BajaNomad - Growing old in Baja

Growing old in Baja

dtbushpilot - 10-19-2010 at 08:38 PM

I used to look forward to growing old some day...taking life easy, slowing down and smelling the cactus, bouncing a grand baby on my knee, maybe doing a little fishing.......WTF was I thinking?.....

It's easy when you're young to look forward to the future because you are still full of pi$$ and vinegar and assume that you will always have that indestructible feeling.

I guess my recent leg injury and the feeling that I would soon be just another old guy wearing Depends has given me pause for thought. I talked to my beautiful wife about my feelings, she reassured me and told me I would always be her alpha.

While that was reassuring it didn't take away the realization that I probably only have another 15 or 20 productive years left. That made me think about all the stuff I have laying around in 3 homes in 2 countries. What's going to become of all that crap? Will the kids just get rid of it at an estate sale? Will they fight over it and grow to hate each other because of it? Should I really care, I will be dead after all.

I asked my sweetheart what she would want me to do with her stuff if she should go first. She seemed a little annoyed at the thought but said "oh, I don't care, do what you want with it, it's just stuff, I won't have any more use for it".

I waited for her to ask me what I wanted her to do with my stuff but she didn't, she didn't seem to be enjoying the topic of conversation. Easy for her, she wasn't almost killed by a runaway quad.

I thought about it for a while and realized that I really didn't have any material possessions that are special to me except maybe my fishing gear. With that thought in mind and apparently not much else I said to my darling "if I go first the first thing I want you to do is sell all my fishing gear". "Why would you want me to do that" she replied. I thought for a moment on how I should reply....perhaps I should have thought a bit longer....."I figure if I die you will remarry and I don't want some a$$hole using my fishing gear" was what came out....I was hoping I hadn't actually said it out loud but as I had already had a couple of glasses of wine I was relatively certain that I had.

She smiled sweetly stroked my arm and replied "what makes you think I'd marry another a$$hole"?.......she always knows just what to say......dt

irenemm - 10-19-2010 at 08:54 PM

we don't have any fishing gear but we do have an a$$hole.
that is just to funny
thanks for the laugh

krafty - 10-19-2010 at 09:35 PM

Very funny dt! Went thru an 8.2 quake on Guam and that is when you realize it is only "just stuff"

Beachgirl - 10-20-2010 at 05:22 AM

George Carlin's schtick about "stuff, stuff and more stuff" was great. You have a valid point, DT...I mean about Jill being on point.

Russ - 10-20-2010 at 05:27 AM

:lol:

dtutko1 - 10-20-2010 at 05:47 AM

Good story! As we baby boomers reach old age these thoughts are enevitable to some (mostly men?). A little truth makes a funny story even better.

capt. mike - 10-20-2010 at 06:00 AM

can i have your plane?? :lol:

good one. so true.

heike - 10-20-2010 at 06:05 AM

Love it! Thanks for sharing.....

Osprey - 10-20-2010 at 06:14 AM

dt, I went through that the other way around. I was working for a cab company in Las Vegas just before I bailed out. The owner was a widow whose husband was an avid deep sea fishermen and she just couldn't bring herself to sell his gear. I talked and cajoled and waited and finally she sold me the stuff to bring down here. His payback is that he carved his name in every rod and reel to remind me that I really don't own the gear. I might now carve my name next to his just to get to user/renter/barratero #3. That's what I love about retirement in Baja >> you have all the time in the world to worry about prentend-silly-should-woulda-coulda.

woody with a view - 10-20-2010 at 06:30 AM

i promise not to marry her if i can have you stuff! your call!

Eli - 10-20-2010 at 06:35 AM

Great story dt.
I know, I too, think about all the stuff I have accumulated. I am determined to eliminate at least a third of it this year when I get home, (I said this last year and the year before). I just don't want to leave a bunch of junk for my daughter to deal with.

Cypress - 10-20-2010 at 06:41 AM

dtbushpilot, Relax, a torn/pulled leg muscel isn't a terminal condition.

shari - 10-20-2010 at 07:00 AM

Ahhhh....DT...you da man! and boy is Jill...da woman! thanks for another snort coffee on the keyboard moment.
for those of you who havent had the pleasure of sharing a bottle of wine with Jill...I can attest to the fact that DT isnt making this up!!...as he says...jill always knows what to say!)

