hobo9941
You are lucky! My back problems mean that I can't walk any distance without experiencing pain. I'm talking like 100 meters here. It is very annoying. I have taken to using a cane and it helps a lot, but things like cutting the lawn result in a lot of discomfort. It is not sharp pain thank goodness. I had my share of that before the surgery, but it aches enough that I have to push myself to keep walking. I haven't asked my doctor for pain killers yet because I can get through it. In May we went birding at Point Pelee and I was able to do about 12 kilometers over 3 days with the cane, but it wasn't as enjoyable as it could have been, and I had to sit frequently.
So, enjoy your good health while it lasts!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Geez, I feel lucky. At 73, I have no major problems. I can still rip off 20 or 30 miles on my bike. Just reg glasses and reading glasses. I stay away from doctors, except for an annual checkup and labs at the VA.
The best part is we have all the time in the world to work on the layouts. Do a little work and go take a nap. I have a goose neck lamp I take under the layout when I have work to do or soldering. Plenty of light makes it much easier. I also have lots of carpet remnants, several layers, covering the floor under the layout, making the floor quite soft on the hands and knees. I ordered glasses online, using a prescription I came up with about halfway between my reg glasses, and my reading glasses. Perfect for running trains on the layout. I also try to walk a couple miles every day. At our age, you either use it or lose it. And you can lost it real fast if you are sedentary.
BroadwayLion Him had cateract surgery x2, and thought this is great I can see again. (NOT). My primary specticles are no-lines... Then I got another pair for working the computer... I got some 1x readers for closeup work , and of course the optivisor for working on the railroad.
Him had cateract surgery x2, and thought this is great I can see again. (NOT).
My primary specticles are no-lines... Then I got another pair for working the computer... I got some 1x readers for closeup work , and of course the optivisor for working on the railroad.
Hehehe.. Lion, I hear you roar. I have a set of trifocals for driving (gotta see the road, the mittors and the dashboard), bifocals for watching TV (gotta see my phone or tablet during commercials), computer glasses, reading glasses and both 2X & 4X clipon magnifiers (plus an optivisor). If I happen to have the right glasses on me, I can see pretty well still despite the fact I had a detached retina and cataract in one eye, and still have a minor cataract in the other.
BTW, I always enjoy (and usually learn from) your posts.
JoeinPA Aging is not for the faint of heart.
Aging is not for the faint of heart.
Joe, my friends and I have said this often. While I do consider myself quite fortunate to "be on the right side of the dirt", aging can be one of the greatest challenges of life... which may seem a bit ironic. I'm only 68½ and just had a knee replaced, but am looking forward to getting my small layout to aplace that I will be happy to call complete (so I can just run it and "play with my trains"). I have had spinal and joint troubles for years, and I knew getting under the train table would be tough, so I built it high enough that I can sit on a stool (actually one of those tub stools you get after surgery, turns out it's exactly the right height). Even though I am a geezer, I still am able to mow the lawn and take care of things like cleaning out the gutters. I don't get any sympathy from wifey... she had both wrists repaired (carpal tunnel) and both knees replaced in 2006.
So, I say to all my fellow old guys (& gals), keep on keepin' on!
Mike in Louisiana - Modeling the Canadian National in 1959
A couple of thoughts on coping with under layout stuff-----I use a padded mechanic's creeper to get around. It is comfy enough that I could probably ( and some day probably will) take a nap on it. Since small copper wires ready for splicing or soldering can visually disappear against a background of 1x4's, I now have a pair of portable 300 watt halogen construction lamps that can be focused on the work area in question. Nothing is perfect, but if it works well enough to get the task at hand accomplished, I break my arm patting myself on the back in self congratulations.
Be of good cheer and keep on keepping on!
Don H.
All those reflexes, good vision, steady hands and energy wasted on the young.
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
I hear you guys and Im in the over the hill club to. I thank God he has let me live for as long as I have. As a pastor,I keep busy preaching on Sunday and on Thursdays at the nursing home. I love my model trains and still find time to run and work on my n scale and ho scale layouts.Remember guys,one day at a time. May God Bless.
I suppose I'm lucky, at now 77, the only operation I had was a circumcision. My plans are to keep playng with the choo choos until rubber bag time. This... I have found to be my fountain of youth............model trains.
I officially retired in 1987 and went directly into model railroading....hobbiest, brass dealer, show promoter, author, custom layout and structure builder plus a few whatevers. Obviously I'll soon become decripit, but since I'm only "cripit" now, I plan on extensinve model railroading activitiy. I'm presently working on six new additions to my pike, and enjoying every minute of it.
