Thoughts on ageing, When is it time ti call it quits? Options

[Pat Garvey]

I bring this thread up on this forum because it's the forum I came to originally.

We, who have owned these beasts for many years (37 in my case) must reach a point where we have to consider moving on. Not all, but I personally am having questions about this.

I bring this up here because I am a CW & will always be.

But, I have been thinking lately (six months or so) - is it time to put 2 nice cars into someone else's responsibility?

I keep buying new parts, but never get around to installing them. Hell, I don't even need them!

But, in the last year my interest is wanning. I don't have the physical capabilities to do what I used to, and I won't pay someone else to do what I KNOW how to do. I also have other interests, namely model railroading, which I've been involved in since before Porsches (do I sound like Jon Lowe?).

I also don't have the urgency to do anything on the Porsches. I just don't think I care anymore, at least not enough. Used to be, when the garage temp rose above 50, I was there. Not any more.

So, I'm asking for some opinions here. I will take all of them seriously.

Should I get out? I'm inclined to do so. Can something re-awake the fire? I wonder.

Your opinions are appreciated & welcomed. I'm on the brink.

[dlestep]

...I'm in my garage, an arm length away from my 74 914 in process.
Thats where I am when I'm not in my office or on travel.
I am the Aviation Program Manager and Chief Design Engineer on Military Programs. That activity alone takes most of my creative process and attention to detail. However; I have learned to separate what is "their time" and what is "my time".
I'm 60, and last year I had two sirolimus-eluding coronary stents placed in a branch of an artery feeding my heart. I was admitted under cardiac arrest.
My work took too much of me. I have since moved onto more of a controlling interest than 100% hands-on effort.
When I was in the cardiac ward, I could not stand to be in the bed with the moaning and groaning coming from the other bed in the room. I stood in the doorway of my room, the first day I could move about, and watched all the wrinkled, powder-faced, old people walking in the hallways like zombies pulling their drips behind them. I felt strongly that I had nothing in common with them, except, that I too had my drip tag-along with me, and of course, the O2 bottle.

I put my robe on and flip-flopped to the visiting lounge, called my wife and asked her to bring my laptop, some Porsche History books, and laid out the plans to complete my restoration.
I stayed in that lounge for the rest of the two weeks everyday until the head nurse would kick me out every night. We didn't get along at all.

My goal is to finish the 914 with a 2.0 litre and in the year following, convert to the 72 2.4 Porsche motor. If I am successful at that, the 72 911 sitting patiently in my driveway under-wraps, is to follow. I am taking one step at a time according to my plans. I focus on each step and continue. The final step in that plan is a PCA DE run. When I drive home from the track. I will push my 72 911 into the garage and I bet by the end of that week, I will have the body down to the core.
I plan a long stroke 2.5 White ST clone with MFI.

I guess the short version of all of this dribble, is that I will be celebrating my 1st year of rebirth.
I AM doing things differently this time, and I am doing them for myself. I can't wait to heel-toe, down-shift, left brake scrub, plant the nose inside, a little opposite lock, accelerate through third, fourth, then fifth...wait for it...blip, blip down, momentum...momentum, mid apex left, inside right, over-taking opposite, boucing the rev limiter with each upshift, making moves on the next...

Don't under-estimate me in your mirrors, you're just another marker.