Old Ironmaker

Live with Mommy and Daddy until you save as much as you can? Man your kidding, tell me your kidding.

That would be me. Never put a penny in RRSP's because of the rather good, at the time and still hanging on company pension plan that at one time was funded at above 100% currently at 89%, so if it was to be wound down tomorrow I would see a 11% loss that is offset by taking the early CPP pension. I have been retired 15 years and have not missed any meals, believe me. I needed every penny of cash I could get my hands on to invest in properties. Whether a rental or flip. We were flipping before there were reality shows showing how to do it. Believe me we had to learn through our mistakes. Not all debt is bad, if I have to pay a slightly higher than prime rate to see cash to buy more " good deal" properties to sell at 12% or more above the interest as aim ROI, so that's good debt. Eventually that interest is no longer overhead unless that money can get a greater return elsewhere and a low interest loan is secured for purchase. There were times we had to buy material or pay a specialty tradesman on a credit card, well that's what had to be done. High interest loans will kill you yes, but some debt is the price of doing business.

Not for everyone, the kid's on the right track, you must be very proud of him. Most his age and older are still living in the basement playing video games and smoking stupid stick all night and wake at 1 and repeat. A close friend has a lout for a son, 27 and going on 12.

I will see if I have the other pair in the shed. I know there is a pair in the shrink wrapped boat. If ice is freezing on my gloves I'm going into the hut or the cottage by the fire! Yea we all may be overthinking this, perfect gloves may not exist.

As far as financial investment, for me it was real estate. You can touch it, see it, smell it and have control over it, not for everyone but of all the people I know that have had a good nest egg when they have retired had a large real estate portfolio. Regardless of capital gains it has worked well for me as well. Plus we can go to one when we want a tan, any time we want. Not for everyone, absolutly. I just don't think you can lose if you are able to manage it. When I got hit big in a market crash in 81 that was enough for me trusting my hard earned money with someone in a glass tower. Where else do we see returns in the hundreds of percentage points after 20 years besides Google and Apple. Hey I;m no financial wizard and don't even recognize half of the acronyms used when some talk finances. Remember BreEx Gold Mines (sic) anyone? Not good when the CEO jumps out of a Helicopter when he is going to prove where the mine was if I remember right.

If you can't post a pic then no one can. When I get my HP laptop back for the 3rd repair a 4 months I might be able to figure out "The Cloud". As well as a short spring and fall, no?

No way, that thing can hold too many past due notices. I guess you guys have never been in my rural neighborhood, the best one I like is the full size Stork with it's mouth open. Some would be considered folk art and would go for a few hun in a gallery in T.O.

Finances are an intricate portion of retirement and one must prepare for it. I can't quantify the percentage that good finances are to a successful retirement but it isn't only finances. Mental preparation for who you will be, what will you do and how you will do it is in my opinion equally important as being financially sound. We concern ourselves with the money and do not prepare ourselves with the reality that retirement is. What you did before you retire is what you will do after retirement. Don't think that you take up golf, or start fishing, or travel because you don't have the time to do it working if you have never done it before, not always but seeing many guys retire one usually does what they did before. I had a few things I've never one and actually did it, if only to prove myself wrong. Actually joined the local Theatre and did a stage play. That turned into lead roles that turned into a few "guy looking tough in the background" real pay to see movies, no talking, they have to pay you for that above the 10 bucks an extra gets, plus you need something called talent. That was fun. digress as usual, sorry. I as well as many thought this place I work my entire life including weekends in High School just can't do without me, think again. The day after you are gone you become a second thought. A few months latter there may be a lunch, dinner, golf tourney that you used to organize, the next year they may forget to invite you. It's just the way it is. I left very early. Having started at 19 and with our bonus of 20% credited service given without penalty I left with 27 1/2 years service at 45. Fantastic, healthy, a great pension with full benefits, just turned 45. I always wanted a job in the fresh outdoors and no responsibility. So I took a dream job working the grounds on a 4 star not yet open golf course. Free golf, no one to manage, no meetings, no MOL or MOE investigations, no getting called in at 4 AM on Christmas day and everything that goes along with really good money back then. Yea right, when a kid that had 3 years from community college reminded me I was supposed to clean the front stoop of the clubhouse and actually wrote me up, the first time in my life, ever disciplined, I quit right on the spot, handed her my name tag and walked to the opposite side of the counter to book a T time. Actually that was fun, I had never resigned or quit anything in my life. What wasn't funny was when the owner asked me to come back in and the poor 24 year old "manager" was in tears when he made her apologize to me and ask me not to leave. That was sad to see. Needless to say I started my own business a month latter and I was sweeping the stoop in front of the showroom. Be prepared besides the financial aspect. Both mentally and physically. Don't forget you won't be 40 forever and along with a CPP payment comes many a prescription for old timer meds. Check out HBO Sports program 30-30. Just today the Peter Berg documentary program interviewed Brett Favre. Michael Strahan, Tiki Barbour as well as the soldier who's story was told in the movie Lone Survivor. Marcus Littrel is the Navy Seal frogman that was portrayed by Mark Walburg. If even one smige of what he went through in the movie is true this guy's the real deal. It explains exactly what I'm talking about, check it out.

I responded to your thread last night SM05 but not wanting to sound critical or politically incorrect deleted it. I'll give you the Readers Digest version of what I said. You are nuts my friend!!!!! Look at the 5th pic, what tape measure are you using to come up with 4"? looks pretty thin a few feet from you, 1" , maybe. Next time dial 9-1 beforehand, then when you go through you only have to push the other 1. Regardless of your mental state when you ventured out on thin ice, great fish, sure has me drooling. Love the Maple Syrup recipe too. On my to cook list for sure.