BTW...juan wants in line for your fishing stuff!..but not the dorky hat.

baitcast - 10-20-2010 at 07:46 AM

Since my quad by-pass a year ago and two stents six months ago these thoughts have been crossing my mind a great deal so much so I,ve been putting my Bucket List together :lol:

Our finances have taken a big hit the last two years so there might not be any stuff anyway for us to worry about and the wife has told me not to worry because she wouldn,t let anyone have my stuff.

The lack of funds is giving me a fit putting the list together since a few of the items are pretty exotic.

I think a thread on your Bucket List would be fun.
Rob

dtbushpilot - 10-20-2010 at 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by woody with a view
i promise not to marry her if i can have you stuff! your call!

I know that I don't have to worry about you marrying her, I think she covered that in her reply to my request.

You can have my fishing gear but only if you wear the hat every time you use any of it........you can buy fishing gear but once you've worn a hat like that in public your dignity and manhood are gone forever......your call :lol:

...dt

DENNIS - 10-20-2010 at 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dtbushpilot
once you've worn a hat like that in public your dignity and manhood are gone forever......

I think you're right. Lawrence Of Arabia wore a hat like that and look what happened to his manhood.

woody with a view - 10-20-2010 at 08:20 AM

i lost all dignity in high school. been looking for it ever since. where do i pick up the hat..... and stuff? :light:

[Edited on 10-20-2010 by woody with a view]

MitchMan - 10-20-2010 at 09:32 AM

Interesting DT. The thing that resonated with me was the focus on fishing equipment. I feel the same way in the sense that my whole life is organized around my pursuit of offshore fishing in the Baja - nobody around me knows that as that is my only real secret.

wessongroup - 10-20-2010 at 09:41 AM

Thanks dt... a good one... and your wife's sounds pretty cool... lucky guy...

Hope your feeling better..

And to all the others... thanks.. too..

It was something, which again I never even thought about... until "something" happened.. then went through much the same thinking...

And Rob, hang in there... Rob.. this too shall pass...

And thanks too all who brought a little humor into the "topic"...

Great post dt... hope your leg gets better fast... and your up and moving again

It's all good... and Woody with a View ... really :lol:

and dt, for a whole year.. thought that was YOUR picture :lol:

[Edited on 10-20-2010 by wessongroup]

vacaenbaja - 10-20-2010 at 10:11 AM

As anyone who has ever been in the position of "lucky just to get out
alive" knows material things do not matter much when your being chased by the reaper. Couldn't take it with me then and will not be able to at the last checkout when he finally catches up. Makes me want to clean out my garage filled with
all that "good indespensible stuff "that has not seen use in
years....Ah the thoughts that come when your closer to the end of the book than you are the begining.

DanO - 10-20-2010 at 11:04 AM

Dignity? What's that?

wessongroup - 10-20-2010 at 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by vacaenbaja
As anyone who has ever been in the position of "lucky just to get out
alive" knows material things do not matter much when your being chased by the reaper. Couldn't take it with me then and will not be able to at the last checkout when he finally catches up. Makes me want to clean out my garage filled with
all that "good indespensible stuff "that has not seen use in
years....Ah the thoughts that come when your closer to the end of the book than you are the begining.

Now thats pretty darn good... thanks... it is a phase in life which much different than the others..

Guess for once I'm lucky, my son wants me to not toss anything and to quite selling things.. said, "Dad you bought good stuff not junk" .. let me have it...

Must say.. makes me rest a lot easier... plus the wife's family want's all her "women" things.. decoration for every event one can imagine.. and enough boxes, warping paper and bows to setup a shop wrapping presents full time (yeah I know and the problem is)...

Good thread...

