What have you been up to lately?

[LDUBS]

Now that we have a proper shop my 15yo son and I have been doing a lot of work to the trans am. She was bone stock with 60k miles on her just 2 months ago. We just buttoned up the suspension upgrades along with new wheels and tires. It also got all new brakes along with stainless brake lines and a complete tune up. Next up is a gear swap and 3600 stall converter a local shop is doing for us first week of October. This winter the engine will get built and all the necessary safety equipment ( roll cage, seats, etc) will go in. Next season we intend to bracket race it In the summit points series.

I still manage to learn something new, like what a stall converter does. I always wondered how they did that
.

 

[LDUBS]

The sciatica is better but I'm still moving around a little gingerly. So, yesterday I did a tune-up on an old Garcia Mitchell 300 I bought a few years back at a garage sale. It is one of the made in France models. It has no particular value from a collector's standpoint. I like it because it brings back fond memories.

I stripped it down completely, cleaned off all the old goopy stuff, & put it back together with new lubricants. All the parts were still in good shape. Now I need to find a rod to put it on.

Next up is my old Penn 720Z (made in USA).

BTW, I bookmark a link to 2nd Chance Tackle on You Tube. Guy has a big library with reel repair videos. If you really want to get down into the weeds, I learned from these boards about a very comprehensive reel repair site called "Reel Repair by Alan Tani" (alantani.com).

 

[Stand Up]

Winter is upon us once again. It's cold and I'm miserable. Ha ha ha.
Here is a picture of my back yard.

My dogsicle. She doesn't stay out long.

 

[lightflyer1]

My winter. Cruising from Galveston. Battleship Texas.

 

[flatheadsteve]

Today was opening day of deer season for gun hunters. We saw a lot of deer today but my 11yr old wants his first good buck so they all got a pass for the day.

 

[airshot]

Just counting down the days until spring boating/ fishing seasons starts up again !!

 

[Crazyboat]

Planning on retiring, getting ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 

[lightflyer1]

Signed my retirement papers for a Jan. 31st exit.

 

[airshot]

Signed my retirement papers for a Jan. 31st exit.

Wish you the best on your retirement...been retired 7 years for me....

 

[lightflyer1]

Thank you very much for the best wishes! It's a good thing but it's also kind of scary as well.

 

[ripdmup]

The scary is fleeting......................................................

 

[airshot]

The scary is fleeting......................................................

For a while, then the real aches and pains start up and you will begin to wonder who that old geezer is in the mirror ??.....lol..

 

[TAB]

Just counting down the days until spring boating/ fishing seasons starts up again !!

Great part of living in TEXAS . Year round fishing and boating. Big switch from living in Indiana.

 

[MrGiggles]

An update on my previous post, finished apartment #1 about a year ago. Got a tenant moved in and that situation has been working well. Had to evict the tenants that I inherited with the studio due to nonpayment., which led to rehabbing that place, all new flooring, some subfloor repairs, bathroom rebuild, a few changes to the kitchen. Finished that up in May and had it rented out shortly after.

The other side of that duplex has largely been untouched aside from removing the old HVAC system, and changing/simplifying the electrical. Been waiting on the power company since August to hook up my new service mast and install a new meter, but they finally got it done yesterday so I can get cracking on that.

I've been wondering just how far I want to take this rental business. I've got enough equity now that I could leverage my current properties and buy another. That's kind of scary considering the uncertainty of the market, and if you lose one, you lose them all that way. But scared money doesn't make money, there's always risk. I'll get the last apartment finished and then start to think seriously about expanding.

The boat has largely remained untouched. I sold the big four stroke last October, it was just too heavy for the boat and taking a toll on the transom. Picked up a nice little 98 50hp Evinrude with a scored cylinder, fixed it up and put it on there. Been running like a top, I'm pretty impressed with it for only being a 50.

Unfortunately my girlfriend and I split up in September so that has been an experience. Seems like dating apps have done a lot of good and a lot of bad, so it's been an experience, not really a good one. But, tomorrow might be the day I meet someone. Can't really control it.

Not sure if there's any Toyota fans on here. I'm a part time rural carrier for USPS, my primary vehicle is a RHD converted 94 Camry. I picked up this 99 4Runner in July for $800, drug it out of a field. Previous owner hit a tree and parked it in 2019, needed a junkyard hood and fender, new headlight and grille, a DIY offroad-style bumper, and some tugging on the core support to get back on the road. And all the typical wear parts on a 25 year old vehicle. It'll be my backup mail rig, and a fun run-around car. Started right up like it hadn't been sitting a day, no smoke, no leaks, runs like a top.

