Getting old and how to deal it!

[Planobilly]

This last amp build was pretty difficult for several reasons. Poor near vision. Poor color discrimination. Difficulty to think my way through problems. I can not remember...well what was I gona say...lol

I get the idea I may not be the only one around here getting older.

So when do you have to make a decision to stop sticking your hand into a chassis with 600VDC?

Cheers,

Billy

[sluckey]

Stop when you find you have to stick your head inside the chassis.   

[bmccowan]

Yup, I'm in my very late 60s - also known as 70. Sometimes I think about that upside down. When is the time to stick my two hands in a 600V amp to avoid the nursing home. But, I'm still riding motorcycles and that'll likely get me before the amp thing.
Or maybe hire a young visiting nurse who knows how to solder. Should be easy to find.
Difficulty thinking through problems is the most upsetting for me, as my Dad and Grandma had Alzheimer's. Just this morning I could not figure out how much lumber to buy to trim out a few windows - and I've been building and renovating houses for years.

[Platefire]

I've already tried to give up working on tube amps. Slowed down to almost nothing for a long time. I finally realized that's something I really enjoy and my all time favorite hobby. Working on amps is like solving a puzzle a lot of the time and I think a good exercise for your brain. So I've been going over my old builds and re-working them to correct my green horn mistakes and changing out weak components. I'm 75 now and I miss playing in a band but my health issues makes it difficult to impossible to keep up with a band. So the wife and I play along with our DIY tracks over the PA at home and that somewhat gives you the feeling of a band. No replacement for interacting with live musicians though. I feel more comfortable staying close to home these days. Old age is kind of like rolling with the punches and making the best of it.
The Lord is a very present help in time of need

[Ronquest]

Hi Billy.  It's easy for us to say, get a lighted magnifying glass with a boom, check every resistor and wire with your DVM and just take your time and scale down your builds, but if you're questioning it, then it may be time for a change.  We are all getting older and that's life, some of us hand over the keys on our own and others keep crashing.

I don't know any more about you than what you've told us, so I'll go with that info.  If you want to keep building amps and work within your abilities you could go low voltage and all DC.  Keep the builds simple, they usually sound the best anyway! 
Get an outlet timer or motion sensor for your soldering iron or one that has an auto off feature.  Now that I think about it, I'm adding a motion sensor to my entire work bench.

Now my wife would say drink plenty of water and start walking.

[bmccowan]

Working on amps is like solving a puzzle a lot of the time and I think a good exercise for your brain.

Platefire
Well said. I recall Sluckey stating that he spends more time planning than constructing. It has been hard for me to change, as I always tended to jump in with insufficient planning.
The auto-shutoff devices are great. I have them on my soldering station. But also have them on my tube stereo equipment. No shame in that.

[acheld]

+1 on the age issue.   I'm not stopping, even though I have many more amps than I need.

One of my solutions is to open up some of my early builds -- and be horrified at the compromises I made.

I've found that planning out the new build takes a huge amount of time, but is really satisfying.  In essence, the build is completed on paper first before any actual building is completed.

Hmm, how to plan, what software to use, and in what sequence to plan might be an interesting topic to go into detail some day . . .

[Dave]

I'm a little younger (52), but I am having medical problems that sort of put me in a similar boat. I am pretty much house-ridden while I recover from some pretty serious cancer treatment.  I don't have much to do other than fool around with amps, so I don't see myself giving it up. If I don't keep myself busy, I go nuts.


Dave

[echuta13]

It sucks getting old.  I think I'm on the younger side (51), but my eyes have started going south, and I don't have the energy/motivation I once had to do as much as I used to.

I definitely spend way more time making "paper tiger" amps these days. 

[PRR]

Somehow I click-baited to the blabbermouth.net site. Something about Ozzy's alternate guitarist Gus G. But then I saw this about the Iron Maiden singer's quad bypass:

https://blabbermouth.net/features/ex-iron-maiden-singer-blaze-bayley-finds-new-lease-on-life-after-heart-attack-im-incredibly-lucky

He even goes into a microphone-model tip for less strain on old chests. "...less energy holding a mic and tensing up around it." Real decrepit rock gossip.

[Beezerboy]

not quite 73 here but slowing down for sure. at least I ain't that guy

https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/.FxbMW6fpRR7SCY_vkwU3Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTI0MDA7aD0xMzUwO2NmPXdlYnA-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/louder_sound_288/ce63bb50b2c26e9b93374c1d4290874d

[Dave]

Hahaha.

[kagliostro]

I'm 70 but I've vision problems since a lot of time

Use work magnifying glasses

Increase a lot the illumination on your lab

Don't work on SMD PCB

Use not less of 2W resistors

Do always what you would like to do if it gives satisfactions

This rules helps a lot 

Franco


p.s.:  AND measure 3 and cut one 

[Platefire]

I think of my old friend Bro. Paul, retired school teacher now passed away. He use to tell younger folks when they would get in a discussion of age. He would say, I was once young and been through all that, I know what that's like and now I'm old and know what that is.
So I now see life from both perspectives where you only see it from one.
 
