Seldom seen at the Blog site...

But here I am anyway. Its been just a year since my second knee replacement. The second one didn't go quite as easily as the first one and in spite of the fact that I was back to work after 6 months after the first one, I'm not anxious to go back to work on a regular basis. Maybe because I'm older, a little fatter, but mostly I think its because the old body is wearing out here and there. I guess that's why they have retirement.

Anyone that knows me will have a hard time getting used to the idea of me being retired. Now, they might not have a problem imagining me sitting on my ass, drinking imported beer and smoking nice cigars, but I can do that under any circumstances. Last time I visited here I wrote about my excitement over building a boat and finishing the conversion on my bus. Screw that. Too hot in the summer, too cold in the winter...too much painful effort. I'll get a 5th wheel trailer to pull behind my Ford F350 dually and find a nice marina to keep a pocket cruiser in. "But how will I pay for this?" you may ask.

I've always had guns, and back in my muzzle loader/mountain man days I built a few nice rifles. I've actually been gunsmithing all my life. When my stepdad was going deer hunting when I was 8, I learned how to strip his K98 Mauser, check for wear, clean and put back together. Same deal after the hunt.
So I invested in gunsmithing school. Painfully expensive but it will give me a career for my retirement and I can do just about all of it sitting down! I already had a job offer in case I don't feel like going to the trouble of an FFL and starting a business. Jury still out on that motion. There are 300 million guns in the US. Not that many gunsmiths. Get the idea?

So, we're in the middle of a sickening political season, but life remains good so far and we press onward.
Summer is about to come to a screeching halt. I've ordered my firewood (which 10 years ago I would have cut myself) and making room in the shop for large machine tools. I have acquired a 1931 South Bend lathe which I hope to be making shavings with very soon. Is that Desert Madness? Most assuredly.

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him to fish and he will sit in a boat smoking cigars all day.