 

[airshot]

My neighbor has 20 rental homes and often tells about the issues he has. When people leave they take everything, even the kitchen sink ! He has toilets sitting in one of his barns, he says he replaces about 2-3 toilets every month....they are smashed....how does anyone smash a toilet ? Smoke alarms are stolen as fast as he installs them, must have a couple dozen on hand in his barn. Needless to say, his rentals are not in the best part of town, but like he says, they are all paid for, so just the labor of making repairs and upkeep. Not sure it would be my cup of tea, but for a younger more active person might make a nice retirement investment....

 

[airshot]

Great part of living in TEXAS . Year round fishing and boating. Big switch from living in Indiana.

Been giving the south some consideration, can't say I am a fan of 100 degree summers either. Wife has serious allergies and the high heat and humidity make them worse. Unfortunately she prefers the cold even though she rarely goes out in it. Trying to figure a happy medium.....off n thought about a Sumner home in Northern Michigan and a winter place down south somewhere, but the $$$ is an issue.

 

[Crazyboat]

Thank you very much for the best wishes! It's a good thing but it's also kind of scary as well.

I'm hoping to be bidding farewell sometime in 2025, not sure which part just yet. It is a little scary. But with 10 good years left in me, it's time to enjoy now.

 

[lightflyer1]

My original goal was the end of 2025, but I couldn't pass up the severance package for the voluntary retirement program. Get 2 years severance pay.

 

[Mad Dog 2]

Moved to South of Charlotte NC, 2008. Worked till 2020 now retired. I have 2 modest rentals with steady renters it is comfortable with Social Security. (Never thought SS would be solvent when I retired).
With modest rentals, the renters they generally are short of cash and undisciplined. My wife is good at graciously following up on the tenants and getting them back on track.
My wife does not go out in the heat and stays in the A/C. Humidity and heat better then NJ near Philadelphia. I was a heavy equipment mechanic on the road, outside and poorly heated buildings if you can get through July and August the weather is moderate.
I am a resident of Union county NC. If you behave like a adult the build inspectors are helpful and pleasant. My electric bill runs around about $120/month averages for H/W, electric stove, A/C and heat. Taxes for house about $1,600/year and house insurance about another $1,600.
Financially moving back to Mass would be very difficult. NC is much more affordable.

 

[ctx_1999]

An update on my previous post, finished apartment #1 about a year ago. Got a tenant moved in and that situation has been working well. Had to evict the tenants that I inherited with the studio due to nonpayment., which led to rehabbing that place, all new flooring, some subfloor repairs, bathroom rebuild, a few changes to the kitchen. Finished that up in May and had it rented out shortly after.

The other side of that duplex has largely been untouched aside from removing the old HVAC system, and changing/simplifying the electrical. Been waiting on the power company since August to hook up my new service mast and install a new meter, but they finally got it done yesterday so I can get cracking on that.

I've been wondering just how far I want to take this rental business. I've got enough equity now that I could leverage my current properties and buy another. That's kind of scary considering the uncertainty of the market, and if you lose one, you lose them all that way. But scared money doesn't make money, there's always risk. I'll get the last apartment finished and then start to think seriously about expanding.

The boat has largely remained untouched. I sold the big four stroke last October, it was just too heavy for the boat and taking a toll on the transom. Picked up a nice little 98 50hp Evinrude with a scored cylinder, fixed it up and put it on there. Been running like a top, I'm pretty impressed with it for only being a 50.

Unfortunately my girlfriend and I split up in September so that has been an experience. Seems like dating apps have done a lot of good and a lot of bad, so it's been an experience, not really a good one. But, tomorrow might be the day I meet someone. Can't really control it.

Not sure if there's any Toyota fans on here. I'm a part time rural carrier for USPS, my primary vehicle is a RHD converted 94 Camry. I picked up this 99 4Runner in July for $800, drug it out of a field. Previous owner hit a tree and parked it in 2019, needed a junkyard hood and fender, new headlight and grille, a DIY offroad-style bumper, and some tugging on the core support to get back on the road. And all the typical wear parts on a 25 year old vehicle. It'll be my backup mail rig, and a fun run-around car. Started right up like it hadn't been sitting a day, no smoke, no leaks, runs like a top.

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Love Toyotas, have a 2002 Celica, 340,000 miles, still runs like new.