I wear rubber/nylon/Gortex type waterproof work gloves that have dimples on the palms, they are thin and water proof, given to me by a pal that is a mover and wears them 12 months a year. Great dexterity in the fingers for fishing with them on. You would think you would get sweaty but the somehow you don't. Safety supply store is where I would look for gloves like that. Great handling Pike too in summer, would be great for any fish, I keep a pair in the boat. Green with beige palms. Good surgical gloves under what you have, I believe they would be a better fit than the loose fitting disposables might be your best choice if you go that route.. For a few bucks they're worth a try. JD

Great fish. You guys are right about a fast hook up. First of 4 lines set out on Erie, bam 9 pound eye. Next 4 hours burn gas and oil. It will drive you off the deep end. Next day nothing for 4 hours, pulling riggers bam, you guessed it, nice eye on lead core, but only 1. Burned money for another hour, not even a farm animal. Why do we torcher ourselves asks my dear woman? Because I love it,,,,,,almost as much as I do you.

I love the picking a flag from a jar, what a great idea. It can bring us to food we might have otherwise never tried. With all the resources we have now if it's not on the internet it would be a rare food. Putanesca sauce , usually with spaghetti, has been mentioned here a few times. I was told by a lady in Rome the origin. According to her the Roman ladies of the night " Putana" would get home late after a tough shift. They wanted something fast, cheap, spicy, hot and easy, kind of fitting as it describes their occupation as well.

What ethnic food is my favorite? No way I can pick just one. Most everything as long as it doesn't involve organs. There is an Indian dish that tastes like turpentine, don't want any more of that. The reason I love Canada? 1) Best country in the world and I've been blessed to go to every continent save Antarctica. 2) Food from every country from Albania to Zimbabwe. My friends that will only eat meat and potatoes drive me insane, they won't even try any " foreign food". Good, more for me.

Good for you, congrats. Not having to get called into the plant on Christmas Eve I don't miss. But to say I didn't miss the action is a lie. I took my pension very early, 45, 25 years and out in the Ironmaking division sure helped. I've had more careers in the last 15 years than the first 30 of working. It's a big world out there, enjoy it, and be healthy. Actually got my first CPP payment last week, whoar rah.

There is a kid from Caledonia, Mike Montgomery ( this is public knowledge, recent article in newspaper in fact) that had his parents home covered with thousands of lights complete with music that was available to you through the FM in your car. He started doing this as a teen in High School. It did cause some traffic problems in the residential neighborhood though. From that Mike and his pal lit up the Old Mill in Caledonia on the Grand River. It has become a tourist attraction for the town and bring in people from as far away as New York. This will be the last year as it only is funded by donations from those that drive by and give what money they can and the fate of the Mill is uncertain. You have to check it out in person, it is amazing, best I've ever seen. It is something to see. It is on YouTube, sorry PC problems here can't cut and paste. Check it out. I love your place, as a kid it was my favorite thing to see at Christmas, lights on homes. I know kids love it. Has anyone been to south Florida during Christmas? They go nuts decorating and lighting their homes, including a foot of fake snow at one place I've seen.

Paradice , That's all that I can say. Good luck going up river. Bring a paddle.

Wow they sure are a blast from the past. I had a crush on Mary in the 60's.

I hear you Canuck2. Mom and Dad went into a small 1 bedroom residence last March after 60 years in the family home.. I couldn't give away some valuable items, my place is full to the rafters with stuff from my childhood home. We filled a large dumpster that barely fit in the driveway with thousands of $$$$$ of stuff, a sad time for sure but I know they are safe out of that huge house with all those stairs. No garage sale, there was still 2 feet of snow on the ground last March. Apparently none of the kids wanted any VHS machines complete with re winders, Remember re winders anyone? And cassette players complete with Dean Martin and Tom Jones tapes. One of the great grand kids had no clue what the wall hanging pencil sharpener was for or the 45 records.

I'm dislesic, can't spell is part of it. I sure had one heck of a time learning. I would hook up anything I could tow on night shift at the plant. The mechanical gang had to go hunting for the welding machines in the mornings. Like I said and others as well, if you can't see the trailer the thing is straight. The more you practice the luckier you get. Turn the wheel left the trailer goes right, turn right it goes left. Saying it out load might help, and no need for speed, slow wins the race.

I hear ya. Drives me nuts, especially the temp pass words when I forgot mine before I use a skill to my advantage. I have a talent, or curse, that I can remember numbers, from grade school, like my first combination lock, all my family and friends telephone numbers from as early as I could pick up a phone. Heck I know my ex wifes drivers license and SIN. I use all those useless phone numbers long disconnected as passwords. If anyone knows my Noni's # in NY from 1954, go ahead use it to unlock my PC.

Bill, one kid told me the winter tires don't look good on his car. "Hey kid that car looks mighty slick being towed to the bone yard after you T boned a guard rail and totaled it."

A few things I have come to learn re: winter radials, A crappy winter tire is better than the best all season tire. The best winter tire is only as good as the driver. I know people that could get stuck in a D9. Blizzaks don't last 3 seasons.

If you can't see the trailer you are going straight. Straight is good.

Don't be shy using your light stuff. Be prepared for some bite offs but you will out hook the saltwater guys 10 to 1. Bring good flouro leader material, and sunblock. I'm jealous, not much fishing where I'm heading in Arizona. Unless there's a flash flood. Trout and Snook are a blast. Bass as for tourists. Don't wade without proper foot protection. Looks nice until you step on a Ray. Ask that Croc guy how he made out and he was a pro, RIP. Look at the regs for the county(s) you are going to be in. There are plenty of serious game wardens in Fla. Which is a good thing, wish we had some up here.