I'm retired and open to invitations to Roadfood events of any kind. Waddya got?

I just wanted to announce that I'm retired now after working my @$$ off since I was 14. I'm 71 now and available for most all road food events, meet and greets, etc, etc. Please let me know what you've got and I'll try my best to be there.

Good for you!   Live long and enjoy eating!

I envy you, my friend! But, my day will come!

Twinwillow:  I am also retired and my age is close to yours.  I have not worked since June of 2010 and to tell you the truth, I miss it.  I have way too much time on my hands.  I try to attend as many RF events that I can.  The last one was the Glee Club event in Raleigh in February and every now and then, some of my RF friends stop in Knoxville or I meet them in other cities.
 
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Thanks, Paul. My biggest fear is twofold. Gaining (more) weight and being bored.

Congratulations buddy !!!!
We are always welcome to another newbie on the Annual Jersey Hot Dog Tour . This yr on Sat Sept 24th .
I too am retired , at the tender age of 44 , now 46 , busier than when I was working with a 6 yr old and 2 yr old at home .
I have the City of NY to thank for my generous pension and say a prayer every day that I was able to last twenty yrs through everything as a PO in the NYPD
God Bless all that have made it to retirement
Benzee

And God bless you, Benzee. In my next life, I'm coming back as some sort of government employee!
And politics aside, Thank goodness for social security and medicare!

TwinWillow----I have been retired so long I don't even have a calendar around anymore.  I only remember Sunday of the 7 days because that is special.  But right after Mass I am retired again for another week.
 
Haven't gained an ounce---actually went from 210 to 200 and have stayed that way without caring.
 
I find that ----Hobby's, activities, dancing, chasing babes, swimming, Roadfood, doing some design work to keep my hand and brain from forgetting what they used to know, etc---make the days fly by. 
 
Pretty soon it will be 2011 and another year will have flown by.
Tempus figits. Have fun TWIN WILLOW, enjoy your retirement.
 
 

Mariner ~ Thanks for your thoughtful comments. I'm encouraged by what you've said.
I'd love to "chase babes" but, I'm afraid I wouldn't remember what to do if I actually caught one.
I do plan to do some volunteering at a local "no kill" animal shelter.

Twinwillow


And God bless you, Benzee. In my next life, I'm coming back as some sort of government employee!
And politics aside, Thank goodness for social security and medicare!

Congratulations on your retirement(s).  And, as one who is still forking out for SS and Medicare, will do so for many years to come, but will in all likelihood never see a dime from it, you're welcome.

I may be reading you wrong  but you  certainly sound resentful to me.  I am sure that Twinwillow has paid into SS for   50 years and  well deserves his SS check.  I feel like I deserve mine!

Greymo


I may be reading you wrong  but you  certainly sound resentful to me.  I am sure that Twinwillow has paid into SS for   50 years and  well deserves his SS check.  I feel like I deserve mine!

 
Thanks, Greymo. Actually, I've paid into SS for 57 long years! I'm entitled and have no regrets about accepting the money. Look at all the very rich people that don't refuse to accept their Social Security check.

rjb--don't blame the recipients---look a lot deeper.

I, too, felt that rjb was a little resentful. I have a good 14 years left until I can even think about ss.I have paid into it since I was 14 and able to work.Good for my friends that get it, and hopefuly its still available when I reach retirement age. Otherwise, I will deal with it then.

Sundancer7


Twinwillow:  I am also retired and my age is close to yours.  I have not worked since June of 2010 and to tell you the truth, I miss it.  I have way too much time on my hands.  I try to attend as many RF events that I can.  The last one was the Glee Club event in Raleigh in February and every now and then, some of my RF friends stop in Knoxville or I meet them in other cities.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Paul,
You have to get active and out of the house. I'm retired and can't find the time to do all the things I want to do. Just got home this evening from 65 days on the road covering over 8,000 miles. Now I am way behind on my chores and to do lists.

Ann, I don't think rjb was resentful but pessimistic about the future and whether or not SS and MC will be there for him (or, her) as well.
 
