New to the forum and wanted to introduce myself

[Second_Chance_Leather]

On 1/31/2026 at 8:00 AM, chuck123wapati said:

lol that feeling only lasts about a month or two, then you wake up one day with more chores than you had while you were working.

That is what a lot of people tell me.

I am the type of person who needs structure in my life (I am not good at winging it). I like to have a list of problems/projects that need working on and then proceed down the list. This is one of the reasons I like leather work, it is structured in a step-by-step format, cut out leather, punch stitching holes, finish parts that need finishing, sew leather together, and then the finished product. 

Follow the structure, and you get a very nice-looking finished product; mess around with the steps, and you get something that looks like a 5-year-old made out of construction paper and too much glue. 

That is why I am starting to think about this now and trying to plan for the future, because like it or no,t it will be here before I am ready for it. 

[Second_Chance_Leather]

On 1/31/2026 at 8:58 AM, kgg said:

I threw in towel about 22 years ago and the first thing I done was turned off the computer and threw out the cell phone (it "fell" out of the truck on the highway). Never touched either for 3 years.

I do not know if I can go without my computer for any length of time (I work in computers for a living, and giving that up would be very difficult). As for the cell phone, I am one of the few people who do not own a cell phone. I have never seen the point of cell phones, and I refuse to pay Canadian prices for a cell phone plan when I do not want or need one in the first place. 

I think about changing provinces often (not a native French speaker), and living in Quebec has become more difficult over the past few years if you do not speak French. Ontario looks like a nice province, but I would have to do some more research on everything before I move (and convince my wife that it is ok to leave the 16 Blocks of Montreal, where she grew up and has lived her whole life). 

I like to daydream about moving to 100 acres of land and building a cabin, and being off-grid, but then reality kicks in and I remember how hard it was growing up living like that as a child and how much work it was to tend the garden and the animals and all of the summer time chores so we could make it through the next winter and I wonder if I want to go back to that or not. If I would have the energy for a life like that again? 

The one thing I do not want to do is waste away. The other thing I do not want to do is be dumb about it and imagine myself as 18 again and able to work from sunup to sundown. I am trying to imagine the balanced lifestyle I would like to live and then work towards that (the problem is that I do not know what that balanced lifestyle looks like yet). 

 

[chuck123wapati]

8 minutes ago, Second_Chance_Leather said:

 

I remember how hard it was growing up living like that as a child and how much work it was to tend the garden and the animals and all of the summer time chores so we could make it through the next winter and I wonder if I want to go back to that or not. If I would have the energy for a life like that again? 

 

 

I guess I know where you got your need for structure lol. There's a time for everything on a farm, but not much extra time for anything else lol. But I bet you remember some fun in those hard times.

We did just that, but with no 100 acres, just our back yard, we grow a huge garden most years, we used to raise meat rabbits, we can everything or preserve everything we grow, and make i also make my own wine. Man, it makes a guy feel good to work in the dirt in the fresh springtime earth. Gardening or farming is a structured life, and when you're retired and don't truly need it for survival is a lot less stressful. I would say it's good food for the soul you would be surprised how much energy it will give you.

[kgg]

43 minutes ago, Second_Chance_Leather said:

I like to daydream about moving to 100 acres of land and building a cabin, and being off-grid, but then reality kicks in and I remember how hard it was growing up living like that as a child and how much work it was to tend the garden and the animals and all of the summer time chores so we could make it through the next winter and I wonder if I want to go back to that or not. If I would have the energy for a life like that again?

In my area I owe one of the smallest properties, 120 acres with 250 acres of crown land attached to one side. I probably only use about 10 or so but to have a dog boarding kennel in my township you need 100 acres. The closest neighbour is about 1 mile away. 

43 minutes ago, Second_Chance_Leather said:

I do not know if I can go without my computer for any length of time (I work in computers for a living, and giving that up would be very difficult).

You will go through a brief period of withdrawal just like any other bad habit. Ease back and treat it as want not as a necessity. You just got to cut the apron string.

kgg

[Darren8306]

I recommend taking up exercise, with some of your newfound time.
 

I've been both lifting things, and jogging. Whichever fills the biggest 'gap' in my physical being. 

 

If you didn't have as much of that as you wanted in your working life, this is a great time to fit some in. 

 

I have never regretted adding strength.

[tsunkasapa]

On 1/29/2026 at 5:58 PM, Second_Chance_Leather said:

creating, crafting, and even stitching (nothing better then needing to hand stitch a strap or belt and 3 hour podcast).

I don't do podcasts, but I have a 3 disc CD player and a few hours of the Chieftains or Clapton, Janis and I'm good for the afternoon.

 

Oh, and Jimi!!

[MikeG]

When I first retired and had nothing to do, it was sort of overwhelming.  Then I hit upon the solution --

First thing in the morning, I would call up a random business and say "This is Mike.  I won't be coming in today."  Then I would hang up.   After that, the rest of the day I was free to do whatever I pleased!

[FrankHester]

22 minutes ago, MikeG said:

When I first retired and had nothing to do, it was sort of overwhelming.  Then I hit upon the solution --

First thing in the morning, I would call up a random business and say "This is Mike.  I won't be coming in today."  Then I would hang up.   After that, the rest of the day I was free to do whatever I pleased!

🤣

[DoogMeister]

What chuck123wapati said.  

I retired about 4 years ago.  You have to engage your mind, body, and soul.  Get a daily devotional book or something and spend time with your Bible.  Get some exercise or other physical activity - you don't want to get fat and slovenly, and you'll feel better.  Go explore that park or trail you've always been wanting to.  Read.  Energize your mind.  The number of books I've read in the last four years is astounding.  Those hobbies you've been wanting to get better at?  Now that I have the time, I've been doing more wood work (already had the tools), built a few more radio control airplanes, and started making knives.  Then I can make sheaths to go with them. 😁 Everyone needs one more belt or holster.  Travel.  Have done 2 cruises, and we hook up the RV and make a long road trip at least once a year.  Go fishing during the week when everyone else is at work.

 I don't know how we had time for jobs . . . . 

[Second_Chance_Leather]

On 2/9/2026 at 3:42 PM, MikeG said:

When I first retired and had nothing to do, it was sort of overwhelming.  Then I hit upon the solution --

First thing in the morning, I would call up a random business and say "This is Mike.  I won't be coming in today."  Then I would hang up.   After that, the rest of the day I was free to do whatever I pleased!

🤣🤣

What a fun idea,