Blerf Blog: What retired guys do

I've been retired for 3 years and 4 months now. I think I have the hang of being retired. I've been listening to other retired guys tell me their secrets.

I think there is only one rule. Do something every day and declare victory. Mind, you it doesn't have to be a whole project. You can declare victory after merely starting a project. You can decide washing the car or mowing the lawn or going to the dentist sufficient for victory on reflection at the end of the day.

So, that's the rule. There are also guidelines. One is to devalue delayed gratification and start to do more of those things you were delaying all these years. A lot of that is travelling - check my other blog posts to find out where and how!

But, for me, it also means getting more involved with the local model railroad scene and upping my railfanning game a bit. I have guidelines that fit underneath the "no more delayed gratification" guideline. They are:

The Steam Guideline states: "Always go see that mainline steam excursion." There may not be a next time."

The Local Guideline states: "Always bring your camera on errands near or crossing tracks. Always expect a train."

The Heritage Guideline state: "Involve your family. Honor your past. Past it on."

The Modeling Guideline states: "Build, operate, socialize."

How has that worked out? Pretty well. Here's the results for 2017.

2017

Another trip back to South Jersey... included a side trip to the NEC.

SEPTA's Silverliner Vs include these wacky, innovative middle-of-the-car doors for high and low platforms.

Acela

Sprinter with Regional

Silverliner V local train make station stop

Commemorative Veterans paint scheme

All aboard!

Here we go.

The way home from NJ just happened to be via Altoona and the Horseshoe Curve. It had been a long time since I railfanned the old PRR Middle Division. In the 1980s and 90s, I made many, many work trips along this route when it was Conrail.

First stop, Horringford. Just west of Lewistown.

Continuing west, just south of Tyrone.

Finally, Horseshoe Curve. I stayed until the park closed. Last train by was the Pennsylvanian

The GP9 at the park is looking shabby these days.

2017 had another summer trip to NJ in it. This time, I took my dad along on a morning jaunt to Ridley Park in late July. Heritage Guideline, remember?

Silver Meteor, perhaps

Back in Georgia, a mid August, early morning out on the NS Piedmont starting in Cornelia.

The Crescent zips by, close to on time

Then, down to Lula.

Taking the long way home from Gibb Gardens - a local botanical garden - we stumbled on the Georgia Northeast Railroad

A quick trip to Winder - not too far from home

Westbound on the Abbeville Sub. Of course, the sun goes behind a cloud, just as the train arrives...

In 2016, I started attending the local NMRA group and signed up for their Piedmont Pilgrimage. A series of model layout open houses in October and November. This motivated me to get some progress done on my layout. Had to have something to show! Also, had to be able to run trains without a whole lot of trouble.