I think all of you have been so kind and encouraging with your words.
I thank you all. Sometimes, I think of all of us here as a "second family".
I've met many here in person but not enough. I hope the future will change that.

Davydd

Sundancer7


Twinwillow:  I am also retired and my age is close to yours.  I have not worked since June of 2010 and to tell you the truth, I miss it.  I have way too much time on my hands.  I try to attend as many RF events that I can.  The last one was the Glee Club event in Raleigh in February and every now and then, some of my RF friends stop in Knoxville or I meet them in other cities.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Paul,
You have to get active and out of the house. I'm retired and can't find the time to do all the things I want to do. Just got home this evening from 65 days on the road covering over 8,000 miles. Now I am way behind on my chores and to do lists.

 
8,000 miles. Exactly why I'm thinking of selling my beautiful Jaguar and buying something like a Chevy Volt or Prius. Or, something in that direction. Every time I fill my tank it's another $50.00 plus dollars! I want to get out on the road but I don't want to spend a large portion my limited income making the oil companies rich(er).

In that 8,000 plus miles we take our "house" with us. There is more than cost of fuel in traveling though our fill-ups are usually $75 or more to take us 400 mile down the road. Our overnight stay cost is where we save. We probably average about $5 per night from 0 to $35 in range. We also save on food with a full kitchen on board so we eat out while on the road not much more than when we are at home.
 
Most importantly in two months we visited 6 national parks, 6 national monuments, numerous state parks, museums, arboretums, events, parks, historical homes, caves, migrating sandhill cranes, etc. We rallied with two different groups in Arizona and Illinois with Class B camper vans and I attended my 18 consecutive yearly high school reunion. We met a lot of interesting people in campgrounds around the country. Surprisingly a lot of people on the road fulltime. We stick mostly to the blue highways. Only 6% of our travel is on Interstate highways. We drove the most challenging mountain passes we could find. We even managed to get on the Indianapolis 500 Race Track and cross the famed brick finish line.
 

Looks and sounds, great! What a way to go!

Congratulations on your retirement.
 
I dream to live Davydd's retirement.

mar52


Congratulations on your retirement.

I dream to live Davydd's retirement.

Thank you.
Yup, Davydd's got it figured out right. I'm envious.

Davydd,
Anxious to read your Trip Report, Especially the AZ-NM portion

I'll be 71 in Nov and will be working until they put me in the box!
Some bad financial decisions in my life have put me behind the financial 8 ball. I still enjoy life and while painful, have no regrets.

Davydd:  I have the means to travel and actually I do more than I really want to.  I recently bought a Miata MX5 retractable hardtop and belong to a Miata club and they travel somewhere every weekend.  I do some of it with them.
 
I liked the pic of your RV crossing the brick at Indy and I also noticed who was driving.  Way to go and I sure do like your style.  Incidentally, that is a great looking RV.  I admire your travel spirit.  Personally I have traveled extensively through all 50 states, all of Canada, Most of central America and South America and all of Europe.  The thought of those long flights across the Atlantic really bbores me.  I use to have to do that once a month in to Germany and France.
 
Actually I do a lot at home like birding gardening, landscaping.  I just planted 30 knockout roses in front of my fence.  They bloom from spring till frost continually.  However enough is enough.  I sincerely want to go back to work and I believe our company will start again soon.  I just get bored doing the home thing.  Just me and my ugly dog
 
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Paul,
 
I'm an architect and in my employment years working for Target Stores I traveled extensively by airplane and rented cars to just about every metropolitan area in the country. Oddly now I skirt the major cities and stick to the country. I also now abhor air travel. Last fall we endured nearly a full day of air travel to get to Rome, Italy and back again. I thought I was done with that but I guess you have to to travel overseas.
 
Foodbme,
 
I've slowed down somewhat on roadfood (I'm saying that after eating three pasties in the UP the past two days).    As we get more adept with our travel we do more cooking in. But I did have my first ever Horseshoe, Runza and Sonoran Hot Dog this trip. I had an ambitious agenda for pork tenderloin sandwiches and ended up passing on most. So any trip report would be mostly scenery.
 