My dad years back suffered a serious of really bad strokes, but again buiding O scale car and loco kits, brought life and much happiness back into his life. I learned a lot from this.
Great thread for us old codgers.............
HZ
When are we seniors?
Tradition says that when we reached 65 and draw Social Security or even 60 as many use to retire early. It’s hard to believe that when Social Security started more people died before reaching 65 than those that lived.
Bob
Don't Ever Give Up
Sixty nine and a half now & no plans to stop counting any time soon. Surgery started with an emergency tracheotomy and pneumonia in childhood. A couple broken bones as I grew up. Then two back surgeries, replaced both hips (not at the same time, thank you), had a knee arthroscopy and a bit of carpentry work on my spine. Do you want to know about my teeth? I didn't think so. The more new parts I get, the better I get.
Chuck, the hip replacements were among the smartest things I ever did. But be sure to do ALL YOUR EXERCISES. Saying "I can't" is a self-fulfilling prophesy.
Modeling gets more challenging, but I've always loved studying RR history even when I'm not building models. I go at a pace that's comfortable and satisfying. After all, I'm the only one I'm out to please in my hobby time.
Tom
LOCO_GUY Grinell, Reading this " I don’t want PERT charts, critical paths, schedules, deliverables, meetings, briefings, project and budget reviews ever again. " sent a shiver down my back. I remeber those "bad" old days oh so well - and all those wasted hours in meetings to decide we need more meetings :-) So I was happy to reflect that I now have time to go and fiddle with my layout to my hearts content and not have to worry. Of course, the layout brings it's own problems but they are fun to deal with and no deadlines - no TPS reports to complete.
Grinell,
Reading this " I don’t want PERT charts, critical paths, schedules, deliverables, meetings, briefings, project and budget reviews ever again. " sent a shiver down my back.
I remeber those "bad" old days oh so well - and all those wasted hours in meetings to decide we need more meetings :-)
So I was happy to reflect that I now have time to go and fiddle with my layout to my hearts content and not have to worry. Of course, the layout brings it's own problems but they are fun to deal with and no deadlines - no TPS reports to complete.
Yes, the endless meetings where the only real work done was power point presentations.
Prepared me well for retirement. That is I have no desire to go back!
Happily retired 5 years now. (I'm 68).
Enjoy
Paul
Chris.
Loco Guy - is a state of mind - not an affinity to locomotives.
Sit back and enjoy your track...
Thankfully, we are not all old and decrepit. I am 70 years old and have been blessed with good health. I have been color blind, near-sighted and occasionally shaky all my life. A couple of years ago I had hernia operations, so I try not to do heavy lifting any more. Fortunately the heaviest thing I encounter building my railroad empire is lugging in sheets of ¾ inch plywood (haul in 2 sheets and go take a nap). No I do not have the energy or stamina that I used to have, so when the “old person” shows up I go take a nap.
Unlike people I know who are madly trying to get their model railroads ready for visitors during the Portland NMRA national convention, I don’t have a deadline or a schedule. This is a hobby of a lifetime and I’m retired; I don’t want PERT charts, critical paths, schedules, deliverables, meetings, briefings, project and budget reviews ever again.
Model railroading is fun, interesting and a challenge to my skills and creativity. It is a great answer to the question of “What am I going to do in retirement?” (Another good answer, that is free, is to check out books at a public library.)
Grinnell
farrellaa OK, technically speaking I've been a senior for 19 years (turned 74 last week) and it is finally beginning to dawn on me that I am that old. Actually, a lot of things are dawining on be; eyesight (keeping 8-10 pair of various strength glasses around the house, layout and computer helps), knees (shattered one knee cap years ago but it keeps reminding me!), back (3 degenerative discs and 5 years of chiropractor visists), and now I am trying to keep up with my 5 year old great grandson (but he loves trains as much as I do!). I realized that my craftsmanship and painting skills aren't as good as I thought when I see them on the computer, magnified 10 times. So I lower my standards in finishing the layout; some things are just OK that a few years ago I wouldn't have passed inspection. I am about to try my hand at building a curved turnout to replace a straight one that is located in the middle of a very large sweeping curve (probably 6-8 feet in radius). I hope my eyes and hands are with me on this one, it is the last turnout that needs repair/replacement. I can still do most tasks, they are just a little more demanding on me. But as others have mentioned, I do get up each morning and that is a good thing. Old age has one benefit; we know what we should have done back when we thought we knew what we should do! As my avitar byline says: Life is what happens to you while you are making other plans! -Bob
OK, technically speaking I've been a senior for 19 years (turned 74 last week) and it is finally beginning to dawn on me that I am that old. Actually, a lot of things are dawining on be; eyesight (keeping 8-10 pair of various strength glasses around the house, layout and computer helps), knees (shattered one knee cap years ago but it keeps reminding me!), back (3 degenerative discs and 5 years of chiropractor visists), and now I am trying to keep up with my 5 year old great grandson (but he loves trains as much as I do!).
