Michigan grouse hunting rant!

[Richard Flanders]

Edgar and Dean both have it right; that's why I've been in semi retirement since about 20yrs old. Just couldn't see why a big house and a lot of unnecessary expensive stuff was worth more than getting into the woods and onto the lakes. I'm paying for it in some ways these days but, looking around, my avgas tank is full, the firewood pile is high, my freezers are full of wild berries and local broccoli and brussel sprouts, pheasants, ducks, chukars, pike, grouse, and soon some moose, and the lights are on so life is good.....

[TARNATION !!!]

Originally Posted by edgarspencer

Retirement isn't forever. Dead is. Hunt while you still can. Call in sick, save vacation days, 'experiment' with retirement, but don't put off anything you want to do "when I retire".

Edgar's shared wisdom is flawless. Life is short.

[Mills]

Richard, What is your secret?

[Richard Flanders]

Secret? In a word: simplicity. No wife and/or family, small house that I built myself with no running water(saves on property taxes). I've only ever been in debt for two things - my 5 acres here and my plane, and neither for more than a few months. Being in debt is the scariest thing in life to me. I drive old cars until they emit their final dying gasp then rebuild them and keep on going. Until I bought my 2001 Ford Escape in 2005 I had only spent, in my entire 55 yrs of life, $5200 buying 3 cars. The most expensive one was a 1969 Bronco purchased in 1989 for the kingly sum of $2500... and I still have it outside with snow plow on it and it runs like a Swiss watch. Can anyone beat that? Mostly I just "do without" many many things that most people consider absolutely essential. Look around you.... you'd be amazed at what you can do without and still be content.

[John Farrell, Charter Member #33]

The trouble with reaching retirement age and going hunting is, most of your friends that you planned on hunting with are either infirm, in retirement centers, in treatment for one disease or another or in new homes in other cities. That means you're hunting by yourself, again. And that never was much fun. As much fun as the dogs are, they make poor conversationalists. And, they never bring their own lunches.

[charlie cleveland]

thats a good one that the dog s never bring their own lunches... charlie

[C.O.B.]

Jay I think you just suffer from poor planning. I mark out the hunting dates on the calander and those are set, you have worked around the family obligations and barring any unforseen emergency you have your dates.

I am practiceing for my retirement as I have basically taken most of October and November off. I spent 10 days Grouse hunting in the Upper Pennisula, several weekends in the Grayling area acouple of trips to the Haymarsh and befor I knew it deer season was upon me. Rifle season lasts 15 days and I hunted all but one. Thursday it's back up to the U.P. for black powder deer season and I'll bring a Parker also as Grouse season is open again.

I think I'll like retirement just fine, only 10 months to go. Someone once told me to plan your work and work your plan. I say plan your hunting and hunt your plan, you only go around once.