 

If you travel and want to see a variety of plant life I would recommend:
 
Dow Gardens, Midland, Michigan
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska, MN (near my home)
Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum, Tucson, AZ
Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, AZ
 
We caught the desert in full bloom in early April in Phoenix and Tucson. Dow Gardens and our own Minnesota Landscape Arboretum are the two best we've been to for trees and flowers.
 
Our national parks are our national treasures. We travel mostly in the off-season so don't have to put up with the massive summer crowds. Surprisingly there are a lot of national monuments that are actually better than some of our national parks. This trip we searched out some more Ancient Pueblan ruins in Arizona and New Mexico. This fall we are committing ourselves to another Class B RV rally in Texas and then a trip through the Gulf states over to Florida. Hope it is a slow hurricane season, but if so, we can quickly head inland.

Foodbme


I'll be 71 in Nov and will be working until they put me in the box!
Some bad financial decisions in my life have put me behind the financial 8 ball. I still enjoy life and while painful, have no regrets.

 
I feel your pain. I should have been smarter about my own finances when younger. I was actually a millionaire at one time. All gone now. Thinking about a reverse mortgage on my home to help. Buying a hybrid car will help a lot, too.
If I do that, I think I'll be OK. I'll also keep my (certified) silver appraisal service going. Especially, online with a new website. I only need to do a few a month to make it worthwhile.

Davydd


Paul,

I'm an architect and in my employment years working for Target Stores I traveled extensively by airplane and rented cars to just about every metropolitan area in the country. Oddly now I skirt the major cities and stick to the country. I also now abhor air travel. Last fall we endured nearly a full day of air travel to get to Rome, Italy and back again. I thought I was done with that but I guess you have to to travel overseas.

Foodbme,

 
I agree about flying nowadays. I hate it. It took me a little over 24 hours to get to a an olive orchard  "tourismo" in a small town in Italy a few years ago. "Planes, Trains, & Automobiles" all over again.
And when I do travel by car in the good old USA, it will be strictly on the small roads to slow down, meet the people, and eat the local foods. I HATE INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS!

Twinwillow

Greymo


I may be reading you wrong  but you  certainly sound resentful to me.  I am sure that Twinwillow has paid into SS for   50 years and  well deserves his SS check.  I feel like I deserve mine!

Thanks, Greymo. Actually, I've paid into SS for 57 long years! I'm entitled and have no regrets about accepting the money. Look at all the very rich people that don't refuse to accept their Social Security check.

No reason at all you shouldn't take the SS $.  As you rightly point out, you're entitled.  Same with Benzee, who looks to be on track to receive his retirement pay for 2X as many years (or longer, with any luck at all) that he worked.  Those were the deals you signed onto, so enjoy your entitlements.  No resentment here.
 
I'm entitled too.  So's my neighbor's 22 year old who's just starting out.  We both signed on to the same deal.  The difference is that, unlike you & Benzee, we're highly unlikely (as in NFW) to see any of the money we've paid in over the years.  So in addition to helping to fund your and Bezee's golden years, I and my neighbor's kid need to take total care of our own.  C'est notre vie.

Davydd:   I have been to the Arizona Sonoran zoo-museum several times.  The last time I was there it rained like hell and flooded the flatlands below the museum.  I also saw a rattlesnake in the bird exhibit.  It seemed that it did not worry the birds at all.  I called the attention to the zookeepers and they said that they see them all the time????
 
I enjoyed your trip with you via pics.
 
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

I'm hoping that my SS clicks in when my unemployment runs out.
 
Reality says I'll be leaving California to live in the state of Poverty.

Personally IMHO, regardless of what some Republicans tell you, Americans will not allow Social Security to die. They're are just way too many folks out there both R & D that will need it as they get older. Although, I think Medicare might change from what it is now. Please! I don't mean to inject politics into this thread but, just trying to reassure those of you out there that are in similar situations as mar52.