It sometimes seems strange that you have the vitality that comes with youth when your young but may lack Wisdom at the very time you could of used it the most. Then when you get old and get some Wisdom, most of the major life decisions and opportunities are now past I guess there some value to getting old--- "Wisdom". It's really bad when you get old and still haven't got any Wisdom

[acheld]

There is a reason that the Marines (and the other services too) prefer youngsters 18-20 years old!

[PRR]

He would say, "I was once young and been through all that, I know what that's like and now I'm old and know what that is. So I now see life from both perspectives where you only see it from one."

Resonates with Both Sides Now. Joni (very young at the time) had several introductions for it, including one with Spock. https://jonimitchell.com/music/song.cfm?id=83

It sometimes seems strange that you have the vitality that comes with youth when you're young but may lack Wisdom at the very time you could of used it the most. Then when you get old and get some Wisdom, ...

Lewis Carroll, "You Are Old, Father William". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Are_Old,_Father_William

[AlNewman]

Joni's kind of a big deal where I'm from.  She has a place here, and is a neat lady.

As for getting old, there's only one way out, may as well go out with a bang.

[Dave]

There is a reason that the Marines (and the other services too) prefer youngsters 18-20 years old!

I was in the Navy. I think I was pretty dumb in my late teens and early twenties. I think now in my fifties they should let me back in, I could do a lot better job.
Oh, well... stayed in for twenty years. I still get paid anyway. So the old man wins.


Dave

[rafe]

Yup, I'm in my very late 60s - also known as 70. Sometimes I think about that upside down. When is the time to stick my two hands in a 600V amp to avoid the nursing home. But, I'm still riding motorcycles and that'll likely get me before the amp thing.
Or maybe hire a young visiting nurse who knows how to solder. Should be easy to find.
Difficulty thinking through problems is the most upsetting for me, as my Dad and Grandma had Alzheimer's. Just this morning I could not figure out how much lumber to buy to trim out a few windows - and I've been building and renovating houses for years.

            Same here ,still climbing around on roofs , riding on the road king, Poking my fingers into amps, playing in bands and jamming....all the positive stuff , quit the bad stuff decades ago, The way I figure it isThis,   when I ask myself a question and have to ask myself to repeat the question .....I'll rethink some of my activities !

[Williamblake]

I'm 70 but I've vision problems since a lot of time

Use work magnifying glasses

Increase a lot the illumination on your lab

Don't work on SMD PCB

Use not less of 2W resistors

Do always what you would like to do if it gives satisfactions

This rules helps a lot 

Franco


p.s.:  AND measure 3 and cut one 

I am not that old but will go with Franco on this one. Those magnifiers are on my shopping list. Can hardly wait to open the door with them on.

[dude]

I'm 70 but I've vision problems since a lot of time

Use work magnifying glasses

Increase a lot the illumination on your lab

Don't work on SMD PCB

Use not less of 2W resistors

Do always what you would like to do if it gives satisfactions

This rules helps a lot 

Franco


p.s.:  AND measure 3 and cut one 

I am not that old but will go with Franco on this one. Those magnifiers are on my shopping list. Can hardly wait to open the door with them on.

Try a headband light, you just might get away with the light and 300 reader glasses. I use a headband light and was at Woodstock 69,  .

[Lectroid]

In my seventies here and I can feel myself starting to slow down. I've built four amps now and although my interest is just as great, my energy and focus are both slipping a bit. Also find myself revisiting old builds to clean them up.

I'm downsizing my gear and instruments so I don't dump the job on my wife after I'm gone.

Otherwise, for me, getting old is a solid gift.   Got enough money, plenty of interests and friends, and lots of free time, plus I now have grandkids in the bargain.  I feel very lucky. 

[astronomicum]

I have been using these magnifiers for years. They work great. They are a constant companion.

On a lighter note, I have been having trouble recently seeing the glow of my LB Limiter. Figured I would make a new one. It will come in handy next time I work on a 1000W amp

[sluckey]

I predict that bulb will be broken before you work on another 1KW amp.   

You could send it to Uncle Doug. He prefers high wattage lamps.

[Guy77]

Yup, I'm in my very late 60s - also known as 70. Sometimes I think about that upside down. When is the time to stick my two hands in a 600V amp to avoid the nursing home. But, I'm still riding motorcycles and that'll likely get me before the amp thing.
Or maybe hire a young visiting nurse who knows how to solder. Should be easy to find.
Difficulty thinking through problems is the most upsetting for me, as my Dad and Grandma had Alzheimer's. Just this morning I could not figure out how much lumber to buy to trim out a few windows - and I've been building and renovating houses for years.

I second the idea on hiring a visiting nurse that knows how to solder. In my case it is my son. I ship him some work to solder and he sends it back. Also a good way to stay in touch!
Cheers
Guy