I realized that my craftsmanship and painting skills aren't as good as I thought when I see them on the computer, magnified 10 times. So I lower my standards in finishing the layout; some things are just OK that a few years ago I wouldn't have passed inspection. I am about to try my hand at building a curved turnout to replace a straight one that is located in the middle of a very large sweeping curve (probably 6-8 feet in radius). I hope my eyes and hands are with me on this one, it is the last turnout that needs repair/replacement. I can still do most tasks, they are just a little more demanding on me. But as others have mentioned, I do get up each morning and that is a good thing. Old age has one benefit; we know what we should have done back when we thought we knew what we should do! As my avitar byline says: Life is what happens to you while you are making other plans!
-Bob
I'm 68 now and I retired at the end of last year. I have high cholesterol, high blood pressure and now Type 2 diabetes, all of which are being treated with "old man pills." My doctor said I need to get 45 minutes of exercise every day. He said a brisk walk would be fine. So, I've been going out for 2 hours of either road bike or mountain bike every day.
Y'know what? I feel younger. Part of it is not having the drag of getting up too early each morning and sitting at a desk all day. Instead, I'm getting lots of fresh air and exercise, and eating better, too. I'm losing weight and I've recovered some of my lost quickness in my weekly hockey game.
Remember the words of the great philosopher, Yogi Berra. "Ninety percent of this game is half mental." It's something like The Little Engine That Could, too.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Although I am not quite a senior yet, I have developed a bad knee (too much weekend warrior house maintenance) and really bad eye sight due working on computers (software testing) over the last several decades. I have found that I have tendency of accidentally breaking off small detailed pieces from locomotives and rolling stock. I found a great solution to my issues; buy lesser detailed locomotives and freight cars! I love the newer Walthers Mainline, Atlas Trainman and Athearn RTR products. If I take off my glasses, I can't tell the difference between these products and the highend stuff! Heck I even save alot of money too!
I have had my share of medical issues. I won't go into all the gory details. One in particular however will present some challenges when I get to building my layout. I had part of my spine fused in 2009 which has reduced my ability to rotate and flex my back by about 35%. That means that getting up from a prone position close to the floor is a major challenge. Getting down there is no problem at all thanks to gravity. In order to deal with that I am thinking of building my layout deck in small sections, kind of like doing a freemo but without the legs. The scenicing will be done afterwards because reaching over things is OK, at least for reasonable periods. Wiring will be ala Lion with everything to the front, although there will have to be some separation between the main buss wires and the rest of the spagetti.
All I have to do now is wait for my son to move out. I was thinking of getting his girlfriend an empty wedding photo album for her birthday!
They say misery loves company so here's my medical history.
1. Baloon angioplasty in 92
2. Total knee replacement 97
3. Tumor removed from salava gland 2001
4. 5 way bypass 2003
5, Injured rotator cuff while building bench work for first layout 2007
6. Tore achilles tendon 2013
7. Experiencing shortness of breath, had echo cardiogram and am waiting for my doctors appointment. 2015
None of the above has affected my layout building as negatively as my sleep disorder.
By the way I'm 86 and not ready for the rocking chair.
tomikawaTTIncidentally, Brother Elias, I use the hook end of a straightened coat hanger to fish wires out to the aisleway. What system do you use.
The LION is in love with 1/16th" welding rod. Him uses it for everything. bend a hook at one end and you are half way there. Need it longer, solder two of them together. I also have a 3' long grabby thingy with a siccsor type dohickey at one end and a little set of jaws on the other.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Well, I'm halfway through 75, and still clicking along. I went back to teaching last year after two VERY BORING years of retirement, and plan on heading back this coming August. My knees are a little creaky, and I could stand to lose about 40 pounds, and I've only got 31% kidney function (enough to keep me off the machine I was on for six months), but other than that it's not too bad. I think it was the actress Bette Davis who said "Old age ain't for sissies," and Miss Davis is spot on, as far as I'm concerned.
