Retirement

[Ryunker]

So have lived my life in the mechanic world started in 1980 as a looser in the bodywork field out of high school, spent a decade or so in aviation maintenance and repair, few years doing semi truck service and the remainder in automotive, decade in transmission shops and the rest in general repair with a focus on electrical and computer systems.

Enough about that, what I did not see coming is parting ways with the tool boxes, and mega repeat of tools. Sent two snap on carts to the local dealer and sold. Left now with a 21 drawer master series snap on box taking up a needed parking space in the garage, winter approaching as well.

In other posts "paint shop prison" noted our '71 mach1 is still at the paint shop and yes after roughly 18 months it is making progress so it needs a spot in the garage.

I have found myself transitioning from a tool hoarder, trying to get to an average retired home owner at the ripe age of 60.

Put the big box on marketplace, yup someone is coming tomorrow to get it from like 3 hours away. Today spent huge time and effort trying to empty it. What a huge f'in mess. Loose tools etc.. in buckets and crap all over the floor.

So anyone gone thru this transition? How did you deal with it?

 

[Sheriff41]

I remember 60...

If you're retired and in your home long term, you don't need to have all your tools in a tool box anymore. You can check out garagejournal.com for ideas how others have arranged their garages to maximize space.
You could put your more common tools - combination wrenches, screwdrivers, nut drivers, etc. - on the wall and get a smaller tool box and chest for your other tools and equipment. You can take your time and put together a wall arrangement that works for you.
You can also assess your tool collection and sort out those tools you don't think you'll ever use again and sell them off to someone who will. I know if you're like most of us you can convince yourself you'll need that widget adjuster sometime in the future. It's tough to part with tools.

Congratulations on your retirement!

 

[cv_72mustang]

I wasn't a mechanic but I was an engineer with tons of books , etc etc. Dump it all after a few years in retirement. I gave myself a few years and then one day I said to myself 'I'm never going back to that life and it's time to move on, tough to say "hey your past skills served you well" it's time to move on. It's a process. Enjoy your new adventures.

 

[Spike Morelli]

I'm 70 years old now, working at The Blower Shop, working with superchargers and kits, and enjoy it. I will, I'm sure, retire eventually, but no plans currently to do so. I have a rather large Roll Away stainless tool cabinet, 4 other various tool boxes , two drag boats in the garage along with the Mach 1 ( just for winter time ), spare Hemi, 2 327 Chevys and a 289 Hi-Po. The walls are covered with drag racing history, posters, and girls with wardrobe malfunctions. It's what I'm interested in, what I've always been interested in. My wife and I plan to stay in this house until we die. I've lived through the end of Rock and Roll bands, and like Rock and Roll, everything in my garage is from another era and isn't made today. My garage isn't a "Man Cave", it is a haven and a celebration of a lost culture that I am a part of. I think if the day comes that I ever were to just sell it all off and lose the ONLY room in the house that is mine, I might shrivel up and die.