"RETIRING IDEAS"

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hi guy n gals,

I was talking to my wife today about what to do after we retire from our jobs, I for one have 4 1/2 years to go, my wife has 5, anyway, I would love to turn my love of modeltrains into a business, ie; helping build layouts, making videos of prototype railroads, howto vids, any of you retired MRRDER"S out there had this thought come across your mind? just looking for suggestions or ideas, I have a ways before I retire, but I would like to have my path paved along the way,

Thanks Gang

Trainsrme1[8D]

2

I think there are people that make a living off youtube videos in a variety of subjects. They must get money from manufactures in their area of interest and maybe some ad money from their personal websites.

There are folks in the forum and who advertise in MR who design/build model railroads. There is also Ken Patterson who is a professional photographer/videographer who does advertising videos/photos for commercial manufacturers and how to videos for his own website.

None of this has anything to do with those of us who are full time retired

3

Just come on down to Naples, Florida, and enjoy your retirement with no worries.

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Build a new layout and relax. Welcome to paradise!

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-Kevin

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4

I have been retired for over 5 years. Avoid the following:

  • Anything related to your former line of Work.
  • Starting a business based on your Hobbies(it will take the fun out of your hobby).
  • If you need to continue working, do something completely different(a new experience).

I worked as a consultant for an ex-manager’ company after retirement(took all of th ‘fun’ out of retirement). What you need is a hobby or a part-time job that only takes up maybe 2 days per week. You have worked full time for 40 years, enjoy something different this time around.

Jim

5

When I retired in 2013 I thought - “oh man, all those hours spent at the desk are now going to be hours spent on the layout and workbench.”

It has not turned out that way. There are other demands on your time including house and yard (and spouse). I have made way less progress than I thought I would. So I’d hold off making grandiose plans for what to do with all that newly available spare time. The former 8 to 9 or more hours at work each day do NOT translate into 8 to 9 hours of pure leisure time, at least, not in my experience.

But just to make clear, I am very glad I am retired.

Dave Nelson

6

I’m full time retired, from 42 years in the construction industry, the last 30 years in masonry and concrete, and I’m “living the dream”. I’m currently a WI licensed home inspector, but that will end when my licence needs renewing in 2019. I Retired from the building trades July 1st, 2011, I would never turn a “hobby” into work, like Jim said, it’s not fun anymore. And on the subject of model railroads, just take a look at the thousands of guys that have the “how-to” videos. NOPE, not for me. Same with people that try Ebay, buying and selling. Your constantly with your face behind a camera, recorder, or the computer. Not for me. If it “fits your biscuit”, go for it.

I spend my “outside weather season” rebuilding old garden tractors, and building our place in northern WI., along with household maintenance, and remodeling projects and the very occasionally concrete or mason job that I can do by myself, and on my terms. I’m really picky! I do sell the tractors I fix up, but it’s truly a labor of love, like model railroading, and modeling in general. An old garden tractor fixed up, “restored”, and in running condition only fetches about the same price as a new loco, with DCC and sound, unless you come across a rare gem, which is only in the eye of the beholder.

If you want to help build layouts, kits, and such, join a local club, or start a local club.

Just enjoy your retirement, and what ever keeps you busy, will come naturally, and if you can make a buck or two along the way, it’s a good deal. [tup]

Mike.

7

[:-^]

I agree with Jim, Dave & Mike. I have been cutting back on my hours in a post retirement job. I now only work about 9-10 shift a month, but I haven’t noticed much in gaining more time. There are more important things that come forward because of your schedule change and then the fact that we don’t work as quickly as we once did. Secondly, it is very surprising how so many medical issues and appointments come forward for both you and your spouse that eats up a lot of time as well. For the last year and a half we have had a new Church calling that has also taken some time, (but we love it).

Then if there is a move in the works as well, that will take most of a year to get settled and your home in to the order that you both want. Then build the new layout…

I think you would have quite a bit to think about right there without trying to start a new business.

But these are only my thoughts and I have been known to be wrong from time to time.

(Old pharts are like that) [#oops]

Whatever you choose, I wish you the best in the endevour.

Johnboy out…think I’ll lay down for a spell. [zzz]

8

What I learned when I retired is that I say “retired”, everyone else hears “available”. Not that I object to helping out the family - both the ones I raised and the ones I grew up with. But it does eat into your retirement time.

I agree with those who say don’t turn your hobby into a business. With a business, you have to be efficient, on time, go to meetings, do paperwork, etc. etc. Not to mention that you have to satisfy someone else - customer or boss or both.

I’m happily retired 7 years.

Paul

9

If there is a train related museum nearby, check out volunteering there. Even better if they have a model RR layout. That is what I have been doing at Boothbay Railway Village.