My hand-eye co-ordination is still good--my profession has always included playing the piano--so I don't have too many problems working on models, as long as I have good light and a magnifier that I can attach to my glasses. The layout is about 80% finished, which is good enough for me, right now. I have some scenery changes to finish up, and so far, no major electrical problems have cropped up on the layout (I've kept it DC and simple). In fact, I just got my year-end check from the school, so I celebrated today and picked up a Sunset Z-8 Challenger from my local hobby shop (well, it looked LONELY in the brass case!), and as soon as it cools off in the garage, I'm taking her out for some break--in runs.
So as long as I pace myself, I seem to be doing just fine, both in life and the hobby. And the hobby is the LAST thing I plan on giving up! I live by the old adage: "Girls give up their Barbie-dolls about age 11, boys give up their toys--RELUCTANTLY--on their death-beds!"
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
Well I guess I'll join the club....although all similar age problem's, eye's etc. I am a disabled Vietnam Vet,1967...so I had to learn a long time ago how to cope with what I had to work with, 5 op's of reconstruction surgery to my shoulder, tumor surgery on chest, that turned out to be a piece of schrapnel that I carried around for 10yrs, bladder cancer surgery...recovered..stroke in 2007..took almost 3yrs to be able to walk without falling down and left hand to stop shaking...all in all, at 73, I thank the good Lord for the day and do what I can with a smile on My face....takes less energy to laugh, than to cry and complain.....no one really listen's anyway...LOL. ''Never..Give Up'' Winston Churchill.
Take Care, All!
Frank
Sir MadogAt one day, I´ll be able to pick up MRRing again, but for sure I´ll have to accept quite a few limitations. So what! I am happy to be still around.
The good news there are things in the hobby that will help you model..My two favorites is a foam locomotive/car craddle and a three prong holding device which is very nice for holding small detail parts and screws.
BTW..10 years after my stroke I'm still happy to be going along like a old shoe thanks to the grace of God,good doctoring and good nursing...I can even joke about being a "Dead man! Dead man walking here!".
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Hi,
Yup, add me to the list of "oldies but goodies" who play with trains. I just turned 71 and deal with bum knees, osteoarthritis in the shoulders/elbow, and eyesight that is no longer what it was only a couple years ago. Most of it I can deal with, but getting on the layout to do scenery on the outskirts has been a major problem the last couple of years.
I purposely built the room filling layout "wider than I can reach", and it wasn't that much of a problem to get on it and do what needs to be done. Now, it is holding me back - and hopefully not for long.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
At 66 and just six months and 18 days from official retirement (who's counting?) I've adopted a new "life mantra" - I don't move as fast as I used to and I don't move as far as I used to so I need to move smarter than I used to. At least until I catch myself doing something dumb. Again.
I turned 65 last December. I have severe arthritis in my right knee and mild arthritis in my left knee. Just today I got gel injections in both knees as cortizone isn't working anymore. Fortunately my layout is 48 inches off the floor and my DCC buss is mounted on the front facia. No bending to work under the layout. It is also only 1 foot deep so I can do all work and operate it while sitting on a stool. I planned and built it 11 years ago with thoughts of my golden years ahead.
Now that I can kneel a little, several members (over 65+) of my club and I are going to wire an N scale layout for a gentleman of 90 who is no longer able to do it himself so he will be able to run the layout in the time he has left.
Life is what happens while you are making other plans!
Coming up on 78, and being reminded of all the things I shouldn't have done earlier in life. Like Lion, I moved all the electricals to the fascia line, along with switch point and drop-magnet movers. I have no problem reaching in and down, but spelunking under the benchwork is no longer an option.
Incidentally, Brother Elias, I use the hook end of a straightened coat hanger to fish wires out to the aisleway. What system do you use.
My eyesight and fine control seem to be resisting the flow, but I've finally given up on my right hip joint. Preop visit is Monday...
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Technically speaking, I am not a senior, being only in my 59th year. I am right now recovering from a stroke that left my left body rather useless. Each day I can handle a few tiny things better than the day before, but it is still a long and windy road to reach a status where I can enjoy life again.
At one day, I´ll be able to pick up MRRing again, but for sure I´ll have to accept quite a few limitations. So what! I am happy to be still around.