Fifty Plus (50+) - Just to make you lot jealous and pretty OT aswell.

Two weeks time and I retire. Time to get on and do the gardening- Maintain the house and ride when energy and weather permit whenever I like. I will be taking a drop in money coming in but with a bit of careful Budgeting I will be OK.

BUT----A few things are getting in the way that will eat into my spare time. A Hosepipe ban will be coming in by the end of the month so that means I have to Set the pool up today. This would not normally be done for about another month so that is this weekend gone. Next weekend and that camper van is going on it's first trip so lots of work to do in the week.

And Now the jealousy bit. We have a few "Green" initiatives going on in the UK- instigated by the government to save the environment a bit. A big campaign is going on to get Solar Panels to generate electricity and the other is cavity wall insulation on the Brick houses we have in the UK. Gone into it and I can get them supplied and fitted "FREE" Should save a bit on heating cost's and Provide a modicum of Free Electricity.

Problem is- The Cavity insulation is being done in early April and that includes loft insulation. I have to clear the loft. There is 25 years accumulation of "Things"- old radios- stereos- furniture- and general rubbish that has to be cleared. In fact there is more than 25 years as when we moved here 25 years ago- we had boxes from our "OLD" house that went straight into the loft and we haven't touched since.

So it looks like my "Get Fit" programme is going to on hold till I can fill up the local Dump with 25 years accumulation of "Stuff" that may come in handy someday. Any one want a 8 Track player as I know there are 3 up there.:eek:

Actually, I am a bit jealous. I *love* to go through old boxes of stuff. Digging though and looking at it all, figuring out what it was used for, or who might have owned it, or how old it is, what it might be turned into if it is still good. It takes me forever to clean out closets & the like. Have fun!

Congratulations on the upcoming retirement:thumb:

Now that I've been retired for three years I often wonder how I found the time to work. I just keep adding projects to my to-do list. Cleaning my attic is also on my list but I doubt I'll get to it this year. I have enough garden/yard work to keep me busy. The yard didn't get too much attention last year so I have a lot of catching up this spring.

May I suggest

If the stuff in the loft has been there for a quarter century, you don't need it.

Maybe there's a 'man with a van' to be engaged on a 'you shift it you keep it, get what you can for it' basis

(That way you don't have to worry about whether it's a real Matisse!)

We are cleaning junk out of the basement, if that makes you feel any better. We have lived in this house 11 years, and the previous one 24 years.

My basement is divided between 1100 sq ft of finished and 900 unfinished. The junk is in the unfinished.

Such things as 2 old VCR recorders. Several VCR players, an old TV, Windows 3.1 software from a 486 computer. a bunch of other very outdated software from W98, etc., reams of documents that have no current meaning, etc. So many suitcases we could go on 3 trips at the same time. How many electrical adapters would you like, or old non-usb cables? Also, since my hip is getting a bit whiney, the wife says no more carrying heavy stuff upstairs, so we are piling it and are going to hire someone to get it out.

BTW, here in the US, BestBuy will take old computers, clean the hard drive, and recycle - free. So, I took 4 old computers there. I also tossed a non-working scanner, 4 non-working printers., etc. Now, I only have 6 printers (all of which work) and 7 working computers. Aargh!!

And to top it all off, the washing machine - now approaching 30 years of faithful service - broke last night. Interestingly, Sears charges $75 to deliver and install, while Lowes does the delivery and installation free - same level of washer and cost. Go figure. Anyway we ordered from Lowes.

Congratulations, Doug. Yes I am jealous as I am sick of my job and my idiot boss who has lasted 14 months now, far longer than I predicted.
I don't want for things (much) or travel and only wish I could have more of my time while I can still enjoy it.

Stap, as I've been completely retired for 1 year, you can't make me jealous and I (even though it needs doing) still haven't gotten rid of all the totally useless stuff still collecting dust in my house. I must admit, however, I've thought about it.:)

Two days after you retire I will hit five years retired, I don't know where the time went. As to cleaning out the attic I helped a freind clean out the ancesteral loft after his parents downsized, the family had been in the house for almost a hundred years, three and a half generations. We found treasures galore.

Those old washing machines-- They have a use as a B-B-Q or a garden incinerator. One of my mates makes them up and all he does is Bolt 3 sturdy steel legs on them and they go for £50. Not bad for 1 hours work on making it but getting a reputation as a Scrounger with all his neighbours- work colleagues and complete strangers that have an old washing machine in their front garden waiting to take it down the tip.

And job no 1 done today--Wifes Pond is up and running and filled. Just the other 999 to do.

Two weeks time and I retire. Time to get on and do the gardening- Maintain the house and ride when energy and weather permit whenever I like. I will be taking a drop in money coming in but with a bit of careful Budgeting I will be OK.

So it looks like my "Get Fit" programme is going to on hold till I can fill up the local Dump with 25 years accumulation of "Stuff" that may come in handy someday. Any one want a 8 Track player as I know there are 3 up there.:eek:

Congratulations on the retirement.

I think your kids should do the cleaning. After all they will inherit this mess at some point. Their comparative distance from the stuff will help them be better at distinguishing what has to go and what may stay. And as a bonus, they can cart much of the stuff off now... to their homes.

Consider the following cunning plans . . .

How about a car boot sale - people will buy the "unwanted" articles, and pay you for the privilege. The disadvantage is that you have to lug them to where the car boot sale is.

Or a garage sale - on your premises, so no travelling. People will buy the "unwanted" articles, pay you for the privilege, and take them away. Takes a bit of organisation and local advertising though.

Gumtree - a bit of admin in putting up descriptions, but once again, they come to you, and hand over money.

Freegle - similar admin to Gumtree, but they'll still come to you to take the articles away. You'll be doing your bit for the environment as the stuff won't be going to landfill, but they don't pay you anything.

Or, if the loft isn't already boarded over and the insulation is going between the joists, why not squeeze everything over to one side, board over one half after it's had the insulation installed, then move everything over to the boarded section and complete the other half! Job done, and no withdrawal symptoms at having to chuck out your prized possessions and memories :o)