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 by year for 2018.

2018

2018 started off with a NJ trip in the bitter cold. Taking dad out to a place where we could keep warm in the car and still see stuff. The Pennsauken Transportation Center where the NJT RiverLine and Atlantic City Line cross near the Delair bridge.

A wrapped "Rutgers" car

Eastbound into Pennsauken

After knocking down the signal

Arriving Pennsauken, blowing snow

Needed to pick up some Phila pretzels for a Super Bowl party in Austell. "Local" guideline in effect!

A Crescent Cab leader

...and some BNSF run-thru power

An February IKEA trip following the "Local" guideline. Traffic in and out of Inman Yard.

Peachtree Station in the background

Another trip to the NEB&W at RPI allowed for a walk across the Hudson on the Poughkeepsie Rail Bridge in late April

Poughkeepsie Station. A pair of P32s with trains, including on in NH paint.

Old bridge now a walkway.

For my dad's birthday, we took a ride on the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad - part of the old Southern Railway Murphy Branch. Certain days of the year, they fire up their steam locomotive. Not quite mainline steam, but a pretty nice trip.