Its funny you say that, twinwillow.I was thinking the same thing while reading earlier posts-I dont think  SS will die, even for me.Its not like people get rich off of it-my Father, who made over $100,000 a year as a professor in 1995( he had to also consult alot and be the head of his department) only received $1000.00 a month when he retired after 40 years of working.Not much to live on.We all have to plan as best we can. As Foodbme stated, I made some foolish money mistakes, but hopefully will recover when I am "of age" to retire. In the meantime, I hope to live vicariously thru your retirement adventures!!!
On that note-we should have a roadfood adventure in Milwaukee!

annpeeples

 
On that note-we should have a roadfood adventure in Milwaukee!

 
Second that, Ann. But, wait till I get my hybrid. I never want to fly again.

Hello all ,
I do hope to collect at least twice as long as I worked , hopefully longer , and I do   wish that the economy would improve for everyone .
While many of my friends were working on Wall street in the 80s and 90s making six figures and five figure bonnuses , I was patrolling the streets of the South Bronx and Washington Hts in NYC  and getting my  you know what busted for doing so for less than what a custodian made at the time in NYC .
No complaints because I knew after  twenty yrs I could retire with a pension , wasnt easy , but it was done .
Now these same guys are laid off , unemployed , one friend was working at BJ's stocking shelves and living in his parents basement .
The test was there for the taking , I took it .
Love and Mercy - Brian Wilson
 
Benzee

Well put, Benzee!

Twinwillow,  If you are coming to Pittston anytime soon, let me know and I will build a RF event around your visit  
 
If I'm ever in "The Big D" again, I'll look you up.  Maybe we can do a Texas Red Tour with PapaJoe8

Many thanks, Joe. I 'll take you upon that one day. PapaJoe knows me. He's been in my shop. Sorry to sound ignorant but, where is Pittston in relationship to other cities in Pa? 

Twinwillow

Many thanks, Joe. I 'll take you upon that one day. PapaJoe knows me. He's been in my shop. Sorry to sound ignorant but, where is Pittston in relationship to other cities in Pa? 

 
Boy, you don't get out much do you?  Pittston is right between Hughestown and Exeter 
 
BTW, What did you retire from doing?
 
 

I've been an antique silver dealer and appraiser in Dallas since 1968.
I see Pittston is near Wilkes-Barre. Joe, you've got to realize, being in Texas is like Pittston could be on the moon. (LOL)

Did you appraise coins?

Pittston is a place you go through when you have to go some
place important. 
Ann Peeples if you want to live vicariously use Seafarer John and the Sundancer Kid as your models . Or DAVY , now there is a retirement
for you.  Those guys know how to live it up.
 
 

Ooops!

Greymo


Did you appraise coins?

 
Sorry, no I don't.

the ancient mariner


Pittston is a place you go through when you have to go some
place important. 
Ann Peeples if you want to live vicariously use Seafarer John and the Sundancer Kid as your models . Or DAVY , now there is a retirement
for you.  Those guys know how to live it up.

Second that!

Twinwillow


Personally IMHO, regardless of what some Republicans tell you, Americans will not allow Social Security to die. They're are just way too many folks out there both R & D that will need it as they get older. Although, I think Medicare might change from what it is now. Please! I don't mean to inject politics into this thread but, just trying to reassure those of you out there that are in similar situations as mar52.

Well, you DID interject politics into this thread!

Per what many of us have discussed in this thread, I'm sure some of you will find this article regarding Social Security on Yahoo today interesting if not pertinent to your own situations.
 
http://finance.yahoo.com/focus-retirement/article/112844/3-ways-social-security-payments-being-cut-smartmoney?mod=fidelity-livingretirement&cat=fidelity_2010_living_in_retirement

Twinwillow
We don't have any roadfood events in Tulsa. But we could make something up if you are in the neighborhood! I have been to Dallas often for meetings and try to get in at least one roadfood type stop. Made it to a few you have recommended over the years. My favorite chinese place in the Big D metro is First Chinese BBQ. I love great chinese. Thank you for recommending this place it is awesome!

Hi, HDtravlr1. 
Yup, First Chinese BBQ in Richardson (Dallas) is still the best Cantonese Chinese restaurant between San Francisco and NYC. We have so many good little ethnic restaurants in Dallas now. It's truly becoming a very multi-cultural city. Try and let me know when you're in Dallas, next time.
Better than suggest where to eat, more valuable is tell you where not to eat.