Retirees, Those Soon To Be and the Hobby

@PRR8976 posted:

John,

  That is very interesting to me on several accounts... When we had our roof done a few years ago, I started stockpiling the leftover (several half sheets almost marine grade plywood--7 or 8 laminated layers, I think and most have thankfully been kept above ground) plywood for the glorious day I start my layout.

I can understand the sturdiness of a layout...my last one was 11x4 and I could have made a cozy, solid bed underneath!

If and when we move, I plan to take the plywood with us and also move my trains by ourselves. Wife has bears and other stuffed animals--who am I to say anything about what she collects while I come closer and closer to probably someday having as many steam switchers as the Pennsylvania Railroad did! Did I mention the plywood, my trains, my T-Rail track, my train books, train railroadianna...including a very heavy Pennsy caboose stove, a 57-pound New York Central cast iron Yard Limit sign, New York Central dwarf signal, a Southern Pacific switch stand and a B&O metal freight house sign (something all in common= heavy), etc.? I'll need to put extra air in the U-haul's tires I guess when it comes to that day. No, I'm not a hoarder...more of a hoarder/collector/operator! It sounds better when you word it that way.

So, you moved the layout from a garage. Did you go to another garage, basement or room--- if you can share and can you say from what state to what state you moved to? ...no need to say the city, town or village.

If you wrote such a book, I would read it, so you would have at least one sale.

I assume you meant you used nuts and bolts to fasten your sections together?

Tom

Tom - added two pictures of the disassembly to my original e-mail...started disassembly at 12:00PM...finished at 10:00PM. 

Per your questions...

Nuts/bolts for the framing (with eyebolts in the bottom of each leg to adjust modules to be level and at same height).  Wood screws to fasten the plywood to the frames.

We moved from Alexandria VA to the Northern Neck of VA...distance of about 125 miles.

Original layout (garage) was 10' by 22'; interim layout will be in a portion of the family room (17' by 34') of our new house (layout footprint is 8' by 14'); final layout will be in our garage (when it's built)...same footprint as original, but entirely different track plan.

Some Lessons Learned...

• Start Early.  I'd didn't, and things got a lot more hectic than they had to be.  This is a situation where procrastination can REALLY hurt you!
• Arrange for Able-Bodied Help.  Regardless of how strong you remember being when you set the layout up, you don't that strength (or endurance) now. My kids and their friends were key to getting this done safely (and helping me avoid serious back injuries).

• Move in Segments (if necessary).  It took two U-Haul rentals separated by three weeks (both in a 15' truck) to move my layout (collection)...this included the wood for the layout platforms.  Ensure you have an able bodied person(s) to help you unload...fortunately, unloading is a lot quicker (and easier) than loading!

• Resign yourself to custom packing...there is no "one size fits all"...

• Medium size U-haul Boxes are good for small accessories, etc.
• Large size boxes, for bigger accessories
• Plastic crates for items without boxes...Get PLENTY of moving-grade wrapping paper and use it generously (one to two pieces of paper for each item).  Used the yellow lid/black body and the larger red lid/black body (from Home Depot) for track, engines and tenders, Lionel postwar rolling stock, etc.
• Mark boxes/crates with contents (will save you a lot of pain once you arrive)
• Update your collection inventory as you pack (establish a column on your spreadsheet for "box number")

Arrange for secure storage at destination, particularly if your household goods move is happening simultaneously.  Don't stint on this - climate control (particularly during the summer), and good security measures are both important.  This:

• Keeps your collection safely out of the way of the "big move"
• Ensures your wife's love and affection...she will appreciate your undivided attention/help during the "big move"

Still more to follow...John

John,

  Good common-sense stuff for all to follow if anyone has to go through a move later on in life. Thank you for all the good details.

  I was big on marking the contents on the boxes in the last move and my wife not so much and it definitely pays off in the end.

The last time we used U-Haul vans. I think we too have graduated to the 15-foot truck now (with all of our stuff).

