I gave notice about starting my pension today!

I tired of the late nights wrenching only to turn to rolling shifts power station, all weather, all manner weekends, nights, holidays, the long weeks of 12 1/2 hour days or nights refueling outages, fire brigade drills, emergency drills, suiting up for actual in radiologic areas emergent work, dead of winter 105 degrees coolest spot in turbine hall, same time frame 15 minute stay time in the reactor building due to heat. Body was tired, mind was done. I was but 60 going on 61, had had plenty enough. Just turned 67, feeling my age every month more and more. Uncle Arthir and I are Dear acquaintances.

skyking1 said: @Knuckleduster I would love to volunteer on the canals, if they'd have a Yankee operator who came over a couple of weeks out of the year. They really struck a chord with me. The natural streams for power and all the wildlife, cruising for the most part on the back sides of farms. All delightful. Hard to say if Darling wife is down for all that, but she could stay home @thepumpguysc we appreciate you so much. Your job is different, you made a niche there. I love my job and will miss it, but not on those days when they ask me to put gumbo back in the trenches and call it good. I won't miss waking up in the night and hearing the rain, wondering how bad the site will be tomorrow. I'm ready to move on from all that. Click to expand... Oops--dont upset "she who must bbe obeyed" as we say in u.k. We (wife and I) are due to go to Trustee meeting tonight with the others (similar to a board of directors) and Im going to put it too them to see what the reaction is. We were recently on TV featuring in a BBC programme called "Countryfile" and from that numerous enquiries were made to us regarding volunteering oppotunities. There is a general increase in U.K. regarding looking after the enviroment and programmes like Countryfile are helping us get the message out that looking after the canals with over 2000miles of active waterways is worthwhile passtime. When I see another bit repaired and working I get a real sense of satisfaction that I helped do that. Will get back to you soon--dont forget, dont upset the wife.

I moved the month up to April now. I just have to get the paperwork turned in before the first. There was just no incentive to wait and might as well get started.

Good for you brother!,the sooner the better!start the pension checks!

So April 1st is the first day of your second life? That is my day and it still strikes the funny bone 4 yrs later

Thanks, I had not thought of it that way. It is a first step, not cold turkey. Like the patch or the gum for the cigarette smokers, I will still pull a lever now and then in anger.

skyking1 said: Thanks, I had not thought of it that way. It is a first step, not cold turkey. Like the patch or the gum for the cigarette smokers, I will still pull a lever now and then in anger. Click to expand... Just short of 70 and looking back, I retired for second time at about 66-67. Havent got time nor the energy to work now. Did a couple of jobs during this week--hated every minute of them but didnt want to let people down I`ve known for years. Paid work get in the way of my obsession--messing about with boats. Always feel recharged after going to our boat, there is something about being on canal charges up my body and my mind. The piece and tranquility of the canals really gets to your soul. Got trip up the canal tomorrow pushing the craneboat with a tugboat to get ready for a extraction pump change that will happen on Monday. Afterwards a gental trip back to homebase--down as skipper for both journeys. HEAVEN

It's better already. I was going in and trying to gin up some hours out of thin air. Monday I will move the mini and do a couple of government jobs, on Monday and Wednesday. Government jobs is what we called personal projects at the machine shop Then that's it. The job I am working on is stalled 23 weeks and that will be the next time I go to work. There's a short week and then another 23 week break. I can handle that schedule

Will start getting used to G-job and Off Days, is defined as the time slips by!!

Now the push is get permitting and then rent the 120 and truck to get the site prep done.

skyking1 said: would love to volunteer on the canals, if they'd have a Yankee operator who came over a couple of weeks out of the year. They really struck a chord with me. The natural streams for power and all the wildlife, cruising for the most part on the back sides of farms. All Click to expand... Odd--I just read a interesting story written about the UK Canals of the 19th century. When the canals were in use the crime was rampant---BBC-History--Death on the canal, www.historyextra.com issue 300.

idle hands are the devils workshop, old operators don't retire,there filter falls out, they use the word NO a lot more, and get to do whatever they want. enjoy my friend !!

What filter

You noticed that eh?

Do not believe I owned a Filter for as noted in 40+ years!!!

Truck Shop said: Odd--I just read a interesting story written about the UK Canals of the 19th century. When the canals were in use the crime was rampant---BBC-History--Death on the canal, www.historyextra.com issue 300. Click to expand... Crime was certainly rampant--both on and off the canals. The guys rhat dug the canals were a hard lot--worked hard and would always have a fight in the local pubs when they had many beers. there was also fighting at the locks, because the gaffer (boat boss) would go up to the next lock and pick a fight with any boater that was thinking of going into the lock before him His fully laden boat could go straight into the lock and speed up his journey and he would get paid more money. The marks on either side of the bow depicted a half crescent moon on one side and the sun on the other letting other boat owners know he was prepared to work all day (sun) and all night (moon) The diamonds eather side depicted how wealthy he was--more diamonds depicted more wealth and more determination to get the job done at any cost--fighting ,thieving, sinking oppositions boats. Hard men--Hard times

Knuckleduster said: Crime was certainly rampant--both on and off the canals. Click to expand... Generally just good times.

Rough and tumble types, drink a lot, fight some, drink more, eat some!!

DMiller said: Rough and tumble types, drink a lot, fight some, drink more, eat some!! Click to expand... Reading the story--there were allot of murders along the canals during the use of them. Some very unsavory people were attracted to the business.

Money Trail, crime always follows.