugar Land, TX.  ....

thanks to all

Hey, if you're where you want to be, that's great.   Sometimes being in a familiar place where you know people and know how it works, it's worth putting up with the hard parts like horrific traffic and almost unbearable weather.   

At least now that you don't have to travel for work, the "rush hour" part isn't a player any more!

Here where I live, it's by no means perfect.    There are some "small town" attitudes and features that are hard to put up with, but I've lived here most of my life (when not working or going to school elsewhere) and I know how people think and how things are, and although I've traveled extensively, I can't think of anyplace else I've been that I'd rather live ...

Your life will change in little ways you haven't thought about yet ... !   I'm only 10 months into it, and I'm still getting surprised ....

Lannis

[nunzio]

Now, now, Patrick...Suggestin g a Texan should move to California is an insult equivalent to suggesting a Marine should join the Army.  Having served in the Marines and being a property owner in TX and CA, I am qualified to make the analogy.

Ralph

Since when do you have to be "qualified"?

A lot of people must have missed that memo!! 

[oldbike54]

Since when do you have to be "qualified"?

A lot of people must have missed that memo!! 

 Well ... there is that whole "Native Texan" thing  Or , like Hank Hill , be given special dispensation having been  born in New York City 

  Dusty

[lucydad]

All good points.  Reasons to stay:  friends, and my wife is very happy working at her church pre-school, easy move, pleasant spring/winter/fall, and if I ever want to consult as a geophysicist:  also possible.  Houston has pluses and minuses to be sure.  My wife's entire family is in the San Antonio and Midland/Odessa area.  And I can escape in the summer to our cabin in SW Colorado.

This Monday will be interesting:  no travel, and no work.  But I still have a long punch list of retirement medical administrative duties to finish. But, no 5 AM work. 

[oldmxdog61u]

Just spent a long weekend in Alpine Tx. Wow. I could retire there!

[canuguzzi]

Retirement is only a transition from working for others to working for yourself. Give yourself two years to really settle in and get used to being able to say "not today".

[lucydad]

Norge, all:

I am definitely in a transition that I like.  Virtually all of my time/energy/focus has been on what I will define as productive project.  The transition of financial/medical items has pretty much concluded.  Today our house repair crew (blown AC leak, major damage last July) is delivering our upstairs items, finally.  Wow this has taken forever.  AND I get back my camping gear!!  Hopefully everything is returned.

Yesterday I had a lunch discussion with a previous employer manager.  Essentially he is very interested in bringing me in for consulting in 2016. We will see what happens.  He needs executive approval, and a budget to pay me (no free work), so if this evolves it could be a good transition. He knows I am an expert in his area of responsibility.  Good guy I think.

As far as Guzzi content:  when we sort thru the upstairs inventory, and I find my long stored camping stuff I plan on:  actually putting together my new tent, assembling my camping stuff, putting the side and big top rack bag on the V7R, and then doing a test short camping run on the bike.  This is a long awaited dream. 

Poodles love having me home.  I really enjoy finding my own sleep patterns and not engaging in the insane Houston commutes. I have a lot of fix-it projects, clean-it projects and then the really huge preparation to market our current house next spring.  New retirement house is coming along nicely.  Wow it will be fantastic. 

I think if I do end up with the consulting gig, I may save the money for a fun car.  I am thinking maybe the new Mazda Miata. 

[rocker59]

LD,

Why is your wife adverse to leaving Sugarland?  Is she local to that area?

ABQ has its warts, but someplace like Bernalillo would be better.

I don't have anything against Houston metro, but were I retired, I'd be looking to get away from all that.

[lucydad]

Rocker,

Ms. LD is definitely smarter than I am.  She has a church pre-school teaching job she loves, friends, and activities.  She is native to West Texas, and we have been in Sugar Land 15 years.  SL is not as bad as Houston.  Likewise I have friends, activities, a great church and one of the best Moto Guzzi dealers in the USA.  Some day, and that will be a while, we may move to a more 4-season climate.  Meanwhile I can escape to SW CO and our cabin in the summers. 

Plus the adjustment to retirement is easier without layering another major change, like a major location move,  at the same time.  If the consulting gig works out (maybe 5-10 days a month), I can keep a finger in the geophysics business, and bag the cost of a new personal car at the same time. 

[Texas Turnip]

Some people retire to the big city so they have the fine places to eat, the theater etc.

I couldn't wait to get out of the Dallas/Ft. Worth megamess of 2 plus million people that are all running late with a cell phone in their ear, Now, I hardly go into Tyler because it has a population of 100K.

The perfect place for me to live is when you can pee off the front porch.

Tex

[Fuzzy]

Back porch might be better, depending on the wind

[lucydad]

We have lived in large cities for years.  Before Houston were:  Lafayette, Tunis, Denver area, Midland.  I grew up in Durango, CO and it was about 10K people at the time.  A constant frustration of small town Colorado:  tough to find much, although the town is heads and shoulders above other local communities.  We have incredible restaurants, medical care, shopping, music, culture (extremely diverse) and transportation here.  Driving can definitely suck.  Yes, there are always pros and cons.

[jcctx]

Just spent a long weekend in Alpine Tx. Wow. I could retire there!

One of my favorite places in this big ole world!!!
 

[Jose Mendez]

Rocker,

                  "... and one of the best Moto Guzzi dealers in the USA." 

Here, Here.