Tom

PS-I found 12 or so of these unique 1/2 size copy boxes when another office in my building (where I work) ordered smaller supplies of copy paper. I have them stacked in my office behind the door for when they are needed. I'll just need to move them home when I retire. They are pretty sturdy (reinforced with tape) and should hold enough without the box being too heavy like a full copy box might easily get with a few die-cast locos in them. Jerry Seinfeld talked about the search for the perfect box...in the end we are in it and it is too late!

Tom

Retired January 24, 2020 after 41 years at the same company! Man I'm glad that's over! Bought my first O scale set in 2007, The Polar Express, and it grew from there. When I was in my early teens I had an HO scale layout, it was 4' x 4' with slot cars and train. A wreck waiting to happen. After I picked up and held an O gauge steam locomotive I thought that is a hefty loco and the scale had me. Now my 9' x 11' layout, triple loop with a siding, is in my living room. We hardly ever used that room before the layout, but we do now. Everybody likes the train layout room now. With the current expansion I have plenty of landscape to do to keep my busy.

"A big consideration is what your medical costs will be. It was quite expensive, per month, for my wife and I until we arrived at the wonderful age of 65 and Medicare."

This is the number 1 reason that most people aren't able to retire early.  Very few employers offer "retiree medical" these days.  I worked with several people who had a spouse who was 5-10 years younger then they were.  If the spouse doesn't have good health insurance from their job, or doesn't have a job, then the working spouse will have to 1) keep working until the spouse is 65, 2) buy the spouse health insurance, or 3) self-insure (not advised).  If you're unfortunate and lose your job before age 65 it can be a nightmare!  I have a friend who was laid off the same time I was.  We were both over 65 but his wife is ~15 years younger than him and they have two kids in college and one in high school.  His wife teaches at a private school.  She has access to health care insurance but for a family of 5 it's very expensive.  My friend had no choice but to go back to work. 

John

@Mark Boyce posted:

At one time, I thought I was never going to see a dime.  Now I am getting back some that I put in for 45 years.  😉

I think that was a very common thought 20-30 years ago.  I remember the conversations with my wife when I was trying to sock away all I could into my retirement account.  I was counting on it being the only income once we both retired.  Of course, it still may be our only income in the not to distant future if the government spending keeps rocketing up like it is now!

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I think that was a very common thought 20-30 years ago.  I remember the conversations with my wife when I was trying to sock away all I could into my retirement account.  I was counting on it being the only income once we both retired.  Of course, it still may be our only income in the not to distant future if the government spending keeps rocketing up like it is now!

John, I used to say I was contributing to my parents’ retirement with my payments.  Our financial advisor didn’t even consider Social Security in the proposed retirement income at one time.  Just a few years ago, probably after I turned 60 and we talked about revisions to the plan, he started including Social Security.

@Mark Boyce posted:

John, I used to say I was contributing to my parents’ retirement with my payments.  Our financial advisor didn’t even consider Social Security in the proposed retirement income at one time.  Just a few years ago, probably after I turned 60 and we talked about revisions to the plan, he started including Social Security.

Yep, I retired at 64, and was really surprised that I was able to get a decent amount from SS.  Since I had paid in the maximum for many years, it's actually way more than I expected to ever see.  My wife collected on mine until she was 70 to allow hers to build up to the maximum, that was a nice move.  The SS deposits are still coming, fourteen years later to my surprise!   I'm almost sure I'm in the last generation that will be receiving full payments, I can't see how they fix this mess for future generations.  I'm sure my kids are contributing to mine, I'm just worried that there won't be any money for them when they retire!

For those of you who are retired and miss working (very few of you folks), I have a great idea for a project for  you: re-wire your layout!

You will find that the song, I've been working on the Railroad, has lyrics that are very true.  Working on your railroad, especially if you spend what seems to be countless hours under the table, organizing a rat's nest, soldering, crimping, labeling, slithering and crawling under your train tables, etc., is very hard work and your old or current job will seem like a piece of cake compared to it. LOL, Arnold

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

For those of you who are retired and miss working (very few of you folks), I have a great idea for a project for  you: re-wire your layout!

