[TR] "Retiring from the TR hobby"

[John Herrera]

> >I wonder what happens to make a person drop this hobby? One thing
> >I notice is physical- lack of mobility to either get in and out of the
> >cars, operate the clutch, and to bend and kneel and lie on the ground to
> >do repairs. Or just declining health and need to downsize
> >possessions. Annoyance with having to make repairs might enter in to
> >it. Issues of cost if you have limited funds. Impracticality of the cars
> >given modern driving conditions might be a factor too. Anyway, that
> >comment made me think about what happens to us over time, and with age.




I really don't want to retire from the TR hobby.



I have a chronic illness and am unable to work. I can't work on the TR3 much
anymore; not even clean it. I rarely have the enegy to drive it.



My only income is a meager Social Security Disability payment. I am up to here
in credit card debt. I could sell the car to pay off the debt, but instead, I
charge more parts.



Why, then, don't I sell the TR3 and retire from the hobby?



I could say that I love the car so much that I can't bring myself to live
without it. Or that the camaraderie of the TR community keeps me going. Or
even that driving the car, however rarely, gives me pleasure and the desire to
live.



But it's none of these. No, it's because I can't stand to become one of those
guys who spend their empty days hanging about gas stations, quickie marts,
restaurants, etc.



They wait and wait for a TR3 to drive up.



Broken men.



Forgotten men.



Men with hollow cheeks and glazed-over eyes with a far-away look in them.



"I used to have one of these", they say to you in a husky voice as they try to
hold back the emotion.



I don't want to become like that, so I'll try to keep my car a little longer.



John H.