Von - 10-20-2010 at 12:46 PM

LOL~ Made me laugh in a good way :yes:

I saw my grandparents grow old in Baja and the whole family got everything. Even the rusted bolts left in the garage i kept and still have in La Barca. As long as you have loved ones next to you and can help you out id say stay where ever you call home. Do what feels right even if its wrong lol~ thats what im doing. Im 38 and go to baja once a week and i know im retiring there my wife isnt to crazy about it but shell come around as always lol~

woody with a view - 10-20-2010 at 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DanO
Dignity? What's that?

that's what i'm sayin'..... i'll let you know if i ever find it! :light:

Martyman - 10-20-2010 at 01:03 PM

Go ahead and max out that Visa bill to finish out that bucket list. Those bankers have enough.

bajabass - 10-20-2010 at 01:16 PM

38 Von? You either need to retire very young, or you will go crazy waiting to get down for good! I am awaiting sale of my shop, the wife has been in La Paz for 4 months now. I drive from Orange to my house in La Mision every weekend, but that is not EVEN enough once the Baja bug has bitten. I'll be 52 in a few months, but I was ready to leave 10 years ago. As far as stuff goes, my wife will keep it all I think. She loves time on the boat and fishing! :biggrin:

wessongroup - 10-20-2010 at 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Von
LOL~ Made me laugh in a good way :yes:

Ya got one hell of a good outlook on life... your Mom and Dad did a good job...

woody with a view - 10-20-2010 at 02:24 PM

'specially the "she'll come around" part.....

best 'o luck!

BajaBlanca - 10-20-2010 at 06:42 PM

oh yeah .... I also thought the pic was dt - so funny to realize ...NOTTTTTTTTT

but, I also started, slowly, giving the hand me down stuff I had from my grandparents to those in the family whom I thought would appreciate them the most ... and I am slowly but surely downsizing - how much "stuff" do I really need ????

I thought this feeling of what the heck do I do with my stuff was just my own mind meandering down the road ... hmmmmm

woody with a view - 10-20-2010 at 06:47 PM

have you seen the toll booths lately? BIG letters demand, "BAN BRAS". i concur. think i'm looney? check it out next time you pass thru the tollbooths.....

give 'em all away!

DavidT - 10-20-2010 at 07:43 PM

I had a similar conversation with my wife. She's younger then me so I said "Honey if I die before you save my gear. You're beautiful and charming, I'm sure you'll marry again and your new husband can use my stuff." She looked up and said "I can't." You can't? Why not? She said "Because he's left handed."

bajabass - 10-20-2010 at 07:48 PM

:lol:

NOT!!! Scares me sometimes! She is gorgeous, and I'm old! :no:

Skipjack Joe - 10-20-2010 at 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

I think you're right. Lawrence Of Arabia wore a hat like that and look what happened to his manhood.

Although his manhood went after he replaced it with a fez.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes, the ending is much like the begining
- You start out bald and finish off that way
- You start out in diapers and end up in 'Depends'

Isn't the cycle of life beautiful?

dtbushpilot - 10-20-2010 at 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MitchMan
Interesting DT. The thing that resonated with me was the focus on fishing equipment. I feel the same way in the sense that my whole life is organized around my pursuit of offshore fishing in the Baja - nobody around me knows that as that is my only real secret.

"Your only real secret"?......Gee mitchman, you need to get out more often......come visit us in the East Cape and we will find some more secrets for you to keep :lol:

....dt

DENNIS - 10-21-2010 at 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
Although his manhood went after he replaced it with a fez.

What???? This isn't manly???

http://l.yimg.com/eb/ymv/us/img/hv/photo/movie_pix/warner_br...

MitchMan - 10-21-2010 at 10:14 AM

You guys on the east cape, apparently, you guys know how to live.

BajaGringo - 10-21-2010 at 10:18 AM

I'll start thinking about growing old once I reach middle age...

Paula - 10-21-2010 at 09:13 PM

Bajagringo, remember that you are only young once, but you can remain immature forever! :biggrin:

Cypress - 10-22-2010 at 04:30 AM

Different parts of a person grow old at different times. Sort of a planned obsolescence? The eyes seem to be the first to show signs of age. From then on, guess it all depends upon a persons lifestyle, heredity and luck.

Russ - 10-22-2010 at 05:29 AM

I'm aware I'm on the verge of old but I never realized how much I've compensated for it. Moved from a 2 story house to the casita, sold the panga and got the 14' tin boat, sold the ATV and now have a UTV with a steering wheel and a real seat and softer suspension, fish inshore (less pounding) and from shore, have more than one pair of reading glasses, take siestas. I'm sure there are many more things I'm doing but can't seem to remember them :no:

Edit: I was given a BIG lighter I can find.

[Edited on 10-22-2010 by Russ]

Big lighter.jpg - 45kB