You will find that the song, I've been working on the Railroad, has lyrics that are very true.  Working on your railroad, especially if you spend what seems to be countless hours under the table, organizing a rat's nest, soldering, crimping, labeling, slithering and crawling under your train tables, etc., is very hard work and your old or current job will seem like a piece of cake compared to it. LOL, Arnold

Arnold, that didn’t work for me, since my job for 43 years was in electronics.  I was glad to retire.  What am I doing on the layout right now?  Wiring!  😩

Being under the layout wiring was not exactly the most fun, I'll have to agree.  OTOH, I had my easy chair to help me be comfortable while I worked.

@Mark Boyce posted:

Arnold, that didn’t work for me, since my job for 43 years was in electronics.  I was glad to retire.  What am I doing on the layout right now?  Wiring!  😩

OMG, I have so much empathy for you, Mark! I guess you can't escape from wires.

Just think how much nicer it will be when you do your scenery, and you can refer to my Scenic Tips and Tricks thread! Arnold

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Being under the layout wiring was not exactly the most fun, I'll have to agree.  OTOH, I had my easy chair to help me be comfortable while I worked.

That easy chair, you are a genius if you made it, and if you didn't, you were a genius for buying it.

Me, on the other hand, I will continue to do my model railroad yoga, contorting my body under my train tables.

Hey, if it doesn't kill you, it's good for you, IMO. LOL, Arnold

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

That easy chair, you are a genius if you made it, and if you didn't, you were a genius for buying it.

Me, on the other hand, I will continue to do my model railroad yoga, contorting my body under my train tables.

Hey, if it doesn't kill you, it's good for you, IMO. LOL, Arnold

It was home grown, I got to thinking how I was going to work under the layout when we were working on the benchwork.  So, I just disassembled one of these chairs I've had in the attic since the 70's, and with a couple of 2x3's and some carpet glides, I made the chair.

No RR Yoga if I can help it, I have to do enough of it anyway!

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

For those of you who are retired and miss working (very few of you folks), I have a great idea for a project for  you: re-wire your layout!

You will find that the song, I've been working on the Railroad, has lyrics that are very true.  Working on your railroad, especially if you spend what seems to be countless hours under the table, organizing a rat's nest, soldering, crimping, labeling, slithering and crawling under your train tables, etc., is very hard work and your old or current job will seem like a piece of cake compared to it. LOL, Arnold

Arnold,

  Good luck with your wiring project. When underway and/or done, feel free to post pictures over here.

Tom

John, I do believe you have generated a new term for us, “railroad yoga”.

@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:

John, I do believe you have generated a new term for us, “railroad yoga”.

That's Arnold's term, I just used it.

Noted.

@PRR8976 posted:

Arnold,

  Good luck with your wiring project. When underway and/or done, feel free to post pictures over here.

Tom

Tom, aee the thread, Re-wiring Layout, in the Electrical Forum. Arnold

When you get up there in years you get tired fast crawling around under the layout.

@Dennis Rempel posted:

When you get up there in years you get tired fast crawling around under the layout.

Well, I will be 70 in 2 weeks.

I guess I am lucky because I was always relatively flexible, even with a bulging disc in my back.

Happy early 70th birthday, Arnold.

Tom

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Being under the layout wiring was not exactly the most fun, I'll have to agree.  OTOH, I had my easy chair to help me be comfortable while I worked.

almost perfect......it needs a cup holder on one side and soldering iron holder on the other.

Just turned 61. Too young to retire, too old to start over.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Being under the layout wiring was not exactly the most fun, I'll have to agree.  OTOH, I had my easy chair to help me be comfortable while I worked.

I know... I'm breaking my own self imposed OGR rule.

GRJ... Why slides and not casters?

John's sliders are fantastic!!  Best for carpet.  Casters are needed for smooth surface like tile or concrete.

@Ron045 posted:

I know... I'm breaking my own self imposed OGR rule.