The important thing is have something to keep your mind and hands occupied

10

I can tell you for a fact, that you will need a reason to get up every day. I spent the longest 6 mts of my life after I retired untill I found a part time job. Maybe when I can’t move so good anymore I’ll retire full time.

Alot of years ago, as a hobby, I built wooden craft things,in thinking to recoup some of my expences ,tryed to sell them in a local store.Some didn’t sell at all. While others sold quite well,to the extent that the store owner wanted more and more

Thats when the hobby became a job , no longer fun.

I’ve been ‘‘retired’’ just about 5 yrs now, and I really don’t spend any more time with the trains then I did before. Not sure why, perhaps because I no longer have to make the time now. Too mutch of anything gets old?

11

After retirement I became a professional goof off…Work? Hang the jerk that invented work after retirement…I don’t have a wife so no “honey do list” even if I did good luck with that. My late wife learn early in our marriage I wasn’t her personal handyman or slave.I wasn’t about to remodel,wallpaper,repaint etc at her whims…Emergecy repairs no problem-except when I worked on Chessie then a repairan was called–who wants to work when they are on call 24/7 and maybe have 8 off hours between calls?

My advice? Set some time aside to do what you like to do…

12

as most here have said DON’T i repete DON’T turn your hobby into a business , i did that once and what was a pleasure turned into drugery, if fact i quit that hobby for 4 years ,if you need to find a part time job in a unrelated field to both your former job and any hobbies you have.

13

Many years ago, I was considering getting into the business, and was told, “The fastest way to become a millionaire is to start out a billionaire and open a hobby shop.” I suspect the same joke is used in a lot of other fields (I originally heard it said about newspapers), but it holds true.

If you really enjoy it, find a niche product nobody is making that you could make out of your home using new technology like 3-D printing, a computer-based laser cutter, or a decal printer, and make that. But don’t expect to make a living out of it. Consider it a hobby that might on occasion give you some extra pocket cash, and if it works out better than that it will be a pleasant surprise.

14

Monks do not retire. LION will be 69 in June and still does the work when him was 59, with just one exception. I still manage the wine celars, but I can no longer lift the boxes, so now I just give the papers to the business office, and sosmebody else picks up the boxes. But in return for that I was put on the ‘cart list’, that is once a month I must spend a week restocking the community lunch room. As I get older I’ll drop some jobs and undoubtedly collect some others.

When dad reitred, mom told him, I married you for better or worse, but not fo lunch!

After dad was retired he exclaimed that he did not know how he ever found the time to go to work.

ROAR

15

I have been retired for 11 years and they have been the happiest of my life. When I retired I found a part-time job as a school bus driver and work around 4 hours each day, have a five hour “window” between AM and PM routes, have the summer off and school holidays off and still get paid pretty well. I realize this work isn’t for everyone, but you have to like kids to make it work. I still have plenty of time for model railroading (too much, per wife) that I never had when employed fulltime.

16

I would think that running the largest subway in North Dakota is a full time Job LION.

Actually I am afraid to retire. Seems like I get more rest in the office then at home.

17

Don’t make plans to work or “be involved” right away in retirement. Give yourself a year to figure out what you’d rather be doing and then how you’ll find the time to do it.

I spend my days riding my bike or walking, and my evenings going to clubs with live music, having a couple of beers, flirting and dancing.

18

I can’t tell the OP how many times I’ve seen people report how making their train hobby into a business has ruined it for them and strongly recommend against it. So many people like the OP think it’s going to be fun and cool and it turns out to be totally the opposite. Maybe it’s possible for some folks, but at least you’ve been warned.

19

One thing to think about is how your physical capabilities my decline during your retirement. While it is a very good thing to stay “active” during your retirement, you may not be able to do active things for as long a time as earlier. I’m glad I tackled the “physical” things like clearing brush, building fences and installing irrigation systems early in my retirement. Now 10 or more years later I’ll work for a couple of hours, then I need a nap. I choose to do physical work during my retirement, because my “working” careers were largely sedentary with mental stress. We have an ideal retirement: my wife gets to play with horses and I play with trains. You earned a second childhood, so enjoy it. Don’t turn it into work.

Grinnell

20

You want the straight talk on retirement, find lots of hobbies and things to do, I mean lots. I retired for the first time when I was 29, got married and had kids, there went that idea. Second time I was 52. Lots of freinds have moved away or are ill etc. Layout is built (took about 3 years for a 15x30 fully sceniced) and though I have lots of projects, the more skilled you get, the less time it takes (could build that same layout in three months or so now and I don’t have low standards). So come up with lots of things to do, more than you could ever imagine doing. Note: These things only apply if you have a strong work ethic, I relize most people will not do what I did which is work up to 70 hour weeks and come home to a second job and willing to put in a 20 hour day or two if needed.