GRJ... Why slides and not casters?

Like Tom said, for carpet the slides are the right choice.  For hard floors, I'd actually consider the furniture movers that have carpet on the bottom.  My reasoning is I want to be able to move it when necessary, but not have it so free to move that it's rolling when I don't want it to.  This stays in place on the carpet, but I can move when I want to.

OK.......1 year of retirement is complete......

It wasn't great......it was better than great!

The new layout has moved forward........not as fast as I would have wanted.......but steady progress despite the supply chain issues.

The attic was packed and cleared out.

The contractors came in and created the 9x30 storage room and the 20x30 layout room.

A tentative track plan was set. Track was ordered from Ross and delivered.

Additional Mianne Benchwork has been ordered.

Additional Glenn Snyder shelving ordered and picked up at York.

Roadbed has been painted.

We finish the Glenn Synder shelving installation on Tuesday.

This is where we are right now:

In addition, not having a 60-70 hour work week freed me up to be a volunteer Vaccinator for the State of Virginia and assume a leadership role in our local Modular group.

Do I miss work?      Yes......I miss my patients, many of whom I took care of for 20+ years. I miss my colleagues. I miss the daily challenge of the science and practice of Nephrology....... but, I don't miss the hassles inherent in medical practice today.

I am lucky to have a large number of "train friends" outside work and still able to connect with all my medical and work colleagues.

I will continue to enjoy this thread as many close in on retirement, or continue their journey in it. Tom....this thread was a great idea......lots of great information to be shared!

Peter

Taking all my vacation days starting in April.

May 31 is my last (official) day!

66/4mo.

@Putnam Division posted:

OK.......1 year of retirement is complete......

It wasn't great......it was better than great!

I will continue to enjoy this thread as many close in on retirement, or continue their journey in it. Tom....this thread was a great idea......lots of great information to be shared!

Peter

That's what we like to hear. Glad you are enjoying yourself Peter.

@SIRT- Congrats Steve.

Bob

Congratulations SIRT, I still don’t know where I found the time to go to work. Stay active and stay healthy.

@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:

Congratulations SIRT, I still don’t know where I found the time to go to work. Stay active and stay healthy.

........one of my favorite phrases!

.......and, congrats SIRT!

Peter

And Peter, congratulations on your first, of many, retirement anniversaries.

@Putnam Division posted:

This is where we are right now:

Peter

Peter, mind if I ask what kind of flooring did you go with?  Is that some kind of laminate?   Real wood?  Thanks.

@SIRT- Congratultions and good luck to you.

@Putnam Division- Peter, thanks for starting this up again and sharing your thoughts.

In early December, my brother-in-law passed away at 66. I am sharing that to let everyone know the importance of a healthy lifestyle so that your retirement can be continued for many years to come. I'm sure that Peter will agree that exercise is an important part of a post-working life.

Still hoping to retire by early to mid-June.

Tom

@PRR8976 posted:

@SIRT- Congratultions and good luck to you.

@Putnam Division- Peter, thanks for starting this up again and sharing your thoughts.

In early December, my brother-in-law passed away at 66. I am sharing that to let everyone know the importance of a healthy lifestyle so that your retirement can be continued for many years to come. I'm sure that Peter will agree that exercise is an important part of a post-working life.

Still hoping to retire by early to mid-June.

Tom

Sorry for your loss Tom.

I definitely added the lbs during covid. I'm turning 60 this year and it's time to loose the spare tire.

Bob

Love the update, Peter! Like SIRT and prr8976, I plan on a June 2022 retirement. However, I may push it back to December 2022 if the economy starts showing signs of late 1970s inflation.  My pension doesn’t start earning a COLA until five years after retirement, so those extra paychecks should soften the blow until then, assuming things don’t get too crazy.

I retired after owning a hobby store for twenty years. I told everybody that I retired the day I opened the store. No difference now except that I don't have to be somewhere at 9:30 in the morning.

I officially retired today.

I 'spect we all must be good at it since they gave us retirees a raise this year.